Legendary comedian Carol Burnett returns to DSM Civic Center

DES MOINES — Legendary entertainer Carol Burnett returns to Des Moines Performing Arts’ Civic Center for an exclusive one-day engagement of her Q & A format, “Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett: A Conversation with Carol where the Audience Asks the Questions,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19.

If there is one thing this renowned entertainer can do better than anyone else, it is talk at length, impromptu, before a live audience. In “Laughter and Reflection with Carol Burnett,” an off-the-cuff banter with the audience, is a format that grew out of the question-and-answer sessions she shared with her studio audience on each episode of “The Carol Burnett Show.” As a weekly visitor in America’s living rooms, Burnett always opened her show with a few minutes of hilarious banter with the audience. This is a rare opportunity to talk to Burnett in the same enjoyable and intimate audience-interactive format. Audience members are encouraged to come with questions and share in the fun with one of the country’s most loved and respected performers.

Following the 11-year run of “The Carol Burnett Show,” the six-time Emmy Award winner is now widely recognized for her dramatic abilities as well as her comedic and stage talents. In addition to being a best-selling author and a Grammy nominee, she is a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and The Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Burnett’s best-selling book “This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection,” was a New York Times best-seller as was her autobiography “One More Time.” Her latest book “Carrie and Me: A Mother/Daughter Love Story” will be published by Simon & Schuster on April 9. Time/Life has just released DVD’s of “The Carol Burnett Show” for retail sale, and it has quickly become one of their most successful DVD releases.

Raised by her grandmother, first in her birthplace of San Antonio, then Hollywood, Burnett attended UCLA. Soon after, she started her career in New York, where she caught fire doing hilarious sketches on “The Garry Moore Show.” At night, she dashed to Broadway where she starred in the riotous fairy tale “Once Upon a Mattress.” She moved back to Los Angeles and began “The Carol Burnett Show”, which ran for 276 episodes on CBS from 1967 to 1978. Her show is generally regarded as the last successful major network variety show.

Burnett has guest-starred on smash hit television shows such as “Glee;” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” for which she received an Emmy nomination; “Desperate Housewives” and “Mad About You.” She stars in the 30th Anniversary DVD of “Annie” and can be heard in the animated adventure, Disney’s “The Secret World of Arrietty” and FOX’s animated film, “Horton Hears a Who!”