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British comedian Eddie Izzard looked stylish as he walked out of his hotel in New York City, New York earlier today. Eddie is currently on the road with The Big Intimacy Tour, Stripped Tour going around the United States.

He performed at Madison Square Gardens on January 17th. Don’t be sad if you missed him. He has a few more shows lined up including one in Dallas, Texas on January 21st and then he heads to Oakland, California on the 23rd. He will wrap up with two shows in Los Angeles on the 29th and 30th of January at the Nokia Theater.

>> PHOTOS HERE

Thanks Maria K. for sharing 🙂

If you’d like to share some of your fan photos, email them to me HERE.

Photo by Maria K.

>> MORE FAN PHOTOS

[from the Depaulia]

It’s hard to imagine the Eddie Izzard that performed on Jan. 8 as the same magenta lipstick-wearing, English-accented transvestite comedian Izzard that took himself seriously and expected everyone else to follow suit. But for British cross-dressing joke factory Eddie Izzard, it a career.

The 47-year-old comedy veteran has ditched the women’s apparel as of late (even though he can rock stilettos as well as Kate Moss), but luckily refuses to give up his sharp-witted, intellectual sense of humor. Though the donning of a sequin gown may seem to be Izzard’s X factor, it is his comedic brilliance that has captured the attention of fans worldwide.

Sporting a tie and goatee, Izzard performed the first American stop of his international “Big Intimacy Tour: Stripped Too Friday” Friday Jan. 8 at a the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. He began the show before a crowd of roughly 6,000 loyal followers explaining that tonight he was going to assess the entire history of the world-with some large gaps.

The history is a characteristic theme of Izzard’s performances. His shows are synonymous with hilarious lessons in past world affairs paying close attention to where and why things went amusingly awry. These untraditional accounts of history are frequently interrupted by fictional skits where Izzard plays several characters from the past hysterically interacting in bold could-be scenarios.

In one crowd favorite Izzard plays a panting Roman messenger desperately failing to overcome the difficulties of the impossible Latin conjugations to warn of an oncoming attack. When asked how many soldiers were coming, the messengers response of “Um, X…VII, um, MC, uhh, VIIV…IX…um, V?” was met with a “Twelve?” Izzard devotees had the arena shaking with laughter.

Throughout the show, Izzard somehow seamlessly squeezed in quips about a jazz quartet of farmyard animals, early journalists hurriedly weaving celebrity gossip into tapestries, the bored and lonely human appendix and speechless giraffes playing charades in order to caution an approaching tiger.

The show was fast-paced and a shade below being too smart, if your attention drifted for even a second to readjust your coat, good luck in quickly catching back up. Though the show is seldom directly political, it doesn’t take much to identify Izzard as being undeniably left-leaning and socially progressive. Early in the show he doubts the existence of God and proclaims his trust in people, and in Wikipedia.

Eddie Izzard’s performance was enlightening, daring, intellectual, ambitious and, as any comic should be, funny. It takes quite a man to get a crowd roaring over a joke about ancient military commander Hannibal, but Mr. Izzard did. Four inch Jimmy Choos or not, Eddie Izzard succeeds.

I was playing this hidden object game and came across this clue…apparently one of the game designers is an Eddie fan. haha

Thanks Kathryn for sharing your awesome photos!

>> MORE HERE

[from jimsullivanink.com | thanks Virginia]

Listen to British comic Eddie Izzard and you’ll find him riffing Heon Hitler, Stonehenge, the history of the Catholic Church, Pol Pot, attack badgers, as well as a few more current affairs. He’d often start a joke, gleefully veer off course and wander down a side road, ending up, perhaps, at the intended punch line. Truth is, there’s many a punch line, and you never know quite when it’s coming. Izzard, 47, relishes pauses, delays, real or apparent improvisation.

Izzard – whose “The Big Intimacy Tour: Stripped Too” lands at TD Bank Garden JaEddie Izzardn. 12 – has also developed a parallel career as a serious stage, TV and film actor, but remains committed to stand up. And committed to doing in on the grandest scale possible: In arenas. We did an interview with the Boston Phoenix that’s on newstands now or accessible on line at www.thephoenix.com . We thought we’d provide some of the expansive out-takes. A half-hour of Eddie doesn’t 800 words and just about everything he says has entertainment value. Sometimes educational. And, when you get to the end of this, you’ll find, very emotional. There’s also a comprehensive, warts-and-all documentary out called “Believe” which should be available at your finest video stores and is well worth a rental. The TD Banknorth Garden show is 8. Tickets: $75-$45.

>> READ THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW HERE

[from tonight.co.za]

Serious comedian Eddie Izzard will take on South African audiences for the first time in February.

Before that though, Izzard becomes the first British comedian to play Madison Square Garden in New York this Saturday.

“I came to New York in 1996 and played an 80-seater, and now I’m playing a 16 000-seater, so it’s great. It’s the European dream.”

Izzard is currently in Boston touring his show Stripped Too, which relies heavily on history (at least 5 000 years of it).

Is it important to prod people to think?

“I’m really teaching history and it looks quite intelligent but it’s not necessarily. I think creative mediums are more interesting if they have more than one level, because it engages people’s minds, and I’m sure South African audiences will get that too.”

His visit aims to raise money for the 46664 charities.

“I received a letter signed by Nelson Mandela saying it would be great if I came. I thought I’d come over and give all the money away to the Nelson Mandela charity, because he is such an amazing person. So it’s my first time in South Africa and that’s what I want to do.”

