Jump to content

LucyFest 2016


Recommended Posts

Trevor Noah, Lewis Black, and Brian Regan Headline 2016 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival In Jamestown, NY

JAMESTOWN, NY, APRIL 13, 2016 – National Comedy Center, Inc., the first cultural institution dedicated entirely to the celebration of comedy, announces the lineup for the 2016 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, August 4–7, in Jamestown, NY. Headlining this year’s festival is Comedy Central’s “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, the king of the rant Lewis Black, and one of this country’s premier comedians, Brian Regan. Festival highlights also include a moderated discussion with the Farrelly Brothers and Kliph Nesteroff, the critically-acclaimed Story Pirates kids-comedy troupe, and Comedy Late Night.

Black, Noah and Regan will each headline the evening performances of the festival, which features more than 50 events at a dozen venues throughout Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown, NY. Lewis Black first came to the festival in 1993 and returns to Jamestown for his iconic ‘comedic yelling and finger pointing’ stand-up act on August 4. “Daily Show” host, Trevor Noah, will perform his stand-up act on August 5. Coming off making history as the first comedian to perform a live Comedy Central special from Radio City Music Hall, Brian Regan will present his stand-up act on August 6. Kliph Nesteroff, author of “The Comedians: Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels, and the History of American Comedy,” will moderate a discussion with the Farrelly Brothers, the minds behind “Kingpin,” “Dumb and Dumber,” and “There’s Something About Mary.”

The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, which celebrates its 25th year, has honored the vision that Lucille Ball had for her hometown with an annual festival that continues to present the best in comedic talent. Past festival performers include Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Jay Leno, Joan Rivers, Nick Offerman, Bill Engvall, Kathleen Madigan, Billy Gardell, and Ray Romano.

“Lucille Ball’s vision was that Jamestown would become a destination for the celebration of all comedy and not just about her own legacy,” says Journey Gunderson, Executive Director of National Comedy Center, Inc. “This festival has done just that, attracting more than 10,000 visitors from over 40 states — a microcosm of what we will do with the National Museum of Comedy.”

Additional tribute programming planned for the 2016 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival includes a roundtable discussion with daughters Kitty Bruce, Rain Pryor and Kelly Carlin, of the comedy legends Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor and George Carlin, respectively. A special 65th “I Love Lucy” Anniversary exhibit is also planned.

National Comedy Center, which operates the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and presents the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, broke ground for the upcoming National Museum of Comedy in August of 2015. Jerry Seinfeld, the families of George Carlin, Harold Ramis, Joan Rivers and Milton Berle, along with Regis Philbin, the long serving staff and crew of David Letterman’s 33-year career, Nick Offerman, and more than 20 other comedic artists descended on Jamestown during the weekend.

Creative design for National Museum of Comedy has been provided by Jack Rouse Associates with input from Local Projects, interactive specialist on the new 9/11 memorial museum experience, and economic feasibility analysis has been provided by AECOM. As of today, National Comedy Center has been awarded $3.5 million by New York State Empire State Development and Governor Andrew Cuomo for the development of the new National Museum of Comedy.

TICKET and VENUE INFORMATION

Pre-sale tickets are available to members on April 27 at noon. Tickets go on-sale to the public beginning May 4 at noon, and can be purchased at www.lucycomedyfest.com or by calling the festival box office at 716.484.0800.

Lewis Black – August 4, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E 3rd St, Jamestown, NY 14701

Trevor Noah – August 5, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E 3rd St, Jamestown, NY 14701

Brian Regan – August 6, Jamestown Savings Bank Arena, 319 W 3rd St, Jamestown, NY 14701

About Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah, host of “The Daily Show,” has hosted numerous television shows in his native country, including South Africa’s music, television and film awards, the South African Comedy Festival and two seasons of his own late night talk show. He had his U.S. television debut on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and has also appeared on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” becoming the first South African stand-up comedian to appear on each show. His Showtime comedy special, “Trevor Noah: African American” premiered in 2013.

About Lewis Black

Known as the king of the rant, Lewis Black uses his trademark style of comedic yelling and animated finger-pointing to skewer anything and anyone that gets under his skin. His comedic brilliance lies in his ability to make people laugh at the absurdities of life, with topics that include current events, social media, politics and anything else that exposes the hypocrisy and madness he sees in the world. Receiving critical acclaim as a stand-up, actor and author, Black has performed for audiences throughout Europe, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Black notably voiced the character “Anger” in the Academy Award winning film from Pixar, “Inside Out.”

About Brian Regan

Setting a comedic standard of excellence that others continually try to follow, Brian Regan made history on September 26, 2015 with the live broadcast of “Brian Regan: Live, from Radio City Music Hall,” the first live broadcast of a stand-up special in Comedy Central’s history. And on May 8, 2015 Regan made his 28th and final stand-up performance on the “Late Show with David Letterman,” the most of any comic since the show began on CBS. Film credits include a scene-stealing cameo in Chris Rock’s film “Top Five,” and he was seen in Seinfeld’s “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.”

About National Comedy Center

National Comedy Center, Inc., a 501©(3) non-profit, is the first cultural institution dedicated entirely to the celebration of comedy, both the craft and its contributors. NCC was created to embody Lucille Ball’s vision for her hometown of Jamestown, New York. The organization operates the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, presents the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival and has broken ground on the upcoming National Museum of Comedy. In December 2015, the National Comedy Center was awarded $1.5 million by New York State Empire State Development and Governor Andrew Cuomo for the development of the new National Museum of Comedy, which will be the only non-profit of its kind dedicated to the celebration of comedy and the cultivation of the comedic arts.

