Controversial comedian Roseanne Barr will perform stand-up at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe on May 4
From a press release:
It was announced today that comedian, actress, and former television star Roseanne Barr, who became a household name for her hit ABC sitcom “Roseanne” that ran from 1988 through 1997 and was briefly revived earlier this year, will bring her stand-up act to Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe on Saturday, May 4 at 8 p.m.
The decision to bring Barr to the area is a controversial one after her statements last May. The “Roseanne” revival premiered on March 27, 2018 to massive ratings and rave reviews, but the 10th season was quickly canceled on May 29 after Barr likened former Obama administration official Valerie Jarrett to the “Muslim brotherhood and ‘Planet of the Apes'” in a tweet widely condemned as racist. Immediately firing Barr, ABC moved on with a spin-off continuation of the show called “The Connors.” The rest of the “Roseanne” cast reprises their roles as the Connor family, who are struggling to get by following the death of Barr’s character from an opioid overdose.
Barr, who continues to defend herself by saying that she did not intend any racism and she was targeted by Hollywood for her support of President Donald Trump, still tweets and updates her YouTube channel regularly:
Tickets to the Penn’s Peak show, which are $50 for regular reserved seating and $57 for premium reserved seating, go on sale next Friday, Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Penn’s Peak box office (325 Maury Rd., Jim Thorpe), and Roadies Restaurant and Bar (325 Maury Rd., Jim Thorpe). Penn’s Peak box office and Roadies Restaurant ticket sales are walk-up only; no phone orders.
Her bio, provided in a press release reprinted below, does not include any mention of the firing or her past controversial statements and actions.
Comedy superstar, award-winning actress, bestselling author, 2012 presidential candidate, and the original domestic goddess, Roseanne Barr, continues to amaze. After nine years, 224 episodes, four Emmy Awards, and countless other accolades, she single-handedly re-landscaped the medium of situational comedy forever. Her creation and stark portrayal of Roseanne Conner and the Conner family on ABC’s “Roseanne” has been hailed as “the most groundbreaking kitchen-sink sitcom since ‘All in the Family,’” (Entertainment Weekly) adding, “she’s the funniest disturber of peace that we have.”
She began her career as a stand-up comedian, turning her experiences as a wife and mother into a hilarious comedy act that audiences couldn’t resist. She subsequently produced and starred on her own hit sitcom, “Roseanne,” which ran for nine seasons and averaged a staggering 30 million viewers each week. The role earned Barr an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, the prestigious Peabody Award, a Kids’ Choice Award, and multiple American Comedy Awards.
In 2014, Barr became the center judge on NBC’s long-running series “Last Comic Standing,” produced by Wanda Sykes. Barr is also the subject of a new documentary that chronicles her 2012 presidential campaign, “Roseanne for President!” Directed by longtime Michael Moore collaborator Eric Weinrib, the film says big things about how the system works by highlighting how it actually doesn’t and poking vicious fun at big party politics along the way.
In recent years, the Salt Lake City native has guest starred on a variety of shows, including “The Office,” “Portlandia,” and “The Millers.” In January 2015, Barr returned to her sitcom roots when she appeared on ABC’s hit sitcom “Cristela,” which earned the show its highest rating of the season. Barr also had her own talk show, “The Roseanne Show,” which earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Talk Show Host. Her big screen credits include “She Devil,” “Freddy’s Dead,” “Blue in the Face,” and “Meet Wally Sparks.” She has also voiced characters in “Look Who’s Talking Too” and “Home on the Range.” She has written three books: “Roseanne: My Life as a Woman,” “My Lives” and, most recently, “Roseannearchy: Dispatches from the Nut Farm.”
At Full Moon and High Tide Studio, Barr’s family-run production company, she is currently spearheading numerous projects. The studio produced her first DVD for children, titled “Rockin’ with Roseanne: Calling All Kids!,” which was inspired by Barr’s grandchildren. FMHT has produced original programming for VH1, in addition to her fourth HBO comedy special, “Roseanne Barr: Blonde and Bitchin’,” and videos for Barr’s YouTube channel.
A titan in the world of stand-up comedy, Barr returned to her love of live performance, touring select cities around the country and abroad. In addition to making people laugh, she continues to be a “voice for the voiceless.” Whether it be fighting the BDS movement in Israel, thwarting GMO efforts on the Big Island in Hawaii, aiding the Native American families of Pine Ridge, or advocating for the legalization of marijuana, her activism is unwavering.
And in 2018, “Roseanne,” the timeless sitcom that broke new ground in its original run, returned to ABC to record-breaking ratings. With the inimitable Roseanne at its epicenter, fresh stories that tackled today’s issues and even more laughs from a brilliant cast and crew that haven’t missed a beat, audiences old and new celebrated the homecoming of America’s favorite working-class family. Dedicated Roseanne fans continue to enjoy the original nine seasons on various cable outlets.
