Sinbad never tells jokes, “I don’t know any,” he admits- but rather stalks the stage, telling real-life stories. He doesn’t deliver payoff lines; he slam-dunks them. His comedy is large, physical, and impetuous. His stories mirror our foibles. Ranked by Comedy Central as one of the “100 Greatest Stand-ups of all Time,” Sinbad returns to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Sunday, August 11 at 8pm, part of Barts Tree Service Comedy Series. Sinbad has recently appeared on Disney’s “Planes,” “Comedy Bang Bang,” “The Eric Andre Show,” FX Television series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice”, and stars opposite Lil Rel Howery in “Rel” on Fox. Opening for Sinbad is The Playhouse’s own, Christine O’Leary! Visit Bareburger (38 Danbury Rd, Ridgefield) for dinner the night of the show and enjoy a complimentary glass of house wine or draft beer with your entrée when you show your ticket! Media partner for this event is 94.3 WYBC – The Rhythm of the City.
Sinbad began performing stand-up while an Air Force boom operator in Wichita, Kansas. In 1987, he landed a role of “A Different World,” a spin off from “The Cosby Show,” that featured an elite black college and its students, in which he played a loveable coach and dormitory supervisor. The 1990s brought a series of HBO specials and “The Sinbad Show” which showcased Sinbad as a foster father to two children. The series only lasted a year, but garnered him a nomination for ‘Favorite Television Actor’ in the 1995 Kid’s Choice Awards. His first HBO special in 1990 was recorded at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA and his second one at Madison Square Garden in New York, titled Sinbad – Afros and Bellbottoms for which he won his first NAACP Image Award in 1995. He won the award again in 1998 for Sinbad’s Summer Jam III: ’70s Soul Music Festival, as well as being nominated again in 1996 for his role in the animated children’s television series Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child. He has appeared in several films including: Necessary Roughness, Meteor Man, Coneheads and Houseguest (with Phil Hartman) and television shows including: “Moesha”, “Comedy Bang Bang”, “Family Guy”, “The Redd Foxx Show” and others. He produced and starred in his own WE TV’s reality show, “SINBAD: It’s Just Family.” He has done 6 one-hour comedy specials in his long comedy career, 4 on HBO and the last 2 on Comedy Central…and he’s not stopping anytime soon!
A gifted musician (he performs as Memphis Red) Sinbad often incorporates music into his act, as well as his audience. He doesn’t really do jokes, but rather has an interaction with the audience, riffing on various subjects. His stand-up has been described as “edgy, but clean” by The Times Union Comedy Blog, and he is described by Vulture as “putting on one hell of a show.”
Christine O’Leary, who is the Comedy Series Artistic Director at The Ridgefield Playhouse, is an award-winning stand-up comedian, comedy teacher, comedy mentor to members of her Team Green Light Comedy collective, and philanthropic auctioneer who has raised thousands of dollars for nonprofits in New England. O’Leary was Nominated by Curve Magazine as one of the “50 Funniest Lesbians in America.” She has worked with the top comedians in the business who grace the stage at The Ridgefield Playhouse, including Gilbert Gottfried, Joy Behar, Susie Essman, Chevy Chase, Tracy Morgan and Janeane Garofalo. She’s also worked with Margaret Cho, Ian Harvie (Transparent) and headlined Long Beach Pride events with Jennifer Hudson, Indigo Girls, KC and the Sunshine Band, and more.
For tickets ($55- $95) call or visit the box office, 203-438-5795 or go online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.
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