Wanda Sykes

Anchorage Concert Association

Duration: 80 min

Sunday, May 5, 2024

7:30 PM

Atwood Concert Hall

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Event Info

Please read the information below about phone use during the show below before purchasing tickets.

WANDA SYKES is an Emmy winning stand up comic, writer, actress and producer who has been entertaining audiences for over twenty years. She has ranked among Entertainment Weekly's “25 Funniest People in America” and her peers have called her “one of the funniest stand-up comics” in the field.

In 2023 Wanda was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Nominations; Two for her Netflix special Wanda Sykes; I’m an Entertainer (her sixth stand-up special ) and another for her role as ‘Gladys Murphy’ in Crank Yankers, a role she originated in 2004. In 2020, she received Emmy nominations for both her role as real-life comic ‘Moms Mabley’ in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and for her voice work as ‘Gladys Murphy’ in Crank Yankers. Wanda’s guest-starring role on ABC’s Black-ish also brought her two back-to-back Emmy nominations for “Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series” in 2017 and 2018. Her fifth standup special, Wanda Sykes: Not Normal, is streaming on Netflix and was nominated for two 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards; "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special” and “Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special.” The special also received a Broadcast Critic Award nomination.

Wanda can currently be seen in season 4 of the Netflix’s comedy The Upshaws, which she is writing, co-showrunning and starring in. The Upshaws centers on a working-class African American family in Indiana struggling to make it work and make it right without any blueprints. The show was recently picked up for a fourth season with 12 episodes. Season one was nominated for a People’s Choice Award and a 2022 NAACP Image Award. Sykes was also nominated for and NAACP Image award for supporting actress. In 2022, she was seen starring in the Hulu / Mel Brooks series History of the World PT2 which she also writes and produces with Nick Kroll and Ike Barinholtz. She recently produced and was a part of the Apple TV+ 5-part documentary series Visible; Out on Television, about how the LGBTQ movement has shaped the history of the medium. Each hour-long episode explores themes of homophobia, the evolution of the LGBTQ character, and coming out in the television industry. Wanda spent five years on the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine co-starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as well as HBO's critically acclaimed The Chris Rock Show (the latter of which earned her two Emmy nominations and one win). She has appeared in Broad City, House of Lies, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and many more hit television shows. Other TV credits include Fox's Wanda at Large which she wrote, produced and starred in, Wanda Does It on Comedy Central, and Crank Yankers. Wanda even starred on her own late-night talk show on Fox, The Wanda Sykes Show.

In 2017, Wanda was seen in the feature comedy Snatched, opposite Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn. She was also seen in Evan Almighty (sequel to Bruce Almighty), in which she co-starred with Steve Carell, the cult-hit Monster-In-Law with Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, Pootie Tang, Nutty Professor 2; The Klumps, Down to Earth and many more.

Wanda has had four comedy specials prior to Not Normal; 2016’s What Happened...Ms. Sykes? which premiered on Epix, 2009’s Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me on HBO, nominated for two Emmys, HBO’s 2006 comedy special Wanda Sykes: Sick & Tired, nominated for a 2007 Emmy
for “Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special,” and her first, 2003’s Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied, which premiered on Comedy Central. Her stand up has tackled everything from politics and marriage to racial profiling and parenting.

In 2012, Wanda joined forces with veteran producer Page Hurwitz to form Push It Productions, a production company dedicated to creating quality, comedy-based programming for network and cable television outlets. The company's diverse slate of projects includes sketch comedy, concerts, reality talk/variety, and competition formats. In just its first year, Push It made a first look production deal with NBC, had a new series on OWN (Herlarious, which was the recipient of a 2014 Gracie Award), and the company currently has shows in development with NickMom (Comedy Camp) and Comcast. Push It Productions produced the 8th and 9th seasons of NBC’s Last Comic Standing and the second season of Talk Show The Game Show, which premiered on TruTV in February 2018. They also helmed the second season of Face Value, hosted by Deon Cole, which returned to BET in spring 2018.

Push It received two Primetime Emmy nominations in 2020 for “Outstanding Variety Special” for Tiffany Haddish: Black Mitzvah and for “Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series” for Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready.”

