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

JAMESTOWN, N.Y., April 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 25^th 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

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160413/355018 

SOURCE National Comedy Center, Inc.