Burnett visit to be special for Joliet couple
By Bob Okon bokon@stmedianetwork.com May 7, 2012 8:56PM
Carol Burnett
Updated: June 9, 2012 8:11AM
JOLIET — Carol Burnett’s performance in Joliet on Tuesday is special for Peggy and James Fay of Joliet.
Their daughter, Meagen Fay, performed with Burnett in the show “Carol & Company,” a TV show that ran in 1990 and 1991 and offered different comedy playlets each week performed by the same cast.
Peggy Fay said she is looking forward to seeing the Burnett performance and sent flowers that will await one of the great performers of TV comedy when she arrives at the Rialto. Burnett will perform in Joliet both Tuesday and Wednesday.
“I sent her some flowers, and said Meagen always tells us what a gracious and generous person she is,” Fay said.
Burnett was especially generous in sharing the limelight with other actors, Fay said. That’s what her daughter tells her.
And, Meagen Fay does have some experience.
In addition to working on “Carol & Company, Meagen Fay was appearing at the same time in “Roseanne,” one of the biggest TV shows of its day. Fay also had a role in the move “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” which starred Steve Martin and Michael Caine. She has performed on Broadway, in Chicago theater, and launched her acting career in Ireland in a production of “Lysistrata” at The Dublin Theater Festival.
“She’s a good actor, and she’s nice,” her mother said.
Fay went to St. Raymond’s Catholic School in Joliet and Benet Academy in Lisle. She studied comedy at Second City in Chicago.
Her parents are going with a busload of about 20 friends Wednesday to see “Laughter & Reflection With Carol Burnett.” Peggy said the group thought a bus would be fun and will save them from hunting for parking spaces.
The show Tuesday is nearly sold out. The Rialto released 50 tickets Monday that previously had been on hold. Anyone interested in seeing Carol Burnett, however, should find room Wednesday for the second performance, said Annette Louch-Parker. As of Monday afternoon, 1,200 tickets were sold for the Wednesday show but about 500 still were available.
Burnett originally was scheduled for one show. But a second night was added because of the strong demand for tickets when her Rialto performance was announced in February,
“Everyone is very excited,” Louch-Parker said. “There’s a lot of energy surrounding this show.”
