On Friday, January 27 at 8pm, for one night only, the King of Long Island comes home in his first Staller Center appearance, blocks away from the streets that built him! “We’re thrilled to bring Kevin James to Staller Center,” says Alan Inkles, Director of the Staller Center, “I’ve been looking forward to hosting him here in his hometown for some time now, and I know this will be a really special show for our audience.” Tickets will be available at stallercenter.com on September 15th at 10am.
Since performing his first Stand-up set at Long Island’s East Side Comedy Club in 1989, Kevin James has established himself as a powerhouse actor, writer, and comedian. Discovered at the 1996 Montreal Comedy Festival, he signed a deal with Paramount to develop his own sitcom, The King of Queens. Earning an Emmy nomination for his role, James starred in all nine seasons of the smash hit show, which continues to air daily in syndication. Moving from television to film, James’ iconic roles in the films Hitch, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, and Grown Ups catapulted him into stardom. He continues to dominate all of these mediums, having starred in the sitcoms Kevin Can Wait and The Crew and the new films Hubie Halloween, Home Team, and Becky, all while lending his voice to the Hotel Transylvania films.
It’s in his stand-up, though, that James shines the brightest. Ranked as one of the 100 greatest stand-ups by Comedy Central, his lauded specials Sweat The Small Stuff and Never Don’t Give Up have solidified James as one of the top comics of his generation. Now, James brings that incisive, irreverent stand-up to the Main Stage in an all-out hilarious evening. Returning to his Stony Brook roots, James will have audiences doubled over in laughter as he comes home- and brings his biting, uproarious wit with him.
PLUS: 2022 FALL SEASON KICKS OFF SEPTEMBER 23 – On September 23, 2022 rhythm & blues duo LION BABE bring their unique brand of funk, soul, and sonic magic to the Staller Center Recital Hall in their first-ever Performing Arts Center appearance. Partners on-stage and off, Lion Babe fuses hip-hop energy with songs that embrace self-love, power, and strength. Multi-disciplinary artist Jillian Hervey (daughter of Vanessa Williams) and DJ/producer Lucas Goodman (aka AstroRaw) perform original songs, including Wonder Woman, produced by Pharrell Williams, and Hit the Ceiling, featured on HBO's Insecure, classic covers like Carly Simon's Why, and new material from their latest album cosmic wind.
Virtuoso cellist and Stony Brook artist-in-residence COLIN CARR joins award-winning pianist KYUNGWHA CHU to perform masterworks of the chamber music repertoire on September 28. Carr and Chu will bring their insight and extraordinary artistry to Beethoven's Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69 for cello and piano, and Rachmaninov's Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 19, the composer's last chamber music composition. Proceeds from the concert will benefit cello students in the Department of Music at Stony Brook.
Closing out September, vocalist MORGAN JAMES brings her meticulously trained, the versatile voice of unbridled soul to Staller Center on September 29. Morgan James is a Broadway performer with a soulful voice and a bent toward vintage-sounding R&B. Morgan James has dominated Broadway and Blues Halls alike. Her transfixing stage presence coupled with the unparalleled instrument that is her voice moved the Wall Street Journal to hail James as "the most promising young vocalist to come along so far this century."
October ushers in a broad spectrum of programs and works with something for everyone: gravity-defying maneuvers of THE PEKING ACROBATS, vocalist MACY KATE, the EMERSON STRING QUARTET, exuberant comedy from VIC DIBITTETO, and the charisma of cabaret legend MICHAEL FEINSTEIN.
A dynamic array of inspiring and matchless performances will highlight the 2022 Fall season at Staller Center for the Arts. With a diverse lineup of performers, Staller Center showcases both emerging and established artists of wide-ranging appeal.
About Staller Center
Founded in 1978, Staller Center for the Arts is a cultural hub on the campus of Stony Brook University. Staller Center offers full seasons of live world-class performances, as well as the Metropolitan Opera in HD, and a complement of Community Education and Outreach events, providing youth and students the opportunity to incorporate cultural arts into their lives. Staller Center also many Department of Music events. The Stony Brook Film Festival, presented by Island Federal Credit Union and now in its 27th year, is an annual summer showcase for new independent film from around the world. Staller Center box office hours are MWF 11am-3pm. Phone: (631) 632-ARTS [2787]. Email: boxoffice@stallercenter.com.