Bryan Batt to Talk with US Weekly Editor at Out Professionals Event

Bryan Batt, currently starring on the Emmy Award-winning Mad Men will be appearing on October 24, 2008 at an Out Professionals event. 

The event's web site promises that "You'll get up close and personal with this acclaimed actor, designer, fundraiser, and civic activist as he chats candidly with Bradley Jacobs, senior editor of Us Weekly -- and answers your questions."

On Mad Men, Batt plays Salvatore Romano, a closeted, Italian-American art director among the macho and WASP-y advertising men.

Batt made his Broadway debut in "Starlight Express," a 1988 musical in which he performed cartwheels on roller skates. He made his mark as Darius, the spectacularly dumb chorus boy in "Jeffrey," Paul Rudnick's groundbreaking stage and film comedy, and in a dozen other Broadway and off-Broadway offerings, including "La Cage aux Folles," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Saturday Night Fever."

Batt and his partner of 19 years, Tom Cianfichi, operate Hazelnut, a fine gift and home furnishings shop in New Orleans (www.hazelnutneworleans.com) Local charities benefit from a percentage of the sales of Bryan's signature "New Orleans Toile" and "Pontchartrain Beach" designs, In the wake of Katrina Bryan created an event, "Magazine Street Retail Relief" to promote local businesses and charities. The 4th Annual edition takes place on November 1 (www.magazinestreetretailrelief.com). While in evacuation he also initiated a web site (www.helpthecityofneworleans.com) to promote commerce and rebuilding.

At Us Weekly, Bradley Jacobs edits all movie-related stories and reviews as well as the breaking news-packed "Hot Stuff" section, one of the last departments to go to bed during the magazine's hectic Monday night closes. Jacobs regularly hosts lunch-time Q&A's at Us with visiting talent. This year his interviewees have included Denise Richards, The New Kids on the Block, Kathy Griffin, Tim Gunn and Pamela Anderson. Bradley covered entertainment for Newsweek and Newsweek.com before joining Us in 2003. He appears regularly on TV to discuss showbiz and celebrity news.

Location: LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th St.

Networking and Socializing: 6pm with beverage bargains. Program, followed by audience Q&A at 7pm.

Cost: Nonmembers $10; OP Members $5.

Click here for more information. 

Photo: Bryan Batt by Walter McBride