Rosie O'Donnell to perform at McCurdy's in Sarasota

   Rosie O’Donnell’s a talk-show host who’s won 10 Emmy Awards (counting Daytime Emmys), an actor who was the third baseman in “A League of their Own,” an author, a philanthropist and an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights and other progressive causes.
   All that makes it easy to forget that she got her start way back when as a stand-up comedian.
She’s doing stand-up again, and she’ll be doing it in

Sarasota next month.
O’Donnell will be at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre for five shows, Jan. 17-19.
   It was O’Donnell’s stand-up comedy that first brought her to the nation’s attention when she appeared on Ed McMahon’s talent show “Star Search” in 1984. But she soon moved on to acting, and her popular talk show, “The Rose O’Donnell Show” premiered in 1996.
   She joined the cast of “The View” in 2006 and heated up that show’s political discussions.
   Earlier this year, O’Donnell announced that she was returning to stand-up with a tour of Australia.
   It’s reasonable to expect that this won’t be O’Donnell’s last show in the area. Back in October, she bought a $5-million house on Casey Key.
   She’ll be doing two shows at McCurdy's, at 7 and 9:15 p.m. on Jan.17 and 18, and a 7 p.m. show on Jan. 19. Tickets are $29 and $45.
   McCurdy’s is at 3333 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Call 941-925-3869 or go to www.mccurdyscomedy.com.