Pancake To Plaza Makeup maven Jeffrey Bruce takes the stage in Neil Simon's Plaza Suite. SUZANNE CHESSLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS <‘ (;a' Discover Tbe Jewisb News anO 24. > it bas to offer to Nou anti dour Bruce plays three characters. His everyday makeovers, building on executive experience with Estee Lauder and Revlon, were frequent spots on both the "Sally Jessy Raphael" and "Oprah" shows. "I do my own makeup for Plaza Suite — very little make- up," said Bruce, a former New Yorker now at home in Boca Ra- ton. "I'm very tan, and it's just a question of powdering down." Bruce portrays three charac- ters in the comedy — a man leav- ing his wife, a producer trying to seduce an old flame and a father coaxing his bride-to-be daughter out of a bathroom. "Probably the smarmy, very tacky, stuck-on-himself produc- er is most like me," he joked. "Act II is the most fun, and I like to have a good time. "I've never left a wife, and I've never had a daughter. I've been smarmy on television, and I think my whole life is over the top. The big difference between all IFO IR. EW S BSC RA B E 0 RS 0 C • Subsc r ibe Now! See what you've been missing. For only $46.00 - that's just 88c a week - save more than 36% over the regular newsstand price. Jeffrey Bruce: "The main reason I do theater is to introduce young people to the arts." the producer and me is that, as him, I wear possibly the worst toupee I've ever seen." Bruce won his role in Adrian after a speaking engagement re- called his earlier Michigan roles in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Peter Pan. His acting debut in Forum resulted from his popularity on local TV. `The main reason I do theater is to introduce young people to the arts," Bruce said. "I welcome people who are first-timers to the theater, and I want them to come backstage and say 'hello.' take them on stage to have a look." Bruce believes the common el- ement in creating a role and cre- ating an image through cosmetology is showing off peo- ple — himself as well as his clients — in the best possible light. "The look that I've been doing for 34 years is finally back in style," Bruce said. "It's a no- makeup look and takes more to look like less. "When it comes to beauty and grooming, you do it for yourself If you feel good about yourself, you're going to feel good about other people." ❑ 52 big issues of The Jewish News. 12 issues of The AppleTree, our new, exciting monthly magazine for families. Special seasonal pull-out supplements including Celebrate, Summer Pleasures, our popular Gift Guide and more. 5 Issues of Style Magazine, Oakland County's premier lifestyle publication. Free AppleTree Gift. YES! Receive 52 issues of The Jewish News plus five issues of Style Magazine for onto $46 ($63 out-of-state). Pius 12 issues of AppfeTree1 anb with or paid subscription/ a FREE AppleTree Gift. ❑ • • D TI • N BSCRIPTI ors1 elebrity makeup artist and sometime-actor Jeffrey Bruce is looking for a Jewish cause he can champion. Regularly visiting Michigan to lecture and promote his namesake line of cosmetics, Bruce takes the lead this week- end in the Neil Simon comedy Plaza Suite at the Croswell Opera House in Adrian. Tve done work with the UJA, but I would like to get more in- volved," said Bruce, who turns 50 this month and can be remem- bered filling in for Marilyn Turn- er and John Kelly when they vacationed from their long-run- ning, now-canceled local talk show, "Company." 'Tye been Michigan chairman to raise funds to fight cystic fi- brosis and Lou Gehrig's disease. I don't come from a religious fam- ily or an observant family, but I'm certainly well aware and very proud of what I am," said Bruce. The makeup artist/actor, who gave up an interest in portrait painting to take a position in Mr. Kenneth's New York salon, has brought out the best features of luminaries from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to Ann-Mar- garet. A Women's Wear Daily ar- ticle detailing his work with the late first lady introduced him to national attention. A SP';-cilAIL 0IFIFCR Plaza Suite will be staged 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17 and 18, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Croswell Opera House, 129 East Maumee St., Adrian. For information, call (517) 264- 7469. For information on up- coming Jeffrey Bruce lectures, call (800) 944 6588. ❑ Please Bill Me. ❑ Payment Enclosed. Charge my: ❑ VISA ❑ MasterCard Card # ❑ I'd like to send a subscription as a gift to: Giftcard Message: Exp. Date Name Address Signature (required) City My Name State Zip Phone My Address Gift Card Message: State City Phone L Zip ti Send AppleTree Gift to ❑ Me New atbscribers on( The Ie ree Please send all payments with this coupon to: The Jewish News • P.O. Box 2267 • Southfield, MI 48037-2267. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. ❑ Recipient rn DAT1 ti THE JEWISH NEWS 89