Ed Asner coming to Riverside Theatre, bringing his solo show, ‘A Man and His Prostate’

IOWA CITY - Larger-than-life actor Ed Asner is scaling down in a very personal way, bringing his solo show, 'A Man and His Prostate,” to Riverside Theatre, 213 N. Gilbert St., on May 19 and 20.

A near-tragedy is transformed into a one-man comedy, in which the title character visits the hospital in preparation for surgery he doesn't want. Along the way, he discovers his inner self in more ways than one. Written and produced by Ed Weinberger, it's based on a true-life experience.

Tickets are $40. For an additional $10, ticket holders for either performance can attend a meet-and-greet with Asner after Saturday's show, at the nearby High Ground Cafe, 301 E. Market St.

Asner has been an enduring presence in television, film and stage for 60 years. Developing his craft in Chicago and New York, he established himself as a versatile performer, regularly featured in roles on the big screen and in such landmark television series as 'The Outer Limits,” 'Gunsmoke,” 'The Wild Wild West,” 'Ironside” and 'Mission Impossible,” totaling more than 100 television credits.

In the 1970s, his role as Lou Grant in the long-running hit sitcom 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show” catapulted him to stardom. He then cemented himself as an 'actor's actor,” perpetuating that character in the dramatic series 'Lou Grant.” Asner is the only actor to have won an Emmy for the same role in both a comedy and a drama, with five total as Lou Grant. He went on to win two more Emmys for complex roles in the megahit mini-series 'Roots” and 'Rich Man, Poor Man”.

Asner also has turned in memorable performances on the big screen in 'JFK,” 'Elf” and 'Pacific Edge.” Onstage, he returned to Broadway in 'Grace,” and toured the country with his one-man show, 'FDR,” portraying President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Behind the scenes, he served two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild, protecting the rights of professional working actors.

' What: 'A Man and His Prostate,” starring Ed Asner

' Where: Riverside Theatre, 213 N. Gilbert St., Iowa City

' When: 7:30 p.m. May 19, 2 p.m. May 20; meet-and-greet following Saturday's show at High Ground Cafe, 301 E. Market St., Iowa City

' Tickets: $40 show only; $50 show plus Saturday meet-and-greet (available to both Saturday and Sunday ticket holders); Riverside Box Office, (319) 338-7672 or Riversidetheatre.org/ed-asner-at-riverside-theatre-