Kevin James
JAMESTOWN – The National Comedy Center has announced that Kevin James, Robert Klein and more will join Jim Gaffigan in Jamestown, NY during the 2017 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, August 3-6.
Tickets will go on pre-sale to members on May 16, and on sale to the public May 23 at lucycomedyfest.com.
KEVIN JAMES ON AUG. 4
Stand-up comedian Kevin James will be performing on August 4 at Northwest Arena.
James is currently the star and executive producer of the CBS sitcom “Kevin Can Wait”, and is also known for his role on the hit show “The King of Queens.” James has appeared in films “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,” and “Grown Ups” alongside Adam Sandler, “Hitch” alongside Will Smith, and has also been featured in his own one-hour Comedy Central special, “Sweat the Small Stuff.”
“Kevin James is known to most of the country by his hit TV shows and films, and this gives people a chance to see how he came to comedy – through stand-up.” said Journey Gunderson, Executive Director of the National Comedy Center.
ROBERT KLEIN ON AUG. 5
Robert Klein
On August 5, comedy legend Robert Klein will appear in a special evening of comedy at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. Additionally, he was recently the subject of the 2016 documentary, “Robert Klein Still Can’t Stop His Leg,” which featured interviews with some of comedy’s biggest stars including Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Lewis and David Steinberg.
“Robert Klein is a legend,” Gunderson said. “He did the first ever HBO Stand-Up special, went on to do eight, and has a career spanning forty years in which he’s been the key influence to comics like Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno.”
Additional programming planned for the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival includes four comedy showcases featuring comedians who have appeared on “Conan,” “Colbert,” and “Last Comic Standing,” National Comedy Center dialogues, block parties, two free kids comedy shows featuring the critically-acclaimed Story Pirates, and more than 40 artists. Tribute events also include a celebration of Desi Arnaz’s 100th birthday, hometown tours, Lucy tribute dinner shows, and Wanda Clark (Lucille Ball’s former personal secretary).
“And we’re still not done announcing additions to the line-up,” Gunderson said.
In partnership with the world-renowned Chautauqua Institution, the National Comedy Center will present a week of comedy programming, “Comedy and the Human Condition” from July 29-August 5. Program highlights that have been announced include comedian Lewis Black, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Seinfeld” director David Steinberg, and Kelly Carlin, author of “A Carlin Home Companion: Growing up with George.”
The National Comedy Center has produced the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival for the past 25 years, and in 2016 brought visitors from 41 states to Jamestown, NY. Past performers include Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Lewis Black, Trevor Noah, Joan Rivers, Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone, Kathleen Madigan, Nick Offerman, Ray Romano, Bob Newhart, The Smothers Brothers and more.
For ticket and membership information, visit www.lucycomedyfest.com. Tickets may also be purchased by visiting the festival box office at the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum (2 W. 3rd Street, Jamestown, NY 14701), or by calling 716-484-0800.
The National Comedy Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural institution in Jamestown, NY and is developing the first national visitor experience dedicated entirely to the art of comedy. The Center is comprised of three functions: the immersive exhibit experience / museum that is under construction now, a year-round calendar of live performance and discussion-leading programming on comedy, and an educational component supporting aspiring artists and providing comedic arts education.
For information on the National Comedy Center, visit www.NationalComedyCenter.org.
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