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Update: Jeff Dunham To Emcee Mother Hubbard Celebration; Event Moved To Pan Am Center
Thanks to brisk ticket sales, the tribute event to celebrate Barbara “Mother” Hubbard’s 95th birthday has been moved, appropriately being relocated from the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum to the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M. – aka “the House that Barbara built.” Plus, ventriloquist, stand-up comic and actor Jeff Dunham has been confirmed as the emcee for the special evening.
As previously reported, proceeds from the Oct. 19 event – “95 And Very Much Alive” – will benefit Hubbard’s American Collegiate Talent Showcase (ACTS) Scholarship Fund, which has helped many in the live business over the past four decades.
Hubbard spent nearly three decades working as the special events director at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, and after retiring from the role in 1996 she’s continued her involvement with the school by volunteering her time to teach a class on entertainment and venue management. And she’s also continued serving as the executive director of ACTS.
The ACTS Program was launched in 1978 to help college students break into the live entertainment industry through internships and scholarships. Scholarship programs have been set up in universities across the country and Hubbard has raised more than $750,000 in scholarship funds for her beloved New Mexico State University alone.
Years ago, before Dunham was established as a professional funnyman with more than 11 million Facebook followers, the comedian was one of the winners of the American Collegiate Talent Showcase, organized by Hubbard. When Dunham played the Pan Am Center in 2016 he brought Hubbard on stage and presented her with a $25,000 check to support her ACTS Scholarship Fund.
“I am the luckiest woman on this planet that people like Jeff continue to remember what the ACTS Scholarship Fund is all about. It makes everything I have tried to do completely worthwhile,” Hubbard said when she first learned Dunham would return to the Pan Am Center to serve as emcee.
The Oct. 19 event will also feature a performance from actor and singer/songwriter Brennin Hunt, one of the stars of Fox’s RENT Live and the Broadway Production of Pretty Woman, who also attributes his success to Mother Hubbard.
An announcement notes that while the venue has been moved to the Pan Am Center, tickets will “remain limited to maintain a level of intimacy.” The event features a cocktail reception, silent auction and dinner.
Tickets for the event are $100 or a table of 10 for $1,000, including dinner and a cash bar. Sponsorships are also still available. Tickets are available via www.Acts4ever.com or they can be purchased in person at Ashley’s Furniture in Las Cruces at 3299 Del Rey Blvd.