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Laughter in the Park 2015

Laughter in the Park 2015 is made possible in part with public funds from the Fund for Creative Communities, supported by New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Both funds are administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.


 

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Commissioner Opens Show

NYC Parks Commissioner Silver
Kicked Off Season 9!

 

 

 

 

2015 PRESS

NYMAGAZINE

http://nymag.com/nightlife/barbuzz/free-events-july-8/

http://nymag.com/nightlife/barbuzz/weekend-agenda-07-24/ 

 

NYTIMES

 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/03/arts/comedy-listings-for-july-3-9.html?_r=1

 

WABC NEWS COMMUNITY CALENDAR

7/19:  http://7online.com/community/calendar/#/?i=2

7/26:  http://7online.com/community/calendar/#/?i=2

 

 

 

 

saturday, august 1 / 11:30a

nyc's summer streets: e51st & park ave

 

 

 

about summer streets

SummerStreets is an annual celebration of NYC's most valuable public space - our streets.  It provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation.  For the past 6 years, the New York City Department of Transportation has closed Park Avenue to cars and opened the streets for people to play, run, walk and bike on the first three Saturdays in August. Nearly 7 miles of street, from Central Park at 72nd Street down to the Brooklyn Bridge at Foley Square, are transformed by outdoor recreation, performances, public art and other types of programming.  In 2013, more than 300,000 people took advantage of the open streets.  Visit www.nyc.gov/summerstreets for more information.



 

vanessa hollingshead

Perennial favorite and a 9-year veteran of "Laughter in the Park," Vanessa Hollingshead is definitely one of the country's premier comediennes. Vanessa has had her own "Comedy Central Presents" special, taped her second DVD "American Anglomaniac" at Gotham and taped her third DVD "Drunk" at Stand Up New York. She has headlined every major comedy club in New York City. 

zainab johnson
Hailing from NYC, is one of the new faces of comedy to hit the scene. Zainab made her network standup debut on the rebooted, "The Arsenio Hall Show", becoming a comic contributor on the show.   She studied improv with the Groundlings and IO West and went on to perform improv and sketch comedy with Troop Hollywood and the Black Hand Side.    In 2014, she was a semi-finalist in NBC's Last Comic Standing and won HBO's American Black Film Festival Comedy Wings Competition.  She works in top clubs throughout the country, from LA to NYC, including the Improv, Laugh Factory, Standup NY, and Caroline's on Broadway.
 

jeff lawrence

The founder and director of Laughing Buddha Comedy, Jeff, has appeared on the front pages of the Wall Street Journal, as well as the Tampa Bay Times.  He has also been mentioned in the New York Daily News, Time Out New York and others. He has performed in the NY Underground Comedy Festival, The Stand Up 360 Festival, and the Laughing Devil Comedy Festival.

sunday, july 26 / 2p

central park, mineral springs

event map


 

jo firestone

has been featured in the NYTimes and NYMagazine.   jo is a prolific NYC standup, radio host and producer based in Brooklyn, NY.  She created and hosts several ongoing comedy events throughout the city, including the annual "NYC Inner Beauty Pageant", the monthly dating show, "Friends of Single People", and the monthly pun competition, "Punderdome 3000", which she co-hosts with her dad. Jo can also be seen at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre with The Unexpectashow! and The Incredible Game Show Showcase. Jo can also be heard hosting the weekly "Dr. Gameshow" every Monday at 7pm EST at WFMU.

 

jon fisch

has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman and was featured in Maxim Magazine.  A prolific monologist with universal appeal, Jon focuses on the idiosyncrasies of city living. He was chosen as one of Comedy Central's Fresh Faces of Comedy and named one of Back Stage Magazine's 10 Standout Stand-ups.  He's appeared on Last Comic Standing 4 - where he was the New York City Capital One Audience Favorite.  His other TV appearances include Comedy Central's Premium Blend, VH1, Celebrity Apprentice, and 3 Men and a Chick Flick on the WE Network where he served as a host.  He was handpicked to open for Jerry Seinfeld in 2009 at Gotham Comedy Club.  Additionally, he was a critical favorite at the  Montreal "Just for Laughs" Festival where he appeared in both the "New Faces" showcase and the Club Series show "Dating It."

 

harrison greenbaum

is one of Comedy Central's "Comics to Watch," Harrison has also received many awards and honors for his comedy, including the Andy Kaufman Award in 2010 for creativity and originality in comedy, the Shorty Award in collaboration with Comedy Central and the New York Comedy Festival for "Best Emerging Comic" (2011), and the Magners Comic Stand-Off (2011).  On television, Harrison has performed on AXS.TV's Gotham Comedy Live, was a regular panelist on CurrentTV's Viewpoint, and was the warm-up comic for Katie, Katie Couric's daytime talk show on ABC.  Harrison also headlines comedy clubs around the country, including sold-out shows at TBS Just for Laughs Chicago and the legendary Carolines on Broadway (leading Punchline Magazine to name Harrison one of the "Breakout Artists" of the year).

