The Illinois Central College Guest Artists Series presents master vocal impressionist Mike Toomey and his show TV & Me on Saturday, February 1, at 7:30 PM, in the ICC Performing Arts Center in East Peoria.

This nostalgic, multimedia trip back to 60’s and 70’s TV land includes more than 200 slides and sound clips, along with Mike Toomey’s spot-on vocal impressions of many popular TV characters of the time. In the show, Toomey relates how his childhood television watching has shaped his adult life, while sharing his unique observations about his favorite programs and their characters.

Toomey grew up glued to the television, and TV & Me is the manifestation of his obsession. His ability to remember his favorite programs verbatim and impersonate the voices of his favorite characters made him very popular with his classmates, if not his teachers. Once told by a grade school principal that “no one ever made a career out of watching television,” Toomey set out to prove his principal wrong.

Toomey has made frequent appearances on WGN-TV’s Morning News as fictional sportscaster Skip Parker. He has performed at comedy clubs and special events since 1982, appearing in concert with such artists as Wayne Newton, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Reba McIntyre. He has performed on numerous television programs, including HBO’s U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo., MTV’s Half Hour Comedy Hour, and A&E’s Comedy on the Road. The Chicago Tribune called Toomey “one of the funniest and most talented performers to ever work in Chicago.”

The Peoria Historical Society is the highlighted community partner for this ICC Guest Artists Series performance. The community partner program highlights a different, local organization for each Guest Artists Series presentation.

Tickets cost $20 for the general public and $10 for students. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ArtsAtICC.com or by calling the ICC Performing Arts Center box office at (309) 694-5136.