Wanda can be heard in many animated feature films and television shows, such as Fox’s Ice Ace: Collision Course (reprising her role as ‘Granny’ from Ice Age: Continental Drift) Dreamworks’ Over the Hedge and Paramount’s The Barnyard, as well as children's shows Vampirina and Doc McStuffins.

Wanda’s first book, Yeah, I Said It, published by Simon and Schuster, hit bookstores in September 2004. Yeah, I Said It is a hilarious collection of essays touching on life, family and the current events of the time. Wanda was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in Maryland. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University. Her stand up career began at a Coors Light Super talent Showcase in Washington, D.C. where she performed for the first time in front of a live audience

PLEASE NOTE:

This event will be a phone-free experience. Use of phones, smart watches, and accessories will not be permitted in the performance space. Upon arrival at the venue, all phones, smart watches, and accessories will be secured in individual Yondr pouches that will be opened at the end of the event. Guests maintain possession of their devices at all times and can access them throughout the event only in the designated Phone Use Area on the Orchestra Level Skybridge. All devices will be re-secured in Yondr pouches before returning to the performance space. Anyone seen using a device (phone, smart watch or accessories) during the performance will be escorted out of the venue without a refund.

Yondr FAQ

WANDA SYKES owns all rights in the content and materials delivered during her performance (the “Materials”). Any use of the Materials without the express prior written consent of WANDA SYKES is strictly prohibited and is punishable to the full extent of the law.

Notice

Babies

Ticket required for all ages

Unaccompanied Minors (Under Age 21)

Seating for unaccompanied minors under age 21 is limited to the orchestra level (first floor) only. Minors attending with their own parent or legal guardian may sit in any seat.

Donor Lounge

The Gregory M. Carr Family Lounge opens 1 hour prior to this event. Access is an exclusive benefit for the PAC’s donors of $750 and more. Capacity is limited. Find out more at PAC Donor Lounge.

Guidelines For Attending

We look forward to seeing you at the theatre for Wanda Sykes. Here are some guidelines you need to know before coming to the show.

Entry to the theatre will be on the town square side of the building instead of the 5th and 6th avenue entrances.

For a smoother entry and to comply with the artist's no-phone policy, we highly recommend bringing printed tickets to the show. Tickets can be printed at home starting 48 hours prior to the event. Yondr staff will write your seat information down before your phone is secured if you do not have printed tickets.

Read more about the Yondr phone-free experience above.

Safety and Security

All patrons, including off-duty police officers are strictly prohibited from bringing weapons (including but not limited to firearms and knives), large bags, or backpacks into the theatre for this show.

Accessibility

If you already have tickets and are concerned that your current seats may not fulfill your needs, please complete this special seating request form.

Wheelchairs: All levels of the Performing Arts Center have wheelchair accessible locations where patrons may either remain seated in their wheelchairs or transfer to portable seats. Courtesy wheelchairs may be borrowed while on site thanks to the Carolyn Ramey Memorial Fund.; Reserved Seating:
Select seats labeled with a wheelchair icon to choose these seats.
Scooters: All levels of the Performing Arts Center have scooter accessible locations where patrons may either remain seated in their scooter or transfer to portable seats. Scooters cannot be placed in the aisles due to the Performing Arts Center's evacuation plan. Patrons are welcome to transfer to a Performing Arts Center transport wheelchair in the lobby to gain access to permanent seat locations. Scooters will be stored in the lobbies.
ASL Interpreter: Arrange:
An ASL Interpreter can be arranged for these performance dates 05-05-2024 7:30 pm.; Please contact CenterTix by noon on the last weekday that is at least 3 weeks prior to the performance to request this service. Ticket purchase required.
Assistive Listening Devices: Sound from the stage is broadcast directly to you by our in-house listening system (Listen Technologies LR-52000-072). This system has a standard 3.5mm output jack, so you can use your own headset or one of our stereo headsets. A limited number of T-coil compatible loop lanyards are also available. Listening devices are kept at the House Manager's station in the lobby prior to and during performances. This service is free of charge, however a deposit or ID is required.
Braille or Large Print: Programs are available if requested at least 3 weeks prior to the event.