Vicki Lawrence and Mama Kick Off Reagle Music Theater's 45th Season

The irrepressible Emmy Award-winning television star Vicki Lawrence, best known for her scene-stealing comedy on the legendary Carol Burnett Show and Mama's Family, brings her crowd-pleasing "Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two Woman Show" to Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston on Sunday, February 17 at 2 p.m. In an exclusive Boston area engagement, Lawrence sings, shares stories, and unleashes the hilarious wit and wisdom of the character that made her famous, the cantankerous Thelma Harper, also known as Mama.

Lawrence kicks off Reagle Music Theatre's spring concert series and 45th consecutive season. The series continues March 15-17 with Reagle's 15th anniversary celebration "A Little Bit of Ireland" performed this year in memory of world-renowned Celtic fiddler Larry Reynolds. On April 21 Reagle welcomes the multi-talented actress, entertainer and Broadway luminary Lucie Arnaz in a concert that critics say proves that the daughter of the legendary Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz is a true star in her own right.

"We are thrilled to be starting our 45th season by featuring two stars with such celebrated pedigrees," says Robert Eagle, producing artistic director of Reagle Music Theatre. "Both started their careers at a very early age, Vicki as a teenager at the knee of Carol Burnett and Lucie literally growing up in the spotlight learning from true television pioneers. Each has taken the best from the best and they are now megawatt performers themselves."

While still in high school, Vicki Lawrence sang with the Young Americans, appearing with them in a feature film that won an Academy Award for Best Documentary. During her senior year she was chosen to play Carol Burnett's younger sister on the Carol Burnett ShoW. Lawrence became a series regular, performing musical numbers and teaming with Burnett, Harvey Korman, Lyle Wagonner and Tim Conway to create some of the most memorable sketch comedy of all time. During the show's 11-year run, Lawrence earned five Emmy Award nominations and won once - for her outrageous portrayal of Mama in the character's debut seventh season.

After the Carol Burnett Show ended, Lawrence reprised her role of Thelma Harper in A New Television series, Mama's Family. The show, which co-starred Ken Berry, ran for two years on NBC, then ran for five more years in first-run syndication. Since then Lawrence has hosted the game show Win, Lose or Draw and her own television talk show, Vicki! for which she earned a Daytime Emmy nomination. Lawrence also played Mamaw Stewart, grandmother to Miley Cyrus' character, in the hit Disney Channel series Hannah Montana.

A fine singer, Lawrence earned a Gold Record for her #1 hit single, "The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia." The cross-over country and pop song sold more than 2,000,000 copies. Lawrence has also appeared on stage in numerous prominent regional Theater Productions including Carousel, No, No Nanette, Chapter Two, Hello, Dolly!, and Annie Get Your Gun. Most recently she appeared in the Vagina Monologues. Her autobiography titled "Vicki! The True Life and Adventures of Miss Fireball" was published by Simon and Schuster in 1995.

"Vicki Lawrence and Mama" performs at Reagle Music Theatre, Robinson Theater, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham. Tickets are priced from $34 to $54. Seniors (60+) receive $3 off adult prices. Youth tickets (ages 5-18) are $25 for any seat. Student rush seats at 50% off are available at the Box Office one hour before curtain; a valid college ID is required.

Tickets may be purchased by phone at 781-891-5600 or in person at the Box Office during regular business hours, Mondays through Fridays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and performance days 9 a.m. to curtain. Tickets may also be purchased online anytime at www.reaglemusictheatre.org. For groups of 10 or more, call 781-894-2330 or 781-891-5600.

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