The Smith Center has been home to performances by symphony orchestras, jazz legends and Broadway touring companies, but it’s not only a place for high culture. Devotees of classical music, jazz and show tunes may not have any idea who Dan and Phil are, but the YouTube stars are proving that social-media fame can provide an entrance into even the most elite venues. Dan Howell and Phil Lester have been posting cheeky, self-deprecating videos to YouTube for years, building up massive followings around the world. They parlayed their goofy charm into gigs as radio hosts for the BBC, and last year mounted their first-ever live tour of their native U.K.
Now they are headed to the U.S. for the first time, with “a proper Dan and Phil theatrical stage show, which turns everything from our YouTube channels into a live experience,” as Howell puts it in (of course) the YouTube video announcing the tour. The live show includes sketches, audience interaction and various surprises, “all with a ridiculous story that somehow ties the whole thing together.” It’s a modern version of a classic variety show, which in its own way makes it a perfect fit for an old-fashioned performing-arts center.
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m. June 12, starting at $49 plus tax and fee. 702.749.2000
