Updated: 5:02 p.m.
TV personality Bill Maher will be the featured performer at Colonials Weekend this year.
Maher will take the stage at the Smith Center Oct. 15 during the 10th annual Colonials Weekend, a two and a half-day event designed to give parents and families an opportunity to visit campus. Colonials Weekend 2011 is slated to begin Oct. 14 and end Oct. 16.
“Given his track record of addressing the hottest social and political issues, Bill Maher will fit right in with the engaged nature of our campus community,” Robert Chernak, senior vice provost and senior vice president for student and academic support services, said.
The comedian and host of the HBO program “Real Time with Bill Maher” is notorious for his satirical political commentary. His 2008 documentary, “Religulous,” analyzed organized faith from a facetious angle.
Tickets can be purchased at the GWired website or through the Smith Center’s box office, at 202-994-6050, beginning July 5 at 10 a.m. University spokeswoman Courtney Bowe said the University will have information about ticket prices and show times as the show date approaches, including how many performances Maher will put on. Typically, there are two shows.
Maher’s selection follows a University trend of selecting comedians to perform for students and families at the weekend’s main event. Last year, comedian Jimmy Fallon headlined the weekend, and in 2009, “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart drew laughs at two sold-out performances.
In earlier years, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld and Whoopi Goldberg headlined the weekend.