Comedian Judy Gold tackles taboo topics in free show

Toward the end of the semester, everyone is in need of a bit of comic relief. But instead of sitcom reruns, tonight there is a different show to watch.\nComedy Central's Judy Gold will perform at 7 p.m. tonight in the Whittenberger Auditorium in the Indiana Memorial Union.\nGold, a gay Jewish mother, puts a comic spin on topics like tolerance and equality through her standup comedy routine.\n"I really want to make people laugh, but I also think it's important to make people think. It says a lot about society that I can be so open and honest and have people from so many different walks of life relate to what I'm saying," Gold said.\nGold is a veteran of "Comedy Central Presents" and "HBO Comedy Half-Hour." She has guest-starred on many television series, including "Law & Order" and "Sex and the City." \nGold has also won two Emmy awards for her work as a writer and producer on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show."\nGold visits IU thanks to a student request. Junior Rebecca Waxman, a member of Helene G. Simon Hillel Center's student leadership cabinet, saw Gold's show at another university and was inspired to invite Gold to bring her unique perspectives and comedy to IU.\nThanks to the Union Board, the Hillel Center and a number of other co-sponsors, this break from the books is free to all.\n"We would hate for the charge of five or six dollars to prevent people from seeing this act because it is such an important topic to present to college students," said Andy Gitelson, assistant director at the Hillel Center.\nOther sponsors include the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Support Services Office, Hoosier Rights Campaign, OUT, Borns Jewish Studies Program, the Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council.\n"I am excited to bring comedienne with Judy Gold's talent and background to IU. It's a wonderful free show for the students," said Scott Carrico, Union Board comedy director.\nGold will perform at IU while taking time out from her hit off-Broadway show, "25 Questions for a Jewish Mother."\n"I loved college, and it's always fun to go back to college campuses because the students are so full of life and curiosity," Gold said. "I also think it's much harder to get into college these days, and I find the students to be incredibly bright. It's nice to perform for smart, open, tolerant young people." \nGold touches on diverse, often taboo issues that stem from her own identity in her shows. \n"I see great potential in this show drawing together tons of different students of diverse backgrounds," Waxman said. "How you can you go wrong with a critically acclaimed Jewish, lesbian comedienne"