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One of America's most beloved comedians of all time, Bill Cosby, will be at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota for two shows on March 16 at 3 and 7 p.m., the hall has announced. "Few entertainers have achieved the incredi- ble status of Bill Cosby," who has performed for five decades, a news release says. He "has captivated generations of fans with his comedy routines, iconic albums and best-selling books," such as Fatherhood, the release adds. "His comedy transcends age, gender and cultural barriers," it points out. Cosby broke television's racial bar- rier with I Spy, when he became the first African American to costar on a series; the role won him three consecutive Emmys, the release continues. "Arguably one of Cosby's greatest contribu- tions to American entertainment and culture is The Cosby Show," the release notes. The show dominated the No. 1 ratings spot for years and earned nearly unanimous criti- cal praise. Life magazine described it as "a gentle, whimsical, warmhearted" program whose "delicious ordinariness of … plea- sures and tribulations has given millions a fresh, laughter-splashed perspective on their own domestic lives." Tickets are priced from $50 to $70. For more information, call the box office at 953-3368 or visit VanWezel.org. COSBY BRINGING HIS BELOVED BLEND OF COMEDY TO SARASOTA Sarasota News Leader March 14, 2014 Page 110 Bill Cosby/Contributed photo