TABLE OF CONTENTS |
FRONT PAGE
| NEXT ARTICLE |
PREVIOUS ARTICLE |
UNC HOMEPAGE
Bill Cosby's sixth-grade report card read: "William is a boy's boy, an
all-around fellow, and he should grow up to do great things."
Only time would tell.
In the time since that report card was written, the 64-year-old Cosby has gone
on to become one of the most influential entertainers of the twentieth century,
performing in night clubs, movies and television and writing books. And he's
also been a generous supporter of charities, particularly in the field of
education.
Cosby brings his wealth of experience and comedic genius to Memorial Hall Sept.
21 for two performances. As featured guest for the sixth annual Carolina Union
Virtuoso Benefit, Cosby will do shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m.
A child who was raised in a poor Philadelphia neighborhood, Cosby patterned
much of his early humor on the kids he grew up with, like his Fat Albert and
Old Weird Harold personas. He searched for what made life funny and fashioned
characters and situations with which people could easily identify.
Cosby has been unique as a black comedian in refusing to make race an issue in
his humor. "I don't think you can bring the races together by joking about the
differences between them," he said. "I'd rather talk about the similarities,
about what's universal in their experiences."
And that's what he did as the star of The Cosby Show, which first aired
in 1984. It portrayed an upscale nuclear family that humorously struggled with
the day-to-day issues of child rearing and two working parents -- and it was
the polar opposite of black families that had previously been portrayed on
television. Coretta Scott King described The Cosby Show as "the most
positive portrayal of black family life that has ever been broadcast."
Prior to The Cosby Show, Cosby broke the television racial barrier with
I Spy, in which he became the first black actor to star in a weekly
dramatic series.
Cosby surpassed Radio City Music Hall's attendance record in 1986 with a
concert there, and also in 1986, his Fatherhood became the
fastest-selling hardcover book of all time. His records have gone gold eight
times and have earned him five Grammy Awards. He also has won five Emmy
Awards.
Cosby represents the voice of a vast, ordinary world. Everyone seems to easily
identify with his characters and the situations in which they find themselves.
He gives a twist of the ridiculous to everyday faults, foibles and successes
and makes them a recognizable slice of life. His qualities have endeared him
to people from all walks of life.
The goal of the Carolina Union Virtuoso Benefit is two-fold: to raise awareness
of the need to renovate Memorial Hall, and to support the Performing Arts
Series Endowment. The benefit brings one outstanding artist to campus each
year. All proceeds from this year's event will benefit the Memorial Hall
Transformation.
Memorial Hall will go dark in February 2002 for an 18-month transformation,
during which alternate venues will be used for selected performances. When the
hall reopens, it will have new seats, improved acoustics, more bathrooms, a
larger stage, better dressing rooms and air conditioning.
Donor tickets to Cosby's performance start at $100 and are available now.
General public and student tickets ($50, $44, $35/$30) go on sale Aug. 22. For
more information, contact the Carolina Union Box Office at 2-1449.
Tickets for A Night to Remember -- Performance and Dinner are also on sale now.
The three packages, which benefit the Memorial Hall Transformation, have been
designed around Cosby's Sept. 21 shows.
The first includes best seats for the 7 p.m. performance, dinner in the Old
Well Room at The Carolina Inn and a chance to meet Cosby and have a photo
opportunity with him as well. The price is $500 per person.
The second package is $250 per person and includes best seats for the 7 p.m.
performance and dinner.
The third is $100 per person, and for that the ticket holder receives best
seats for either the 7 or 9:30 p.m. performance, and the price also includes a
$50 gift to Memorial Hall Transformation.
For more information about these packages, call George Ann Bissett, campaign
director for the Memorial Hall Transformation, at 3-5112.
Performing Arts Series schedule announced
The Carolina Union Performing Arts Series, which features music, opera,
jazz and voice from around the world, begins its season Oct. 26. The venue for
the series will change beginning with the March performance, when Memorial Hall
prepares to begin renovations.
Season subscriptions are on sale now and carry a 15 percent discount off
general public prices and parking options.
Individual tickets go on sale Aug. 22.
Tickets are available at the Carolina Union Box Office in the lobby of the
Student Union. For more information and ticket prices, call the box office at
2-1449.
All performances begin at 8 p.m.
* Oct. 26: Mark O'Connor and the Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra. Memorial Hall.
* Nov. 5: Western Opera Theater's Cosi Fan Tutte. Memorial Hall.
* Jan. 28: New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players' H.M.S. Pinafore.
Memorial Hall.
* March 1: Cyrus Chestnut. Hill Hall.
* March 19: Chanticleer. University United Methodist Church.
* April 12: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Hill Hall.
* April 25: Gyuto Monks, Tibetan Tantric Choir. University United Methodist
Church.
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
FRONT PAGE
| NEXT ARTICLE |
PREVIOUS ARTICLE |
UNC HOMEPAGE