Millikin University is pleased to welcome Emmy Award-winning producer, actor, comedian and writer Larry Wilmore to Kirkland Fine Arts Center on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m.
Larry Wilmore has been a television producer, actor, comedian and writer for more than 25 years. He is perhaps best known for his role as host of Comedy Central's The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, which debuted in January 2015 and ran for nearly two years. Wilmore received praise from critics for carving out a "uniquely powerful space" and providing "complex, destabilizing commentary on racial issues that were otherwise lacking in late-night." The Daily Beast added that Wilmore's show was "exhilarating" and a "necessary voice in late-night."
Off-screen, Wilmore serves as executive producer on Insecure, a half-hour comedy series starring Issa Rae that details the awkward experiences and racy tribulations of a modern-day African-American woman. The show will premiere on HBO in October. Wilmore also helped to launch ABC's Black-ish as an executive producer.
As the former "Senior Black Correspondent" on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Wilmore added his own unique comic perspective to the reality-based look at news, trends, pop culture, current events, politics, sports and entertainment. He has written for In Living Color, The PJ's, The Office and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He also served as creator, writer and executive producer of The Bernie Mac Show, which earned him a 2002 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series" and a 2001 Peabody Award.
Wilmore's first book, entitled "I'd Rather We Got Casinos and Other Black Thoughts" was published in fall 2008 and displays "an ability to convince, confound and compel in equal measure," according to Publishers Weekly. He has been nominated and received numerous awards including an Emmy, a Peabody, Humanitas, TV Critics and NAACP Image Award.
As a cultural commentator and a successful Hollywood talent, Wilmore opens the door to an honest conversation about race and diversity in our country. He delivers a versatile and entertaining message, lacing it with his own comedic wit and a dash of levity in an interactive, multi-media discussion.
For more information on Larry Wilmore, visit thelarrywilmore.com. This event is intended for mature audiences.
Tickets
Tickets for the event will go on sale to the general public starting Oct. 17. Tickets are $25 for the general public. Millikin University faculty and staff will receive one free ticket with a Millikin ID and can purchase additional tickets for $20 each. Tickets will be available for Millikin University students starting Sept. 29; Oct. 10 for faculty and staff. Students with a Millikin ID will receive one free ticket and can purchase three additional tickets for $10 each.
Tickets may be purchased at the Kirkland Fine Arts Center Ticket Office, by phone at 217.424.6318 or online at kirklandfinearts.com. A $2.50 fee will be charged for credit card purchases. This is a per transaction fee, not per ticket, and applies to online and Ticket Office orders. Kirkland Ticket Office hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Goodheart Fund
This event is made possible through the support of the William R. Goodheart Fund. The Goodheart Fund was created through a gift from Peggy and the late G. William Madden of Decatur in memory of Mrs. Madden's father, the late William R. Goodheart Jr., who founded the Music Corporation of America (MCA) in the 1920s.
For more information on Kirkland Fine Arts Center, please visit kirklandfinearts.com.