His thoughts on the World Cup? “I want England to win (everything from now on until the end of time). I do like to see good football being played but I’d rather we just won everything.”

Widely known for his transvestism, Izzard comments on what decides whether he will be in girl or boy mode.

“It should be a toss of a coin, that would be perfect for me. At the moment it’s more strategic. I’ve been in boy mode for a while. I’ve established that I am a transvestite – I have been since I was four. But I like to go between the two and wear what I want, just like a woman freely decides.”

Izzard also has a strong acting career behind him, but is stand-up more challenging?

“I think stand-up is probably more difficult, but I think they do complement each other in some way. My career is a little schizophrenic – doing dramatic work on screen and then comedy live – but it’s what I chose to do.”

He names the American series The Riches as his favourite acting role so far.

Izzard is also deeply involved in activism and politics. Last year he ran 43 marathons in 51 days to raise funds for Sport Relief.

“It was great. The first three weeks were hell and the last weeks were exhausting, but my body got used to it. And since then, I’ve decided activity has to be part of my life – and, in fact, everyone’s life – because we were all meant to be hunter-gatherers, not sitting at home watching television and eating cake.”

The man is unstoppable. His future plans include more film work, touring Australia and New Zealand, as well as performing gigs in French, German and Russian.

“And lots of running also,” he adds.

[from timeoutny.com]

The prolific absurdist Eddie Izzard is accustomed to breaking new ground. On Saturday 16­—hot on the heels of running 43 marathons in 51 days (to benefit the charity Sport Relief) and the premiere on both sides of the pond of the new documentary Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story—he becomes the first British comic to play the arena at Madison Square Garden.

You ran 43 marathons in 51 days?!?
The first three weeks were hell. It was chafing my feet, they were all blistered up and the pain was very intense, but then the weirdest thing was that my feet started healing as I was running. They actually become really hard. Then it’s just endurance and stamina.

What sort of frame of mind does it take to keep going?
You can’t entertain the idea that you can stop at any point, apart from serious injury. Having a TV crew there also helped because it would be very embarrassing after ten days to say, “Well, I can’t do this. I’m sorry, everyone. Pack up and go home.”

You’re used to cameras; were you pleased with Believe?
There’s a thing where certain people will go, “That guy’s a transvestite; I’m not going to go watch his stuff,” and it will get blocked off to that audience. So I thought a documentary could explain things more, dig around and show the stuff going on in my head, who I am and where I come from.

Was watching yourself through other people’s eyes cathartic?
That bit at the end where it explains what seems to be my motivation—that it’s my mother? That came as a shock to me, because I didn’t realize it. It was good to say that and get that out there and know that myself.

You mentioned the transvestism. I saw you get heckled in Vegas at the Comedy Festival.
Right; they were asking, “Why aren’t you wearing a dress?,” which is slightly different. You expect a lot of, “I hear you’re a transvestite. I don’t like that.” But I tend to get, these days, “Why aren’t you wearing a dress?” So I do try and explain that I will go in boy mode and girl mode, and at the moment I’ve been in boy mode. You want to have the freedom that women have of being able to wear whatever they want whenever they want.

Read more: http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/comedy/81945/catching-up-with-eddie-izzard#ixzz0cVDblBkJ

[from TheQuietus.com]

The New Romantics, pulling, make-up and his future as a Labour MP. All in a days work for Eddie Izzard, Luke Turner discovers…

> REST OF ARTICLE

[from Artslink.co.za]

Actor and comedian Eddie Izzard will be performing in South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s 46664 campaign from 2 to 6 February.

Eddie Izzard has been hailed as one of the foremost stand-ups of this generation. His latest stand-up show Stripped has broken all box records with sell-out arena shows across the UK, US and Europe. This January Eddie will join an elite group of performers when he becomes the fourth ever comedian to play New York’s prestigious Madison Square Garden.

Now 46664 and Real Concerts are thrilled to welcome Eddie Izzard to South Africa, where he will be performing for five nights, to help raise funds for the ongoing work of the Nelson Mandela charitable organizations.

Performances take place on 2 and 3 February 2010 at The Mandela Stage at the Joburg Theatre in Johannesburg; on 4 and 5 February in Cape Town at the ICC Auditorium 1 and on 6 February at Durban ICC in Hall 1 AB.

February 11 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela walking free from his 27 years incarceration. This historic world event was the foundation that brought freedom to a country that was once segregated and full of turmoil. It is because of this hugely significant moment that South Africa is now able to welcome many global, cultural and entertaining events.

Eddie Izzard explains: “I am delighted to have this opportunity to perform in South Africa to help raise funds for Nelson Mandela’s charities. It is because of this iconic world leader, Madiba, that I have the privilege of performing my show to a live audience in what is now a free country and at a very significant time in the country’s history.”

Tim Massey, International Director of 46664 says: “By using the universal language of sport, music and entertainment we can deliver messages of care, prevention and hope to the youth and young adults of the world. This is the first time we will be partnering with comedy and we are delighted and extremely grateful that Eddie accepted our invitation to come and perform in South Africa. We hope this will be the first of many more 46664 comedy events to come.”

For more information please contact Katie Phillips or Shimon Cohen at The PR Office on 020 7284 6969 or e-mail kphillips@theproffice.com / scohen@theproffice.com or Real Concerts: Kim Mari on 082 462 8739 / kim@realsa.co.za