New York Comedy Festival delivers loads of laughs
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Your support makes all the difference.For the sixth year, Manhattan hosts the New York Comedy Festival over four fun-filled days, November 5-8, with more than 150 comedians performing more than 30 shows at 10 destinations around the city.
Big names like Ricky Gervais and Bill Maher play big venues, including the revered Carnegie Hall and 18,000-seat Madison Square Garden, which indicates that the golden days of stand-up are getting more laughs.
Headlining shows include:
-"Ricky Gervais: Out of England II" at Carnegie Hall, November 5, the creator of The Office and star/director/writer of the current film hit, The Invention of Lying, performs his form of clever wit.
-"Dane Cook and Friends" returns to Madison Square Garden, November 5, where the comedian recorded his observational brand of humor on Rough Around the Edges.
-"Tracy Morgan's Hard Knock Life" at Carnegie Hall, November 6, featuring the star of the Emmy-winning television sitcom 30 Rock.
-"Andy Samberg and Friends Live" at Town Hall, November 8, the comedian from TV sketch show Saturday Night Live, the movies I Love You, Man and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
-"An Evening with Bill Maher," of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO, at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, Sunday November 8, and producer of documentary Religulous.
The line-up also includes comedians such as Mike Epps, Patton Oswalt, Artie Lange, Mike Birbiglia, Bill Burr, and Mario Cantone at various places in town. Also, sketch ensemble shows can be seen throughout the schedule, such as "Celebrity Autobiography," winner of the 2009 Drama Desk Award in the category of Unique Theatrical Experience, featuring performances of actual memoirs including Suzanne Somers' poetry and "romance tips" from Tommy Lee.
Not only a showcase for the comedians' stand-up shows, the event takes advantage of the location in New York by tapping into television comedy writing talent for panels. One discussion, titled "The Truthiness Behind the Lines: An In-depth look behind the scenes with the Colbert Report Writers" happens at The Paley Center, the former Museum of Broadcasting on November 7. "Television Writing in the Internet Age" is another scheduled seminar.
An issue prompting debate and discussion in media outlets is that few women comedians are featured in the comedy lineup, reflecting the composition of the majority of writing departments on television late night talk shows.
In association with American cable channel, Comedy Central, the New York Comedy Festival's many shows will be taped for airing in its television programming.
http://www.nycomedyfestival.com
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