The co-chairs for this year’s Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix MEGA Event have ramped up the main event and introduced so many new elements that they started calling it MEGA 2.0.
Slated for the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix on Nov. 12, the MEGA Event presents Zach Braff.
Actor, director, screenwriter and producer Zach Braff headlines the MEGA Event of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix on Nov. 12 at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix. Braff is perhaps best known for his role as Dr. John “JD” Dorian on the hit television series “Scrubs,” which spanned 10 seasons. He was nominated for three Golden Globes and an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on the show. In 2004, Braff made his directorial debut with “Garden State,” which he also wrote, starred in and produced. It was nominated for the Sundance Grand Jury Prize in the drama category.
Braff’s critically acclaimed dramedy “Wish I Was Here” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014. Unable to secure traditional funding to make his film, Braff turned to his fans to produce the story of a father who struggles to keep his children in a Jewish day school and his journey of self-discovery.
Braff is currently directing a light-hearted remake of “Going in Style” with a star-studded cast including Alan Arkin, Michael Cane and Morgan Freedman. The movie is set for release in 2016.
On Nov. 12, MEGA guests co-direct the fun, interactive evening. They are invited to ask questions of Braff covering a variety of topics, including his Jewish upbringing, his journey from Jersey to Hollywood, transitioning for acting to directing, his view of life and more. Braff replaces Jeffrey Tambor, who was originally scheduled to headline the MEGA Event.
“We wanted someone who would be a draw for everyone,” says Michelle Mandell, 33, who is co-chairing the event with Bob and Sara Silver, who say they are a couple decades older.
Bob is a former chair of both the JFGP and the Valley of the Sun JCC.
To further ramp up the evening’s entertainment value, Maytal & Etzion, the duo that took Israel’s reality television show “The Voice” by storm, also will take the stage.
They will be in town for an event at the Israel Center, and Israel Center Director Shahar Edry contacted the MEGA co-chairs and asked if they would like the pair to sing “Hatikva” at the Orpheum.
“When I went on YouTube and saw their performance on ‘The Voice,’ I asked, ‘Can we use them other places in our event?’” says Bob. “They are two very talented singers in Hebrew and English. We will use them for musical interludes during the evening.”
Michelle says, “Shahar brought them to us. It’s not only a cool event, but it shows that we have a cross-cultural programming element. It’s a sign of what our federation is. … Our message is ‘come see all federation is and how we can be stronger.’ ”
With this year’s party coming at the end of the campaign instead of in the spring as it has in the past, Bob says the focus has shifted. “This year it is more of a thank you to donors for all the work they do on our behalf and to share information about federation and what is to come.”
Michelle, who moved to Arizona five years ago, was part of the first cohort of Valley Beit Midrash’s Start Me Up group and is now involved in federation’s NOWGen for people in their 20s to mid-30s.
Sara says that everyone knows Bob, and he knows the community. But as entrepreneurs (the couple own and operate Silverware, a software solution company), they wanted to reshape the event and think creatively. They say it was great to partner with Michelle to “reset” MEGA and create an event appealing to the under-35 crowd.
The evening will begin with a wine reception (21+) at the Orpheum. A dessert reception will follow the main event. NOWGen attendees will take over the trendy bar Bitter & Twisted for a late-night after party featuring epicurean cocktails.
Reserved seats for MEGA are $100 per person for Downtown Seats and $75 per person for Uptown Seats. Eighteen dollars of each reservation supports the federation’s 2015 annual campaign to help Jews in need and to build vibrant Jewish communities in Greater Phoenix, Israel and in 70 countries around the world.
All seats are assigned and must be reserved by Nov. 9. For more information and to RSVP, call 480-634-4900 ext. 1213 or visit megaevent2015.org.
