"Confucius of Comedy" Steven Wright coming to The Orleans!

Billed as the “Confucius of Comedy” by the New York Post, Academy Award®-winner and Grammy® Award nominee Steven Wright returns with his trademark wit, absurdist one-liners and monotone voice to The Orleans Showroom, January 20 and 21, each evening at 8 p.m.

Beginning his comedy career at the age of 23 as a regular performer at Ding Ho’s Comedy Club and Chinese Restaurant in Cambridge, Mass., Wright got his first big break and was booked on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” Following his on-air performance Wright was invited to return the following week for a rare back-to-back performance, launching his career into high gear. His new kind of comedy and lackluster voice caught the comedy world’s attention and he appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” “Late Night with David Letterman” and many reoccurring appearances of “The Tonight Show.” As his fame grew, he was given two HBO stand-up specials -- “A Steven Wright Special” and “Wicker Chairs and Gravity.”

His career expanded far beyond small screen appearances to include comedy albums, television specials and acting roles and writing for the silver screen. In 1985, Wright received a Grammy nomination for his debut album, “I Have a Pony,” and one for its sequel, “I Still Have a Pony,” 22 years later. Following his second nomination, he was the first inductee into The Boston Comedy Hall of Fame.

In 1989, he received an Academy Award for Best Short Film for his satiric film, “The Appointments of Dennis Jennings,” which he co-starred in and wrote. Wright has also appeared in several other small and big screen films including Mike Myers’ “So I Married an Axe Murder,” “Desperately Seeking Susan,” “Half-Baked” and has lent his voice to films for children including “The Swan Princess” and “Babe 2: Pig in the Big City.”

Wright’s ironic, deadpan comedy and bizarre observations continue to earn him regular guest spots on the late-night talk show circuit with David Letterman, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel and Craig Ferguson. Most recently, Wright voiced the character Danny on an episode of the animated series, “Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1” on Adult Swim.

Showtime each evening is 8 p.m. Tickets are available starting from $34.95, plus tax and convenience fees, and can be purchased at any Coast Casinos Box Office, by calling 702.365.7075, or visiting www.orleanscasino.com.

About The Orleans Hotel and Casino

Located at 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., The Orleans includes more than a dozen restaurants, an 18-screen movie theater, 70-lane bowling center, 827-seat showroom featuring theater-style seating, and a 9,500-seat Orleans Arena. The property has a 135,000-square foot casino with 60 table games including Blackjack-21, Roulette, Baccarat, Craps and Pai Gow. Guests will also find more than 2,800 slot and video poker machines. Additionally, The Orleans includes a bingo parlor, keno lounge and race and sports book. More information on The Orleans Hotel and Casino can be found at www.orleanscasino.com, on Facebook www.facebook.com/orleanscasino, and Twitter (@orleanscasino). The Orleans Hotel and Casino is a property of Boyd Gaming.  Headquartered in Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming is a leading diversified owner and operator of 17 gaming entertainment properties located in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana and Louisiana. Additional news and information on Boyd Gaming can be found at www.boydgaming.com.