You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who’s more hilariously “fed up” than Lewis Black. Beloved for his trademark bark and biting commentary, Black brilliantly points out — both literally and figuratively — the ridiculousness of life with a signature comedic style that’s delighted audiences for decades. After more than 35 years of performing all over the world, Black recently announced he’s saying farewell to the road. He will write the next chapter of his career by going back to his roots and focusing on writing a new play, penning a new book, and expanding his podcast – the Rantcast – to include live recordings.
Black’s last tour will make two stops in Western New York coming up this week presented by the National Comedy Center as part of the two-time Grammy Award-winning comedian’s “Goodbye Yeller Brick Road, The Final Tour.” Black will perform in Buffalo at the Riviera Theatre (North Tonawanda) on Thursday, September 5 and at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts in Jamestown on Friday, September 6.
Known as “King of the Rant,” Black’s comedic brilliance makes people laugh at life’s hypocrisies and the insanity he sees in the world. He is the longest-running correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show and is currently starring as the voice of “Anger” in the Disney and Pixar Academy Award-winning Inside Out and the new blockbuster Inside Out 2 – now the highest-grossing animated movie of all time.
Black has been entertaining audiences in this region since his first performance at the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in 1993.
“It’s always been a thrill for me to come to Jamestown and Buffalo, spend time in this incredible museum and perform for National Comedy Center audiences,” stated Lewis Black. “It means a lot to me to take the stage on this final tour, for these two very special shows, performing for friends and fans who love comedy as much as I do.”
Black is a National Comedy Center Advisory Board member and a longtime supporter of the non-profit cultural institution, which became the nation’s first official archive and museum dedicated to preserving and presenting comedy’s heritage when it opened its doors in 2018.
“Audiences here in Western New York have loved and appreciated Lewis Black’s comedy for decades,” said National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson. “Lewis has become a steadfast supporter of the National Comedy Center’s non-profit mission. On this, his final tour of his extraordinary career, it’s an honor to bring him back for two final shows so that we can share that experience together. He’s been an ambassador for the comedy community to receive an elevated level of regard within the arts, and he’s one of most respected practitioners of the craft. From being the longest-running correspondent of The Daily Show, to his singular style and voice gracing stages for decades, he’s an artist taking a final bow on tour, and it’s not to miss if you live in Western New York.”
Ticket for these two shows are selling fast. Details are available at ComedyCenter.org/LewisBlack. All ticket holders for the Lewis Black shows will receive the benefit of a special admission offer for the National Comedy Center museum experience in Jamestown – a complimentary museum admission ticket with the purchase of one regular museum admission.