Craterian Theater at the Collier Center for the Performing arts

FOR RELEASE SUNDAY, FEB. 3, 2013

Craterian Performances announces new April 5 show: “An Evening with Dana Carvey”
Tickets on sale February 3 online, February 5 at Box Office

Craterian Performances presents “An Evening with Dana Carvey” at 7:30 pm Friday, April 5, at the Craterian Theater at The Collier Center for the Performing Arts, Medford. The Emmy Award-winning comedian and actor is best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, as Garth Algar in the “Wayne’s World” movies, and as a political and celebrity impressionist.

Carvey was born in Missoula, MT, on June 2, 1955. While a student at San Francisco State University, he won the San Francisco Stand-Up Comedy Competition. After his graduation (with a degree in communication arts), he played at numerous clubs in the Bay Area and then moved to Los Angeles in 1981 to pursue his career.

A repertory member of “Saturday Night Live” beginning in 1986, Carvey left in 1992 after seven seasons. Carvey is best known for his characters the Church Lady; Hans, of the Hans and Franz body building duo; Garth, Wayne Campbell’s (Mike Myers) ‘Excellent Co-Host’ on the immensely popular sketch ‘Wayne’s World,’ and Weekend Updates’ Grumpy Old Man.

In addition to these characters, Carvey has received widespread praise for his uncanny comedic impersonations of such political figures as Ex-President George Bush, H. Ross Perot, Jerry Brown, David Duke and Bob Dole. He also does impersonations of George Burns, Johnny Carson, Jimmy Stewart, John McLaughlin, Mickey Rooney, Casey Casem, and Regis Philbin.

On television, he hosted the 1992 presentation of the MTV Music Awards, co-starred in two pilots and was a member of the Showtime special “Salute to the Improvisation,” with Billy Crystal, Robin Williams and Robert Klein. In 1995, Carvey performed stand-up in his own one hour comedy special on HBO aptly named “Critics Choice ****.” In 2008 Carvey recorded his second solo comedy special for HBO entitled “Dana Carvey: Squatting Monkeys Tell No Lies.”

In 1992 Carvey appeared in the blockbuster film “WAYNE’S WORLD,” based on the hit “Saturday Night Live” sketch. The film was produced by “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels and grossed over $160 million. The public demanded a sequel and in 1993 Carvey appeared in “WAYNE’S WORLD 2,” recreating his role of Garth, alongside Mike Myers’ Wayne. The film was hugely successful.

Carvey won an Emmy Award in 1993 for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. He has received a total of six Emmy nominations, one of which was for a guest appearance on HBO’s highly acclaimed “LARRY SANDERS SHOW.” Also, he was honored with The American Comedy Award as Television’s Funniest Supporting Male in 1990 and 1991.

Carvey’s transfer from the small screen to the large screen included roles in Alan Parker’s “THE ROAD TO WELLVILLE,” for Columbia Pictures, Richard and Lili Zanuck’s “CLEAN SLATE” for MGM, and Twentieth Century Fox’s “TRAPPED IN PARADISE.” His early film work includes his debut in “THIS IS SPINAL TAP,” “RACING WITH THE MOON,” “ONE OF THE GROUP” where he portrayed Mickey Rooney’s grandson, “BLUE THUNDER” with James Farentino, “TOUGH GUYS,” with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, and starring in the comedy “OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS.” In 2004, he starred in “The Master of Disguise” comedy fantasy for the whole family which features Carvey in 36 different identities and speaking 14 different languages as the hapless and heroic Pistachio Disguisey.

At the January 2, 2007 funeral of Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush reminisced in his eulogy about how Ford took it in stride when SNL’s Chevy Chase made Ford the object of impressions. Bush cited this as a valuable lesson in learning to laugh at one’s self as a part of public life. “I’d tell you more about that,” Bush continued, “but as Dana Carvey would say, [imitating Carvey imitating him] ‘Not gonna do it! Wouldn’t be prudent!'”

Carvey made an appearance at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards, reprising his SNL character Garth Algar with host Mike Myers for a Wayne’s World sketch.

In 2010, Carvey appeared in the Funny or Die original comedy sketch, “Presidential Reunion.” He played the role of President Bush alongside other current and former SNL president impersonators.

Tickets for the Craterian show are $52, $58, and $64 and go on sale February 3 online at www.craterian.org or February 5 by phone or in person at the Box Office, 16 S. Bartlett Street, Medford, (541) 779-3000. Show may contain adult themes and language.

Craterian Performances is the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Craterian Theater at The Collier Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Medford. Originally a vaudeville theater opened in 1924, the building underwent a $5 million renovation in the mid-1990s to become a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose community facility. Generous support from individuals, businesses and foundations helps Craterian Performances provide high-quality cultural entertainment and educational opportunities for all ages. Learn more at www.craterian.org.