Fresh off a collab with the Jonas Brothers, these twins can’t wait for Big Slick 2025
When comedian and University of Kansas alum Rob Riggle approached the Potash Twins about performing at a special event in 2022, the critically acclaimed jazz musicians didn’t know what to expect. Mostly because Riggle refused to tell them more about the event.
Little did they know, the identical twins would make lifelong connections at that very event, which just keeps bringing them back to Kansas City.
Adeev and Ezra Potash, brothers hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, are now regulars at Big Slick, the annual celebrity fundraising event supporting Children’s Mercy Hospital that’s now in its 16th year and has raised over $25 million for the hospital since its inception.
The duo, fresh off a collaboration with pop band The Jonas Brothers for Disneyland’s 70th Anniversary album, are part of the 40 comedians, actors and musicians coming to Kansas City May 29-31 for the fundraiser. And now, they’re suddenly veterans of the controlled chaos that happens throughout the weekend, Ezra Potash said. They’re returning for their fourth year alongside other veterans like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Johnny Knoxville and Will Forte.
Favorite Big Slick memories
The weekend of fun starts with a private party featuring the celebrities and 100 fans who purchased a ticket to mingle with the crowd. One of the Potash Twins’ favorite memories of the event happened during their first meeting with one of the hosts, Eric Stonestreet.
They were hanging out with Stonestreet by a light switch in the kitchen, Adeev Potash recalled, and the lights in the room kept flickering on and off. The twins say neither of them nor Stonestreet was touching the switch, but bartenders kept asking them not to touch the switch or else they’d have to leave to another room.
“Hey, man, I’ve been here with him the whole time and he’s not touching that light switch,” Adeev Potash said to the bartender in 2022. “And our bond started that night.”
The following year, the twins commemorated the memory with Stonestreet by taking a picture in front of the light switch that was giving them so much trouble. (No one ever really figured out what was happening there.)
After the private party, the fun continues into Friday as they meet with children at Children’s Mercy Hospital and play a game of Family Feud with kids in attendance. Ezra Potash said that getting all the musicians together to sing for the kids is a highlight for him, and recalled during their first year when he and his brother got to sing with country singer and University of Missouri alum Sheryl Crow.
“I remember getting to the chorus of ‘Soak Up The Sun,’ getting all the words wrong, her looking at me and just rolling her eyes with the sweetest smile on her face,” Ezra Potash said. “I think it made the kids laugh and brought some joy to them.”
They were also on the winning team during their first go of Family Feud and received a tiny trophy to celebrate their win. That trophy now sits on their award shelf.
A Big Slick family
The family atmosphere Big Slick creates throughout the weekend lingers for a lifetime. During The Star’s 30-minute interview with the Potash twins Thursday, May 29, Big Slick host Heidi Gardner and celebrity guest David Cook both stopped by to say hello to the musicians and said they’re excited to try a new snack they have coming to stores very soon.
The brothers are co-creators of Sweet Stash Jams, a fruit-flavored gummy candy created in Omaha. They created the gummy with actor and fellow Big Slick guest Martin Starr, who they would never have met if not for the fundraising event. They’re also set to appear in the new season of “Tulsa King,” a show based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which features Starr as a lead actor.
“Big Slick is a bunch of really fun people coming together,” Ezra Potash said. “A lot of us are super creative and one thing leads to another.”
They also said it’s really fun to see Big Slick alumni outside of the event, like on red carpets or walking around in the same city. Adeev said there’s nothing better than seeing family outside of the fundraiser.
What to expect for Big Slick
The musician-comedian twins are also expecting to make their grand return to Slaps BBQ in Kansas City, Kansas, for the restaurant’s million-dollar sausage. As for Big Slick weekend itself,they say fans should come in ready to have a good time, whether they’re going to watch the celebrity softball game before the Royals play the Detroit Tigers at 7:10 p.m. Friday, May 30, or heading to T-Mobile Center for the fundraising event at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 31.
The twins couldn’t share what songs they’ll perform or what skits the guests can see from the celebrities, but they said it’ll be an action-packed night filled with laughs. With Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce in attendance this year, there’s a chance fans may even see Mahomes throw a football from end of the arena to the other.
It’s the one time of the year when all of their friends are on stage at the same time, and the Potash twins said they’re excited to support each and every person throughout the night. The only thing Ezra Potash could compare it to is being in the crowd at the Grammy Awards and seeing one of his friends performing live in front of the world.
“You get a taste of the Grammys, the Emmys and the best stand-up comedy special of the year,” Adeev Potash said. “The fact that it’s in Kansas City is truly one of the coolest experiences.”
“It’s a testament to Paul Rudd, Rob Riggle, Eric Stonestreet, David Koechner, Heidi Gardner and Jason Sudeikis for what they’re able to bring together for this,” Ezra Potash added.
Guests can also expect a tribute to George Wendt, who died May 20, the twins said. A Big Slick supporter from its first year and uncle to co-host Jason Sudeikis, Wendt famously played Norm on the legendary sitcom “Cheers,” and the closing song for every Big Slick event is the theme song to the TV series.
This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
