The 2016 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival Headliners: Lewis Black, Trevor Noah, and Brian Regan.
JAMESTOWN – The 2016 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival headliners have been announced!
During a media conference Wednesday afternoon at the Jamestown Gateway Train Station (and future location of the National Comedy Center), Lucy-Desi Center executive director Journey Gunderson announced that comedians Lewis Black, Trevor Noah, and Brian Regan will be in Jamestown for this year’s festival, which will take place Aug. 4 through Aug. 7.
LEWIS BLACK
Black is a nationally recognized and award winning comedian known as the comedic king of the rant, skewering anything he sees—usually of the political variety. With the presidential election season expected to be in full swing this summer and fall, bring Black to Jamestown is a major coup for the comedy festival, said Gunderson.
This is actually Black’s return trip to Jamestown. He originally performed in the city during the early days of the Comedy Festival in the early 1990s when it was known as the Lucille Ball Festival of New Comedy. Black’s show will take place on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016.
TREVOR NOAH
South African-born Trevor Noah is an international stand-up comedian who in 2015 was named host of ‘The Daily Show,’ succeeding Jon Stewart. In 2012 Noah made his U.S. TV debut on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, becoming the first African comedian to appear on the program. The following year Noah had his own comedy special on Showtime, Trevor Noah: African American. And in late 2014, Noah landed yet another major gig, debuting as a correspondent for The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.
After Stewart announced in February 2015 that he would be leaving The Daily Show, it was revealed in March that Noah would be his replacement. Noah had appeared on the program three times previously. Noah will perform in Jamestown on Aug. 5, 2016.
BRIAN REGAN
Brian Regan is a comedic workhorse who spent 25 years touring and building his act. During that time he’s become a huge success just for being a stand-up without ever branching off into sitcoms or movies. He primarily works clean, making his comedy accessible to all audiences, and specializes in observational comedy, commenting on shared experiences and questioning behavior and language. Regan’s high-energy delivery and tendency to push a joke to its breaking point could be seen as an influence on Dane Cook. Regan will be in Jamestown on Aug. 6, 2016.
Lucy-Desi Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson, announcing the 2016 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival headliners during a media conference Wednesday, April 13, 2016.
OTHER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
In addition to the headliners, dozens of other events, activities and attractions will be taking place, including five separate late-night comedy shows featuring the best up-and-coming comedians from around the country.
Two special events seen only in Jamestown and recorded for the National Comedy Center archives will also take place this summer. One will be a look at the string of cinematic comedy movies directed by the Farrelly Brothers (Dumb and Dumber; There’s Something About Mary; Me, Myself and Irene), and will feature both Peter and Bobby Farrelly.
A roundtable discussion on the comedic influence of Lenny Bruce, George Carlin and Richard Pryor will also take place, featuring the children of those legendary comedians discussing their impact on the world of standup comedy.
Lucy Arnaz announced she will move the entire collection of Lucille Ball’s estate memorabilia to Jamestown this summer, where it will remain and where it will be exhibited at the Dykeman-Young Gallery in August, where it will be show in celebration of I Love Lucy’s 65th anniversary.
Gunderson announced that NBC’s cozy TV will also return to conduct a contest for the next great comic of the United States, with the prize being a spot to perform in Jamestown during the Comedy Festival.
There will also be the return of the Story Pirates program, comedy classes, and a variety of other events happening during the weekend with details to be posted at the Comedy Festival’s website.
Tickets for all festival events go on sale later this month at www.lucycomedyfest.com.
Leave a Reply