Lewis Black, popular comedian, actor and author, brings his “In God We Rust” comedy tour to Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Saturday, May 21 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale March 4 at noon.
One of the most prolific and popular performers working today, Lewis Black executes a brilliant trifecta as stand-up comedian, actor and author. A passionate performer who is more pissed-off optimist than mean-spirited curmudgeon, Lewis is the rare comic who can cause an audience to laugh themselves into incontinence while making compelling points about the absurdity of our world.
While in New York City, Black oversaw the development of more than 1,000 plays, including works by West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin, American Beauty writer Alan Ball as well as his own original works. In 1996, he was tapped for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. The segment, a three-minute rant about whatever was bothering him at the moment, evolved into Back in Black. It became one of the most popular and longest running segments on the show and also created a long and successful relationship with the network. Since then, Lewis has taped four specials for the Comedy Central Presents series, co-created Last Laugh with Lewis Black, presides over Lewis’ Black’s the Root of All Evil, and continues to perform Back in Black on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. His popular appearances on Comedy Central helped to win him Best Male Stand-Up at the American Comedy Awards in 2001.
Black has released several comedy CDs including The White Album (2000) and in 2007 won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album for The Carnegie Hall Performance. He has also filmed two HBO specials, Black On Broadway and Red, White and Screwed. The latter was nominated for an Emmy in 2007. He has also released Stark Raving Black as a CD and DVD which earned him a second Grammy.
A much sought after guest for several late-night television shows, he’s been on Larry King Live, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Late Show with David Letterman. He’s had numerous, memorable appearances on CNN and is particularly happy to have contributed to MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann.
As an author, Lewis has written two best-selling books, Nothing’s Sacred (Simon and Schuster, 2005) and Me of Little Faith (Riverhead Books, 2008). Both garnered critical praise as well commercial success and spent numerous weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. Lewis’ third book, I’m Dreaming of a Black Christmas was released last November.
As a playwright, Lewis has penned over 40 plays, many of which have been produced around the country. The Deal, a dark comedy about business, was made into a short film in 1998 and picked up by the Sundance Channel. In 2005, Garry Marshall’s Falcon Theatre in Los Angeles produced One Slight Hitch, a play that was later seen in 2006 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center’s Patel Conservatory.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Black is dedicated to a number of charitable organizations including the 52nd Street Project, the Rusty Magee Clinic for Families and Health, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Autism Speaks and was recently honored by The Brady Center for his commitment to ending gun violence. In 2000, the Ron Black Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in memory of his late brother. He’s a strong supporter of the Williamstown Theatre Festival and established the William Foeller Fellowship, having taught and performed at the festival for more than a decade.
Tickets cost $104, $84, $64 and $44*; All seats are reserved and available at the Hard Rock Live Box Office, open Tuesday – Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. and on Sunday & Monday – only open on event days at noon. Tickets also are available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply.
Tickets for the cancelled Lewis Black December 30, 2010 show are not valid for the May 21, 2011 show. Patrons holding tickets for the cancelled December 30, 2010 show can still receive a refund at the point of purchase.