Bill Maher to Perform at The Van Wezel, 10/26

For more than twenty years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television. He will bring this trailblazing style to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on October 26.

First on "Politically Incorrect" (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002), and for the last twelve years on HBO's "Real Time," Maher's combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him 32 Emmy nominations. In October of 2008, this same combination was on display in Maher's uproarious and unprecedented swipe at organized religion, "Religulous," directed by Larry Charles ("Borat"). The documentary has gone on to become the 8th Highest Grossing Documentary ever.

In addition to his television program - which has featured such regular visitors as Howard Dean, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Arianna Huffington, Cory Booker and Michael Moore - Maher has written five bestsellers: "True Story," "Does Anybody Have a Problem with That? Politically Incorrect's Greatest Hits," "When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden," "New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer," and most recently, "The New New Rules: A Funny Look at How Everybody But Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass."

Maher started his career as a stand-up comedian in 1979, and still performs at least fifty dates a year in Las Vegas and in sold out theaters all across the country. Three of his nine stand-up specials for HBO - 2007's "The Decider," 2005's "I'm Swiss," as well as his most recent, the hilarious, "Bill Maher ... But I'm Not Wrong," - have been nominated for Emmy awards.

Tickets are priced from $35-$95. For more information, call the Box Office at 941-953-3368 or visit www.VanWezel.org.