Turlock

Cosby show in Turlock remains on schedule

By Pat Clark

pclark@modbee.com
Bill Cosby gestures during an interview about the exhibit, “Conversations: African and African-American Artworks in Dialogue,” at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in Washington. The Smithsonian Institution is mounting a major showcase of African American art and African art together in a new exhibit featuring the extensive art collection of Bill and Camille Cosby. More than 60 rarely seen African American artworks from the Cosby collection join 100 pieces of African art at the National Museum of African Art. The exhibit will be on view through early 2016.
Bill Cosby gestures during an interview about the exhibit, “Conversations: African and African-American Artworks in Dialogue,” at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in Washington. The Smithsonian Institution is mounting a major showcase of African American art and African art together in a new exhibit featuring the extensive art collection of Bill and Camille Cosby. More than 60 rarely seen African American artworks from the Cosby collection join 100 pieces of African art at the National Museum of African Art. The exhibit will be on view through early 2016. Evan Vucci The Associated Press

As renewed accusations swirl around comedian Bill Cosby, his January show remains scheduled to go on at Turlock Community Theatre.

Theater managing director Kit Casey said Thursday that the comedy legend’s Jan. 18 appearance is sold out and has been for about the past month.

“These are allegations, and that’s all I can really say about it,” Casey said of resurfaced accusations that the 77-year-old comedian had drugged and sexually assaulted women decades ago. “The show as of right now is not canceled.”

Casey said the nearly 1,000-seat theater had received only three calls from ticket holders as of Thursday regarding the performance. He added that they have “a fairly long waiting list of people who want tickets to the show.” None of Cosby’s representatives has contacted the theater about the booking. If there becomes a need to cancel, ticket holders will get full refunds, as is the theater’s policy on any show.

“Obviously, it’s a fluid situation, especially when the media is involved,” Casey said.

Cosby has proven a popular entertainer in the region over the years, having performed at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto; California State University, Stanislaus, in Turlock; and the Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton. He also gave the commencement address at Stanislaus State in 1999.

Cosby has a show planned for tonight in Melbourne, Fla., as well as several others throughout the U.S. and Canada that date into May. According to The Associated Press, National Artists Corp., which is promoting part of the tour, said it will not be canceling any shows.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art has not changed its plans for an exhibition featuring Cosby’s African American art collection alongside African artworks. The show opened this month on the National Mall and is scheduled to remain on view through early 2016.

“The exhibition has been very well received,” spokesman Eddie Burke told the AP. “We’ve actually had record numbers through the door.”

Allegations that Cosby had sexually assaulted women emerged a decade ago, and he settled a lawsuit brought by one woman in 2006. New buzz started this fall, leading NBC to scrap development of an upcoming project starring Cosby. In addition, Netflix postponed a comedy special it planned to run the day after Thanksgiving and TV Land removed reruns of the seminal 1980s sitcom “The Cosby Show” from its schedule.

Cosby has not been charged in connection with the allegations.

This story was originally published November 20, 2014 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Cosby show in Turlock remains on schedule."

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