 

From Lucy-Desi.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So other than a 65th Anniversary exhibit I see nothing Lucy on this.

 

I remember seeing Lewis Black back in 1996. My Republican parents had no idea what this crazy man was yelling.

Diane, Rhonda and Lou Ann are back, according to the email just received from L-D:

 

We will also be bringing back the ever-popular "I Love Lucy" impersonator shows with Diane Vincent & Rhonda Medina, discussions with Vivian Vance's sister Lou Ann Graham, Tropicana Room Dinners, member's only events, trivia contests, hometown and cemetery tours, and our NEW downtown Jamestown walking tours.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Diane, Rhonda and Lou Ann are back, according to the email just received from L-D:

 

We will also be bringing back the ever-popular "I Love Lucy" impersonator shows with Diane Vincent & Rhonda Medina, discussions with Vivian Vance's sister Lou Ann Graham, Tropicana Room Dinners, member's only events, trivia contests, hometown and cemetery tours, and our NEW downtown Jamestown walking tours.

 

 

Well this makes me feel better.  Not really interested in the headliners this year but will probably go see Lewis Black.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

The Wednesday night event sounds marvellous -- and reassuring!

 

65th Anniversary Exhibition Gala
Join us in kicking off this year’s Festival at our exclusive 65th Anniversary exhibit and gala. The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum is honored to announce that we are the proud new owners of the Universal Studios former Lucy, A Tribute collection. This red carpet event at the Dykeman Young gallery is your chance to be among the very first to view the newest additions to our growing collection, both from the Universal Studios exhibit and from our archives, including the famous Sally Sweet dress, one of Lucy’s polka dot dresses, and much more!

Enjoy h'orderves, drinks, the annual Lucy birthday cake, and 50’s tunes spinning on the record player all night long. Guests will have a chance to re-connect with their fellow Lucy fans and mingle with Lucy celebrities such as the professional Lucy and Ethel impersonators Diane Vincent & Rhonda Medina, and Vivian Vance’s sister Lou Ann Graham. Cocktail attire or costumes are welcome!

In honor of the 65th Anniversary of I Love Lucy and the recent growth of our collection, the Lucy Desi Museum is raising funds to expand and update our Museum, the home of our one of a kind collection of artifacts dedicated to the life and legacy of our own Lucille Ball. Proceeds from this exclusive event will support our goal to expand exhibit space at the Lucy Desi Museum and to connect the two museum buildings. Our collection is continually growing, and the items on display for this anniversary exhibit need a permanent home so that they can be exhibited year round. Help us reach our goal so that we can improve our Museum’s facilities and bring these beautiful artifacts out of our archives and into new exhibit space, where they can be enjoyed by our visitors for years to come.

Ticket prices are $50 for Members and $65 for non-members.
Members, check your email for your coupon code to access the discounted member ticket price.

Can’t make it to the party? You can still view the exhibit without the festivities throughout the weekend. Entry price is $10 from Thursday August 4th – Sunday August 2nd. Dykeman Young gallery hours are 11am-7pm Thursday through Saturday, and 12-4pm on Sunday.

The gallery will also be open following the Festival. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday –Saturday 1-7pm.

Venue Information:
Dykeman-Young Gallery and Vintage Emporium
100 East 2nd Street
3rd Floor
Jamestown, NY, 14701
http://dykemanyounggallery.com/

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I suggest for the next Lucy Desi fest a performance of "Over the Teacups" with all the warring members of the Lucy-Desi board and disgruntled employees/volunteers crammed into the balcony which will, of course, end with a peace-making group hug.

If they pull this off, I want "Based on an idea by...." credit.  If it ends in a pie fight or worse, a blood bath, I disavow any participation. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I suggest for the next Lucy Desi fest a performance of "Over the Teacups" with all the warring members of the Lucy-Desi board and disgruntled employees/volunteers crammed into the balcony which will, of course, end with a peace-making group hug.

If they pull this off, I want "Based on an idea by...." credit. If it ends in a pie fight or worse, a blood bath, I disavow any participation.

I would pay good money to watch this.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I suggest for the next Lucy Desi fest a performance of "Over the Teacups" with all the warring members of the Lucy-Desi board and disgruntled employees/volunteers crammed into the balcony which will, of course, end with a peace-making group hug.

If they pull this off, I want "Based on an idea by...." credit.  If it ends in a pie fight or worse, a blood bath, I disavow any participation. 

 

Neil:  Your post, of course, intriguing to begin with - WTF - I live here and you are suggesting there REMAINS internal turmoil?  EVEN with an ENTIRE new slate of 'persons'?

 

I worked there 5 years, nearly full-time, but, as a volunteer; and didn't realize it until coming back from my May vacation to the beach each year, 2003-2006 and was concerned EACH YEAR, on return, YET ANOTHER employee had 'disappeared' - then, all Hell broke loose! 

 

Spit out your knowledge, sir!!!!  I'm listening closely.

 

While I'm concerned suddenly THEY are taking over the ENTIRE Train Station [rather than the 'printed' East Wing]; Harkness is out of yet another job in Jamestown; the Trolley Experiment/Restoration home is in jeopardy; I had not heard much about what is actually going on.

 

Thanks if you can expand for ALL of our interest.  JK :fabrary:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Sue Cameron has been friends with the Arnaz family since the 1960s. She interviewed the kids for a teen magazine in the '60s and became very close to the family. Sue hosted the LA Paley Center's tribute to the music of I Love Lucy in 2011.

Oh THAT's why her name was familiar! I got to attend that.  Now it makes sense. :peachonthebeach:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...