SPEAKER: JOEL THURM | ENTERTAINER: ILENE KRISTEN

Fifty-two dollar ($52) admission includes a three-course lunch payable at the door by cash or check only. A cash bar is available.

From his humble beginnings growing up on his grandfather's dairy farm in New York, JOEL THURM became one of the most admired, powerful, and accomplished casting directors in Hollywood. Early on, Thurm's instincts proved beyond reproach when he recognized John Travolta as much more than a teen idol, casting him in the TV movie THE BOY IN THE PLASTIC BUBBLE. It was during his years as Vice President of Talent and Casting for both Paramount Television and NBC that he discovered the remarkable Phoenix family, from which River and Joaquin became A-list movie stars. With his insider's knowledge, irreverent style, and biting wit, Thurm tells the stories of his key involvement in such iconic movies and shows as GREASE, AIRPLANE!, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, CHEERS, TAXI, THE LOVE BOAT, FANTASY ISLAND, STARSKY & HUTCH, CHARLIE'S ANGELS, THE GOLDEN GIRLS, KNIGHT RIDER, THE COSBY SHOW, HILL STREET BLUES and many, many more. SEX, DRUGS, AND PILOT SEASON is the ultimate backstage pass to the boardrooms of Manhattan and the executive suites of Hollywood, where show-business history was made.

ILENE KRISTEN: Born in Brooklyn, Ilene has appeared on Broadway in the original companies of Henry, Sweet, Henry, Grease, and Mayor. TV sightings include Family, Third Watch, several Law and Orders, The Black Donnelly’s, Deception, Unforgettable ,HBO’s Show Me a Hero , The Sopranos , Another World, Loving and General Hospital .She is best known for Delia on Ryan’s Hope and Roxy on One Life to Live for which she received two Emmy Nominations. Most recently seen at the Triad in Kip and Sylvia Tonight on D-Deck she is a long time member of Ensemble Studio Theatre. Ilene has shared her adventures in Grease: Tell Me More…Tell Me More and wrote the forward for the book Ryan’s Hope: An Oral History .Her album of self-penned songs I’m Not Done With U Yet is available on Amazon and iTunes.