Fasten your seatbelts theatergoers. For one night only, KHOU Channel 11 talk show host Deborah Duncan will unleash her not-so-inner diva in what promises to be a dynamite evening of music and comedy on stage in Zilkha Hall of the Hobby Center.
The curtain goes up Nov. 5 on the two-hour show that will feature Duncan both as comedienne and singer along with two-time Grammy winning jazz singer Diane Schuur. Adding to the on-stage romp will be Sue and Lester Smith, who will serve as masters of ceremonies. This guaranteed-to-entertain evening will double as a benefit for Mission of Yahweh, a homeless shelter for women and children.
Best known as host of KHOU's Great Day Houston, Duncan has entertained at galas, sings on the show and sings on a float in H-Town's Thanksgiving Day Parade. But for this evening, she steps into the most challenging performance territory of all — that of stand-up comic. "Deborah Duncan & Diane Schuur Unplugged and on a Mission" will be the TV headliner's first venture in the comedy arena.
It's a talent, Duncan says, that she honed during her childhood in a military family that moved frequently. "I went to five elementary schools and quickly figured out that if you could make people laugh, you could break down walls and make friends fast."
Anyone who has seen Duncan sing knows that she has super talent that could have taken her beyond the TV realm. "As for music, I just love it," she says. "I won an Emmy for the song created for the Star of Hope community project a couple of years ago. Other local artists joined me on the holiday CD benefittng the shelter."
In addition to that, Great Day Houston won an Emmy for entertainment on a holiday show during which Duncan ad Steve Tyrell sang together.
The fundraiser is the brainchild of Duncan and Paul-David Van Atta, who is serving as producer and director. Handling the benefit aspect of the evening are chairs Jenee Stefanakis, Alicia Smith and Stephanie Perkins.
Tickets begin at $75 per seat. A $500 per person ticket includes a pre-performance reception at Artista in the Hobby Center. Higher priced tickets include pre- and post-performance receptions. Reservations are available by contacting Linda Rhodes via email, linda@pdvspecialevents.com.
Paul and Penny Loyd are major underwriters of the benefit along with Lester and Sue Smith.
