Comedian Martin Short One Night Only at the McCoy Center in New Albany

[New Albany, OH, May 7, 2009] The Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts announced today the appearance of Martin Short on Wednesday, April 29th at 7:30 p.m. The performance will be the centerpiece of the McCoy Center's annual fundraiser, The Center Stage Gala, which raises funds to support the community programming presented throughout the season.

In making the announcement, the McCoy Center Executive Director Ted DeDee stated, Martin Short is the quintessential comedian who has this remarkable gift of allowing us to laugh at ourselves and our circumstances through his beloved characters, some of whom he will recreate for the Gala evening. Short's performance titled If I'd Saved, I Wouldn't Be Here,was written by Short and the Hairspray writing team of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and will feature many of his best loved characters, including Ed Grimley and other creations from his "SCTV" and "Saturday Night Live" days, as well as his later cable creation Jimmy Glick. This performance originally debuted to much acclaim on Broadway in the spring of 2006.

An Emmy Award-winning actor, Short made his big screen debut in Three Amigos where he worked alongside former Saturday Night Live colleagues Chevy Chase and Steve Martin. Other comedic roles include Inner Space, Tim Burton's Mars Attacks, Jungle to Jungle and The Big Picture, among others. Two of his most memorable roles included his character Franck the wedding planner in Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride II.

Tickets are $75 each and include a post show dessert reception on stage at the McCoy Center. Please call Julie Kriss at 614/939-2245 or visit www.mccoycenterforthearts.com to purchase tickets. Leadership and sponsorship gifts are also available and come with additional amenities for the evening. Please call for additional information.

The Center Stage Gala kicks off the 2009 season of the New Albany Classic Signature Series and has been underwritten by the New Albany Company and the Wexner family through a grant to the New Albany Community Foundation. Generous season support has been provided by major sponsors DSW and Fifth Third Bank. One hundred percent of the evening's proceeds will be used to support enriching community programming at the McCoy Center during the 2009-2010 season. In addition, the McCoy Center has partnered with NBC4 and the Funny Bone Comedy Club at Easton Town Center to promote the event throughout central Ohio.

The current season at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts has offered diverse programming such as National Geographic award-winning photographer, David Doubilet, popular country music performer, Sara Evans, and the renowned Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. The McCoy will welcome the Broadway musical, Footloose this Friday, March 20th and motivational speaker and inspiration for the movie The Rookie, Jim Morris, on May 21st.

The New Albany Community Foundation has established endowments designed to support ongoing educational and cultural programming in the center for students and residents. To date, over $8 million has been gifted or pledged to the New Albany Community Foundation in support of the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts and supporting endowments, including a $2 million gift from resident, John G. McCoy, in honor of his late wife, Jeanne. Land for the $15 million facility situated in the heart of the historic village center and contiguous to the learning community campus was donated by The New Albany Company.

The complete 2009 Signature Series schedule is as follows:

Music at Market Square featuring the Columbus Jazz Arts Group and the New Albany Chamber's Taste of New Albany
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Market Square

New Albany Walking Classic
Sunday, September 13, 2009
New Albany

New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix & Family Day
Sunday, September 27, 2009
One Classic Drive

A Remarkable Evening
Featured speaker to be announced Wednesday, November 18, 2009
One Whitebarn Road

Initiated in 1999, the New Albany Classic Signature Series is a program of community-based activities presented each year in New Albany. Developed and supported by the New Albany Company, New Albany Realty and the Wexner family through a grant to the New Albany Community Foundation, the series contributes to the quality of life for families in New Albany and beyond by presenting events and activities that emphasize health and wellness, cultural appreciation, life-long learning, and concern for the greater good.