Comedians and Magicians to Entertain at UB Homecoming/Family Weekend, Oct. 15-18

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Nationally known comedians Bobby Collins and Caroline Rhea, and the husband-and-wife magician team The Pendragons will be among the highlights of Homecoming/Family Weekend to be held at the University at Buffalo from Oct. 15-18.

The weekend's festivities also will include a football game, a tent party and the creation of the Samuel P. Capen Society for UB alumni who received their degrees 50 or more years ago.

The weekend will open with a performance by comedian and UB alumnus Bobby Collins at 8 p.m. Oct. 15 in Slee Hall on the UB North (Amherst) Campus. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for UB alumni, and may be purchased at , 1-888-223-6000 or at the box office of Alumni Arena on the North (Amherst) Campus.

A 1973 graduate of UB, Collins scrapped a successful career as a vice president for Calvin Klein to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time comedian.

Called "the most natural comedian working today" by The New York Times and "the perfect fusion of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis" by The New York Post, Collins has a smooth style and gravelly delivery -- New York City accent and all -- that draws audience members in as if they were old friends. His brand of emotional and physical humor focuses on monologues derived from the experiences of everyday life -- including quirky family and friends -- that usually ends with Collins being the punch line.

Collins has starred in his own Showtime special and hosted VH-1's "Stand-up Spotlight," and has opened for such names entertainers as Cher, Dolly Parton, Julio Iglesias and Tony Bennett. He released his third CD, "I Wanna Go Home," last month following "On the Inside" and "Out of Bounds," which earned a Grammy nomination.

For years, Charlotte and Jonathan Pendragon have been delighting and amazing audiences all over the world with their special blend of theatrics, illusion and acrobatics. They will appear at 8 p.m. Oct. 17 in Alumni Arena. Tickets are $20 for reserved floor seats and $12 for general admission, and may be purchased at the Alumni Arena box office.

The Pendragons have been seen on all the major television networks and on cable, including CNN's "Showbiz," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "The Late Show with David Letterman." They also performed two years in a row at the President's Gala, held in the historic Ford Theatre in Washington.

Trained in theater and physical movement, Jonathan Pendragon taught classes in the illusion of stage combat during his senior year at the University of California, Irvine. He later created such memorable cinematic movements as John Belushi's back handsprings in the "Blues Brothers"

He is the youngest illusionist to receive the Performing Fellowship award from Hollywood's famed Magic Castle, and is one of only five contemporary magicians named to Magic Magazine's list of the "100 Most Influential Magicians of the 20th Century."

The most honored woman in the history of magic, Charlotte Pendragon is the first woman to win the Academy of Magical Arts' Magician of the Year award and the first woman ever voted into the Inner Circle of the Magic Circle, England's famous, and very exclusive society of magicians.

She trained in ballet and other dance styles while attending University of California, Irvine, where she met Jonathan. She later studied pilates and weight training to become a female physique champion with several national titles.

To honor the memory of Samuel P. Capen, UB's first full-time chancellor, and acknowledge all who have benefited from his leadership, the UB Alumni Association has created the Samuel P. Capen Society for UB alumni who received their degrees 50 or more years ago.

The inaugural gathering of the Capen Society will begin with a reception with President William R. Greiner at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 17 in Harriman Hall on the UB South (Main Street) Campus. After lunch at noon, tours will be offered of both UB campuses.

For more information about the Capen Society, call the Alumni Relations Office at 829-2608.

Homecoming Weekend would not be complete without a football game, and the UB Bulls will take on the Marshall University Thundering Herd -- the 2002 Mid-American Conference champion -- at 1 p.m. Oct. 18 in UB Stadium on the North Campus. Special half-time entertainment will include a performance by the UB marching band -- The Thunder of the East -- and the crowning of the homecoming king and queen.

Tickets are $10-$12 and may be purchased at the Alumni Arena box office.

Prior to the game, the UB Alumni Association will hold its traditional tent party. The event, which will be free and open to the public, will begin at 11 a.m. under the big white tent inside UB Stadium near the scoreboard.

For more information about the party, call the Office of Alumni Relations at 829-2608.

Homecoming/Family Weekend will close with "An Evening of Comedy with Caroline Rhea" at 8 p.m. Oct. 18 in Alumni Arena. Doors will open at 7 p.m.

General-seating tickets are $15 pre-sale for students, parents and alumni, and $20 for the general public. Tickets are available at the Alumni Arena box office and at any Tickets.com outlet.

Rhea, who has appeared on TV's "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" and "Hollywood Squares," now has her own afternoon talk show, "The Caroline Rhea Show."