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The one and only comedian @JayLeno chats cars, entertainment, and more at the @KimmelCenter 5/19. More Info @KimmelCenter.org
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Monica Robinson
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mrobinson@kimmelcenter.org
Rachel Goldman
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COMEDY SUPERSTAR JAY LENO MAKES HIS ACADEMY OF MUSIC DEBUT IN AN EVENING WITH JAY LENO MAY 19, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, March 19, 2018) –– Acclaimed late-night TV show host Jay Leno will make his Academy of Music debut as he treats audiences to an intimate evening of conversation and comedy, Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. In addition to Leno’s unforgettable years as the host of The Tonight Show, the admired stand-up comedian is also a best-selling children’s book author, an in-demand corporate speaker, a lovable TV and movie voice-over artist, a pioneering car builder and mechanic, and a philanthropist.
“The incomparable Jay Leno has made audiences laugh for more than 40 years.” said Anne Ewers, President and CEO of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. “What a highlight for the Kimmel Center’s season to welcome Leno for the very first time to our Campus. Experience live, his extremely entertaining personality so undeniable during his tenure as The Tonight Show host.”
Jay Leno, born in New Rochelle, New York and raised in Andover, Massachusetts, began his career with his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson on March 2, 1977. In 1987, Leno became a regular substitute host for Johnny Carson, and then replaced him full time in 1992, where he led the ratings for two decades. After retiring from The Tonight Show in 2014, Leno has continued doing stand-up comedy tours all over the country. He started the CNBC primetime series Jay Leno’s Garage, where he explores the world of cars, never forgetting that it’s the people behind the wheel who provide the real stories.
Over the years, Leno has been honored with various awards including Emmy Awards, TV Guide Awards, and People’s Choice Awards. Leno released his New York Times best-selling children’s book, If Roast Beef Could Fly, in April 2004. Audiences will also recognize Leno’s iconic voice in animated films and TV shows such as Cars, Igor, and The Fairly Oddparents.
Leno is committed to using his talents to help those less fortunate. Each year, he serves as Master of Ceremonies and does numerous benefit performances, including shows for those whose lives were devastated by the 9/11 tragedy, the tsunami in Thailand, hurricanes in the gulf, and the severe economic downturn in Detroit. He leads the annual Love Ride in California to benefit numerous humanitarian organizations serving people with autism, muscular dystrophy, and Special Olympics, among many others. He has also served as honorary campaign chairman for several years for the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Hollywood’s charitable arm, and he has assisted the Gender Apartheid campaign led by wife Mavis together with the Feminist Majority, to free Afghan women of Taliban tyranny, an effort for which Mavis and The Feminist Majority were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Other featured upcoming performances at the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus include: Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles (March 23-25, 2018, Academy of Music), Capitol Steps: Orange is the New Barack (April 6-7, 2018, Perelman Theater), and Jerry Seinfeld (April 7, 2018, Academy of Music).
AN EVENING WITH JAY LENO
Academy of Music
May 19, 2018, 8:00 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now and start at $49.00. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling 215-790-5883. See www.kimmelculturalcampus.org for more information.
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, the Kimmel Center’s mission is to operate a world-class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience through diverse programming, arts education, and community outreach. The Kimmel Center Campus is comprised of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, SEI Innovation Studio, and the Merck Arts Education Center), the Academy of Music (owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association), and the Merriam Theater. The Kimmel Center is also home to eight Resident Companies: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly POPS, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Curtis Institute of Music. With nearly 9,000 seats per night, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is the region’s most impactful performing arts center, and the second largest in the country. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is the season sponsor of the Kimmel Center’s 2017-2018 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit www.kimmelcenter.org.
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