FOR AN EVENING YOU WILL FORGET FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS & JEFF BABKO
The Duke Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater, in conjunction with WUSF Public Media, are proud to announce a special performance by Steve Martin and Martin Short: An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life with The Steep Canyon Rangers and Jeff Babko. Expect an evening of nonstop laughs when the stars take the stage for one night only in the Tampa Bay Area at The Mahaffey on Friday, January 19, 2018 at 7:00 pm. Martin and Short have famously shared the spotlight in films like Three Amigos and Father of the Bride and are now on the road together, sharing their latest collaboration with fans around the country.
The Steep Canyon Rangers are the Grammy®-winning American bluegrass band musicians from Brevard, North Carolina. They have been receiving rave reviews for their collaboration with the actor/banjoist Steve Martin since 2009. They recently released their newest collaboration The Long-Awaited Album. Renowned jazz pianist and Jimmy Kimmel Live band member Jeff Babko has been the touring musical director and accompanist for Martin Short since 2002. He’s performed with top musicians from James Taylor to Sheryl Crow.
Steve Martin is one of the most diversified performers and acclaimed artists of his generation. He’s an actor, comedian, author, playwright, screenwriter, producer and musician. Martin has been successful as a writer of and performer in some of the most popular movies of recent film history appearing in more than 50 films over the course of his career. Martin’s work has earned him an Academy Award®, five Grammy® awards, an Emmy®, the Mark Twain Award, an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kennedy Center Honors. He has also hosted the Academy Awards three times.
As one of the most celebrated comedians, he also is a Grammy Award winning musician who found his love for the banjo at the age of 17. He co-wrote two of the CD”s songs with the Grammy®-winning bluegrass band, Steep Canyon Rangers and won the International Bluegrass Music Association Entertainer of the Year Award.. As an author, his latest play, Meteor Shower will premiere on Broadway this fall. Previews begin November 1 at Broadways Booth Theatre with opening night set for November 29.
Martin Short, a celebrated comedian and actor, has won fans and accolades in television, film and theater since his breakout season on Saturday Night Live over 30 years ago. Now he’s on a national tour with his good friend Steve Martin in their comedy show. His popularity and exposure on SNL led Short to cross over quickly into feature films. An accomplished stage actor, Short won a Tony, Theatre World Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for his role in the revival of Little Me. He was also nominated for a Tony and took home an Outer Critics Circle Award for the musical version of Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl. He most recently appeared on Broadway in Terrence McNally’s It’s Only a Play. Short’s New York Times bestselling memoir, I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend, was published in 2014. This year, he received a Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from the Governor-general of Canada.
Tickets may be purchased online at TheMahaffey.com, charged by phone at 727.893.7832, or in person at the Mahaffey Theater Box Office.
In addition to the show, fans will be able to upgrade their experience with a one-of-a-kind pre-show and post-show VIP add-on, the Icons of Comedy Encore package. Featuring dinner and an appearance from Steve Martin and Martin Short, proceeds will benefit the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts and the Class Acts program, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The Class Acts Education Performance Arts series supports arts education in the St. Petersburg area, with ten highly anticipated performances for the 2017-2018 season.