April 29 • 7:30 PM
John Berry
One-man Vaudeville Performer
October 14 • 7:30 PM
Al Simmons
Vaudeville’s half-century run of popularity may have died back in the 1940's, but don’t try to tell that to Simmons or the crowds of fans that have packed theatres across North America. From the tradition of the great comedy kings – Danny Kaye, Spike Jones and Jimmy Durante – comes Al Simmons, a man dedicated to the all but lost art of combining comedy with song, dance, magic, and sight-gags. The end result is a one-man variety show – old-fashioned, good-natured fun.
Al Simmons’ one-man, multi-prop, music-filled, off the wall performances have elevated audiences worldwide to collective giggles and all-out guffaws. At once childlike in its simplicity and sophisticated in its execution, Al’s humor touches a responsive chord in people of every age.
In the entertainment business since 1970, the popular Manitoba-based performer is likely Canada’s most versatile comedian. He puts on a funfest, full of bizarre gadgets, wild costumes, unique songs, crazy vaudeville-inspired routines and, of course, bad puns.
It's as if he was genetically engineered for comedy. From his distant Romanian and Scottish ancestors Al has inherited a quick wit, lanky legs, large flipper like feet and a rubber face. His father, a charismatic magazine salesman and would be performer, spent many hours telling tall tales and reenacting old vaudeville routines in their living-room. Al's Mom taught the budding young vaudevillian the genteel art of punning, silly songs and magic tricks. But the most important thing that his parents taught him was how to use his talents to do good and bring happiness to the world without hurting anyone. His extended family was made up of punsters, pranksters and eccentrics, including Al's Uncle Nick, who toured Eastern Canada as Steamboat Harris, best known for playing a ukulele made out of a toilet seat!
Al has won a Juno Award (The Canadian equivalent to a Grammy), he’s a Member of the Order of Manitoba, a Paul Harris Fellow, and an Honourary Air Marshall. He was a gold medal winner at the 2005 World Championship Zuccini Race, and a restaurant in his hometown named a hotdog after him. He has put out three CDs: Something’s Fishy at Camp Wiganishie, Celery Stalks at Midnight, and The Truck I Bought From Moe, all of which won Parents’ Choice honors and were nominated for Juno awards. Celery Stalks, Al’s brilliant ode to Vaudeville, won the 1995 Juno Award for Best Children’s Album. He is an author; “Counting Feathers,” his illustrated children’s book, was short-listed for the McNally-Robinson Book of the Year in 1997. He received a coveted Cable Ace Award nomination for his music video "I Collect Rocks," which is also the title track of his DVD that contains 6 of his wacky music videos and features his Horse-cycle “Ol’ Spoke”.
Al and his wife Barbara have been married since 1976 and live in harmony and pandemonium near the small Manitoba town of Anola, on a 15-acre ranch with two head of cat. They have three sons, Karl, Will, and Brad, and four granddaughters, Ashley, Kaitlin, Marley and Clover. Their home, built around two train cars, is equipped with a fire-pole that connects an upstairs shop with a main-floor playroom lined with mattresses and filled with pillows. Their yard is flowered with zip lines, Tarzan ropes, slides and swings, and bountiful, fruit and vegetable gardens. There’s an old bus seat perched on the roof, creating an observation deck under the soothing prairie skies. Yes, the lineage, the lore, and the legends of vaudeville are nourished, and flourish, here on the Simmons’ ranch, where always is heard a hilarious word, and the loon and the ludicrous roam.
A Creative Genius with the Soul of a Vaudevillian, Al Simmons is a one-man cast of thousands! A modern day comedy chameleon! A wizard of one-liners!
Al Simmons’ one-man, multi-prop, music-filled, off the wall performances have elevated audiences worldwide to collective giggles and all-out guffaws. At once childlike in its simplicity and sophisticated in its execution, Al’s humor touches a responsive chord in people of every age.
In the entertainment business since 1970, the popular Manitoba-based performer is likely Canada’s most versatile comedian. He puts on a funfest, full of bizarre gadgets, wild costumes, unique songs, crazy vaudeville-inspired routines and, of course, bad puns.
It's as if he was genetically engineered for comedy. From his distant Romanian and Scottish ancestors Al has inherited a quick wit, lanky legs, large flipper like feet and a rubber face. His father, a charismatic magazine salesman and would be performer, spent many hours telling tall tales and reenacting old vaudeville routines in their living-room. Al's Mom taught the budding young vaudevillian the genteel art of punning, silly songs and magic tricks. But the most important thing that his parents taught him was how to use his talents to do good and bring happiness to the world without hurting anyone. His extended family was made up of punsters, pranksters and eccentrics, including Al's Uncle Nick, who toured Eastern Canada as Steamboat Harris, best known for playing a ukulele made out of a toilet seat!
Al has won a Juno Award (The Canadian equivalent to a Grammy), he’s a Member of the Order of Manitoba, a Paul Harris Fellow, and an Honourary Air Marshall. He was a gold medal winner at the 2005 World Championship Zuccini Race, and a restaurant in his hometown named a hotdog after him. He has put out three CDs: Something’s Fishy at Camp Wiganishie, Celery Stalks at Midnight, and The Truck I Bought From Moe, all of which won Parents’ Choice honors and were nominated for Juno awards. Celery Stalks, Al’s brilliant ode to Vaudeville, won the 1995 Juno Award for Best Children’s Album. He is an author; “Counting Feathers,” his illustrated children’s book, was short-listed for the McNally-Robinson Book of the Year in 1997. He received a coveted Cable Ace Award nomination for his music video "I Collect Rocks," which is also the title track of his DVD that contains 6 of his wacky music videos and features his Horse-cycle “Ol’ Spoke”.
Al and his wife Barbara have been married since 1976 and live in harmony and pandemonium near the small Manitoba town of Anola, on a 15-acre ranch with two head of cat. They have three sons, Karl, Will, and Brad, and four granddaughters, Ashley, Kaitlin, Marley and Clover. Their home, built around two train cars, is equipped with a fire-pole that connects an upstairs shop with a main-floor playroom lined with mattresses and filled with pillows. Their yard is flowered with zip lines, Tarzan ropes, slides and swings, and bountiful, fruit and vegetable gardens. There’s an old bus seat perched on the roof, creating an observation deck under the soothing prairie skies. Yes, the lineage, the lore, and the legends of vaudeville are nourished, and flourish, here on the Simmons’ ranch, where always is heard a hilarious word, and the loon and the ludicrous roam.
A Creative Genius with the Soul of a Vaudevillian, Al Simmons is a one-man cast of thousands! A modern day comedy chameleon! A wizard of one-liners!
© 2014 Greenville Entertainment Series • P.O. Box 8642, Greenville TX 75404. All rights reserved.
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