The 1989 campus comedy entertainer of the year, Jim Barber, will perform his ventriloquism act Tuesday in the Holmes Student Center.

Although Barber will make his first apperance at NIU, his past reputation at other colleges has made him one of the most requested performers in the area.

Barber “has an unique approach to the art of ventriloquism which has earned him the reputation as one of the most original young comedic talents performing today,” said Christi Parello, special events coordinator at the Campus Activities Board.

Admission for the 8 p.m. show is free in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium. After the performance, CAB’s Special Events Committee will host a “Have a Hilarious Halloween” costume contest.

Barber began his act of magic, comedy and ventriloquism as a small boy and performed in his local town of Black Hills, S.D. He continued to perform throughout high school by being the emcee for his school’s talent shows and performing for local organizations and televison shows.

Barber attened the University of Minnesota, Indianapolis, Minn., and graduated with a bachleor‘s degree in speech communications/broadcasting. Through his degree, Barber co-hosted a local television show in Minnesota.

The 28-year-old was voted “the funniest person in Tennessee” by the Showtime Cable Movie Channel and has opened on stage for such entertainers as Glen Campbell and Reba MacIntre.