BBC Event!

As Written By: Diane Bruens, Kings Point Delray Beach, Florida

On Friday, November 30, West Park Pictures flew in their entire film crew from England along with the celebrated English actor Stephen Fry. They came here to film a subject for the South Florida segment of a high-profile, peak time 5 x 50 minute series for BBC TV. In this series titled, “Stephen Fry’s United States of America,” Stephen Fry travels to all of the states in the USA, encountering the magnificent, the beautiful, the “real” America. They were looking for warmth, humor, friendliness, energy, landscape and delight rather than being critical or negative in any way. As part of their affectionate “snap-shot” of life in Florida, they wanted to film something that reflected the life of the senior adult community.

After interviewing several smaller communities in the West Palm Beach area, they contacted Century Village Deerfield Beach’s Vice President Eva Rachesky. They were very impressed with the blueprint that communities like Kings Point and Century Village had laid out for many future senior adult communities (i.e.: a completely self-contained community revolving around a multi-million dollar Clubhouse with a multitude of activities and entertainment all under one roof). They had not seen anything like this in the UK and felt it would be very interesting to viewers all over the world to learn something about this lifestyle in their upcoming television series.

While searching for the subject for their series, they asked Eva how she dealt with the ever-growing single female population. She told them how the COPA has addressed this problem by providing the single ladies with male dance hosts. Once the BBC heard this, they insisted on learning all about this premiere event and the man behind it all. They met with and interviewed Ira Weisburd, the producer and creator of the COPA. They learned that this event also impacts residents in Kings Point Delray, Kings Point Tamarac, Century Village Boca Raton, and dozens of other similar communities throughout the year. They finally found the subject they were looking for!!!

To accommodate their very tight film schedule, a special COPA was scheduled in less than 3 weeks time. They could only film the last weekend of November when they were scheduled to fly into Florida. By that time, the Kings Point Delray event had already taken place. Eva turned to Ira and asked him if he would be willing to do a special COPA for the film crew. On November 30th, a record crowd of more than 675 residents from Century Village Deerfield, including many residents from Kings Point Delray, Kings Point Tamarac and Century Village Boca Raton, attended what the BBC has since called the event that “best reflects the life of the South Florida Senior Adult Community!!!”

No event has ever made such an impact on so many senior adult communities in South Florida as the COPA. It is the first event that seems to offer something for everyone. Even the business community loves this event. Over 50 restaurants and businesses are sponsoring the COPA each and every month and that list is growing. The COPA is undoubtedly the hottest ticket in town!!!

Ira Weisburd has created an event that has a “universal appeal.” Attendees range in age from the 40’s to the 90’s with music and dancing that appeals to every generation. Whether you like Latin, Ballroom, Disco, Line, Rock n’ Roll or just great Party Music, Ira will find the right mix to keep the dance floor filled all night. The COPA touches the hearts and souls of everyone who attends. It brings out the best in all of us and has brought our community together in ways that cannot be measured.

Our January COPA, “The Black and White Masked Ball,” is one of the most elegant evenings. It takes place on Saturday, January 12, 2008 in the Party Room from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale in the Box Office. All Tables are reserved, so make your reservations early. This event is open to the public!!! Simply call 561.499.7751 ext. 0 or 214 to make your table reservations.

Stephen Fry’s United States of America TV Series will be a huge, peak-time program that will be shown to a family audience on Sunday nights in the Fall of 2008, and then to a global audience on BBC World Service (which also will be screened in the USA and on PBS Network).