November 19, 2012
Comedy legend Carol Burnett to appear at university's 150th
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
One of America's most beloved comedic actresses will appear at Kansas State University's 150th anniversary celebration in an audience interactive program, "Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett: A Conversation with Carol where the Audience Asks the Questions," at 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, in McCain Auditorium. The event is a special addition to McCain's Performance Series in honor of the university's sesquicentennial. Kansas State University opened its doors on Feb. 16, 1863, becoming the nation's first operational land-grant university.
If there is one thing this renowned entertainer can do better than anyone else, it's talk at length, impromptu, before a live audience. "Laughter and Reflection," Burnett's off-the-cuff conversation with the audience, is a format that grew out of the question-and-answer sessions she shared with her studio audience on each episode of "The Carol Burnett Show." As a weekly visitor in living rooms across America, Burnett always opened her show with a few minutes of hilarious banter with the audience. This is a rare opportunity to talk to Carol in the same enjoyable and intimate format.
"We are proud to present this exciting opportunity to talk with Carol Burnett, who represent the heart of comedy and appeals to every age group," said Todd Holmberg, executive director of McCain Auditorium. "Carol told us, 'I love the spontaneity of these evenings. I never know what anybody is going to say or do or ask, so it keeps me on my toes.' Come with your questions and share in the fun with one of the country's most loved and respected actresses." Burnett joins many iconic performers who have appeared on the McCain stage, including Bill Cosby, Lily Tomlin, Yo-Yo Ma, Van Cliburn and Itzhak Perlman.
Tickets for "Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett: A Conversation with Carol where the Audience Asks the Questions" go on sale Nov. 16. They can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office, by phone at 785-532-6428, or online at http://www.k-state.edu/mccain.
Following the 11-year run of the "Carol Burnett Show," six-time Emmy Award-winner Carol Burnett is now widely recognized for her dramatic abilities as well as her comedic and stage talents. In addition to being a best-selling author and a Grammy nominee, she is a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Carol Burnett's best-selling book, "This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection," was a New York Times best-seller, as was her autobiography "One More Time." Her latest book "Carrie and Me: A Mother/Daughter Love Story" will be published by Simon & Schuster on April 9, 2013. Time/Life has just released DVDs of "The Carol Burnett Show" for retail sale, and it has quickly become one of their most successful DVD releases.
Raised by her grandmother, first in her birthplace of San Antonio, then Hollywood, Ms. Burnett attended UCLA. Soon after, she started her career in New York, where she caught fire doing hilarious sketches on "The Garry Moore Show." At night she dashed to Broadway, where she starred in the fairy tale "Once Upon a Mattress." She moved back to Los Angeles and began "The Carol Burnett Show," which ran for 276 episodes on CBS from 1967 to 1978. Her show is generally regarded as the last successful major network variety show.
Carol Burnett has guest-starred on smash hit television shows such as "Glee," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," for which she received an Emmy nomination, "Desperate Housewives" and "Mad About You." She stars in the 30th anniversary DVD of "Annie" and can be heard in the animated adventure, Disney's "The Secret World of Arrietty" and Fox's animated film, "Horton Hears a Who!"