Sunday, March 21, 2010
6:30PM, The UA Centennial Hall
PURCHASE YOUR SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES HERE!
PURCHASE YOUR GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS HERE!
Perhaps Mel Brooks put it best when he said, "Richard Lewis may just be the Franz Kafka of modern day comedy."
Lewis has taken his lifelong therapy fodder and carved it into a commanding, compelling art form. His early career as a stand-up brought him to the top of his ranks and over time he broadened the scope of opportunities so others could share in his brilliantly warped world. The NY Post recently said; “Richard Lewis built the strongest stand-up comedy career on a blazing trail of neuroses since Woody Allen.”
Lewis can currently be seen on his sixth season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and is on his “Misery Loves Company Stand-Up Tour.” Lewis is also in the process of updating his book “The Other Great Depression” to be reprinted, with updates, through Public Affairs Books in April ’08. He’s furthering along the development of his own "dark ensemble comedy,” and all the while praying that Mr. David will be inspired for a seventh season of "Curb."
SAG nominated Lewis for his work in the ensemble category for his recurring guest star role, playing true-to-life as one of Larry David’s closest friends in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” the Seinfeld co-creator’s hit HBO series. The show has garnered many awards to include five Emmy nominations and high praise. Vanity Fair stated, "The supporting cast of Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm is a murderer's row of stand-up comedians-Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, Richard Lewis, Cheryl Hines, Shelley Berman--cutting loose in character roles with killer instinct." Through the years Richard has received much kudos for his work alongside his buddy, Larry David. The New York Times commented that, "...not nearly enough of Richard Lewis, whose job is the hardest of all because his character must truly suffer and endure in a context where feelings are as anathema as M&M's in a dentist's office. Never upsetting the show's distinct tenor of emotional apathy, Mr. Lewis here showcases his particular genius through a bout with kidney failure. He needs a new one, and oh, by the way, guess who isn't donating?" The Los Angeles Times added, ..."But it's comedian Richard Lewis--himself famous for an act built on despair--who memorably sulks his way through a pair of early episodes as one of the few people in the business who can match David hang-up for hang-up, neurosis for neurosis...David and Lewis reluctantly help a blind man move furniture in his new apartment. It's a classic."
Comedy Central has recognized Mr. Lewis as one of the top 50 stand-up comedians of all time and he was charted on GQ Magazine’s list of the '20th Century's Most Influential Humorists'. Philadelphia’s City Paper says, “Indeed, he is the Jimi Hendrix of monologists, whose virtuoso free-form riffs on ex-girlfriends, family and other antagonistic denizens from hell are delivered in a mesmerizing, stream-of-consciousness frenzy, a piss-yourself-laughing assault on the senses. Not only is he one of the undisputed masters of postmodern comedy, but also to incurable, self-loathing neurotics he is a patron saint who deserves to be canonized”.
Lewis has in release a boxed set of his Concerts from Hell (The Vintage Years) containing three comedy specials: HBO originally aired "I'm Exhausted," earning him an ACE nomination for Best Stand-Up Comedy Special and I'm Doomed, his second for HBO, also earned an Ace nomination. His cable-special debut, "I'm In Pain" had aired on Showtime. Playboy says, "Kvetching is elevated to surreal art in these great comedy performances. The titles say it all. Don't miss." He's also featured in two books; one an upcoming, high profile book on comedy, “I'm Dying Up Here,” which chronicles the collective coming of age of the standup comedians who defined American humor during the past three decades: Letterman, Leno, Robin Williams, Andy Kaufman, Richard Lewis and Garry Shandling among others, by author William Knoedelseder. The other is a behind the scenes look at the making of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Additionally, in the fall of ’06, Yale Book of Quotations attributed the now-common phrase, “the ____ from hell” to him in that fresh edition.
In continuing to redefine himself, he has always expanded on his acting career by making unexpected choices. He took on his first dramatic role in the theatrical release, “Drunks,” co-starring Dianne Weist, Faye Dunaway and Amanda Plummer. Built around an AA meeting, he received rave reviews as the central character, Jimmy Epstein, an addict fighting for his life. With scores of other guest acting appearances in TV series and films he tries to be as diverse as possible in his choices from appearing on such shows as 21/2 Men and The Dead Zone to such polar opposites in the past such as Alias and Seventh Heaven. Yet, most close to his heart was his four year run in ABC’s critically acclaimed series "Anything But Love," co-starring with Jamie Lee Curtis, "Anything but Love", now out on DVD with Volume One of the four year situation comedy. "Diary of a Young Comic," which he starred in and co-wrote, first aired on NBC in the "Saturday Night Live" time slot and is considered a cult classic. Late night TV viewers and media junkies in general are familiar with his frequent guest appearances. He may hold title to having the most late night appearances, chalking up well over 100 appearances with Dave, Jay, Conan, Jon and Maher.
TITLE SPONSOR
ALICE AND PAUL BAKER
THE LIGHTMAN FAMILY
MEDIA SPONSORS
