Todd Oliver Performing at Sedalia Schools

Ahead of his show on Saturday night in Sedalia, comedian and ventriloquist Todd Oliver will be visiting several Sedalia schools with his talking dog, Irving.

"My very first show was a school assembly show," said Oliver. "Whenever I tour, wherever we are, we always go out and do the schools." Todd Oliver and Irving will be at Sedalia Middle School, Horace Mann, and Parkview Elementary performing on Wednesday.

"He's a little Boston Terrier," said Oliver of Irving. "I adopted him from a woman that couldn't take care of him, and I invented this thing where it looks like he talks. As a ventriloquist, a talking dog was an instant hit. We got our break with Jay Leno, Letterman, and when we did America's Got Talent we were a top 4 finalist."

Tickets for the Sedalia performance Saturday at the Heckart Performing Arts Center are $15 for adults, $10 for kids, and children 5 and under are free. Tickets will be available at the door the night of the show, or can be purchased in advance online. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show on December 3.

“It’s all about family-friendly fun, clean family comedy for everybody, hip and contemporary,” said Oliver. “There’s no bad language or anything gross, but it’s not cornball, either, and it’s not old-fashioned.”