John Cleese, Elizabeth Smart Coming To Bankhead

LIVERMORE, CA — Get ready for a flying circus, because Monty Python actor John Cleese is joining lots of other big names at the Bankhead this season.

The Bankhead just announced its new lineup for the 2024-25 season, and in addition to Cleese, audiences will enjoy singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, comedian Rita Rudner, and “Office” and “Anchorman” star David Koechner. Koechner, who played obnoxious Dunder Mifflin salesman Todd Packer on “The Office,” will host a night of “Office” trivia on Oct. 11. On March 30, Elizabeth Smart, who at age 14 was abducted and kidnapped for nine months, will speak about her work as a child welfare activist.

Cleese is best known as one of the cofounders of Monty Python, a beloved British comedy troupe. He has starred in three Monty Python films, and starred as Basil Fawlty in the sitcom “Fawlty Towers.” In 2000, the show ranked first on the British Film Institute’s list of 100 Greatest British Television Programmes, and a 2001 Channel 4 poll ranked Basil Fawlty second on its list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters. He has starred in a number of other films and shows, including two James Bond films, two Harry Potter films, and the last three Shrek films.

Kicking off the season will be American Idol star and Broadway actress Katharine McPhee, who will host the “Brilliance at the Bankhead” gala Sept. 7.

Visit livermorearts.org for more information.

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