 

erin jackson

was a semifinalist on the 2014 reboot of NBC's "Last Comic Standing," and co-hosts "Exhale," a provocative and candid talk series, now in its third �season on Earvin "Magic" Johnson's ASPiRE television network.  Erin can be seen nightly in many of New York City's top comedy clubs, and has also performed stand-up on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," OWN's "Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious," Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham," AXS TV's "Gotham Comedy Live" and TV Guide Network's "Standup in Stilettos." She has appeared on VH-1 and TV Guide Network as a panelist on pop-culture countdown shows such as "40 Greatest Hip Hop Songs of the 90's" and "Best Movie Kisses," and her writing has been featured in The Washington Post and on NYTimes.com.  Erin was also the winner of the Oxygen Network's 2007 "So You Think You're Funny?" Contest.

 

nimesh patel
was a 2013 finalist in Comedy Central's "Up Next" CC: Certified Talent Search" where stand-up comedians from across the country performed at the New York Comedy Festival's 4th Annual "Comics to Watch" showcase at Caroline's on Broadway.   Comedy Central identified Nimesh as being one of nine new emerging stand-up talent in the country to compete. 

sunday, july 19 / 2p

brooklyn bridge park, granite prospect



saurin choksi

Saurin is the co-host of Fuse TV's late night pop culture talk show, "White Guy Talk Show."  In 2014 he took first place at the Boston Comedy Festival.  Choksi has performed at top comedy venues all over the nation, including Carolines, The Laugh Factory and The Comedy Attic. His stand up has been featured on Fox TV and Sirius/XM Radio.


 

ophira eisenberg

Ophira can do it all! She's a comedian, writer and actress who hosts the weekly NPR and WNYC trivia, puzzle, and game show "Ask Me Another.Television credits include "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central'"Premium Blendand VH-1'"Best Week Ever.She frequently hosts and tours with "The Moth," a storytelling show, and is featured on one of their Audience Favorites CDs. She's also a published author. Her debut memoir, Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy (Seal Press), was released in 2013.


 

pete lee

Pete likes to think of himself as the "nicest person in New York Cityand we agree! His television debut came on Comedy Central'"Premium Blend." That same night, Pete met his future wife, who insisted he move to New York City. Soon after, he took part in the Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, where he was voted a standout performer. Pete made his network television debut performing on NBC'"Last Comic Standing,finishing as a semi-finalist.  Pete also shot a half-hour special on Comedy Central.


 

michelle wolf

Michelle spent four years working on Wall Street before turning to comedy. She found success quickly, landing a gig as a staff writer (and performer) on "Late Night with Seth Meyers."And just last year, she was a standout performer at the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival. While there she even earned herself a slot performing in front of 3,000 people during Seth Rogen's televised gala. Not bad for someone who's less than 5 years into stand-up.


last minute additions:  host: kareem green and simon ford.


sunday, july 12 / 2p

washington square park, garibaldi plaza

event map



arthur meyer
is a writer and performer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He has also appeared on Late Show with David Letterman. He was a long-time contributor to The Onion.

seaton smith 
is a comedian and actor who recently made his television debut as the character "Motif' on Fox's "Mulaney." Soon after, he had a breakout performance on "Late Night with Seth Meyers." He's also appeared on Larry Wilmore's "Nightly Show." Vulture named one of the "50 Comedians You Should Know" in 2015. He was a feature act at the 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy.

lori sommer

has featured in all of the top NYC clubs, including Stand Up NY, The Broadway Comedy Club, Laugh Lounge, The Duplex and Gotham Comedy Club.  Lori is also a founding member of The Hyperion Theatre Project, as well as its Company Manager. She is a founding member of The Red Tie Mafia Improv Troupe, in residency at the world-renown Gotham Comedy Club and The Living Theatre, NYC. 


nick vatterott
has appeared on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," and Comedy Central's "The Half Hour." The New York Comedy Festival featured Nick in its "Breakout Artist Series." He has also produced and performed in the Comedy Central series "Mash Up."  He also won the prestigious "Andy Kaufman Award" in 2011. 

gary vider
is an NYC-based comedian who is set to appear on Season 10 of America's Got Talent.  Gary made his stand up TV debut on CONAN last year. His jokes have been published in the New York Times and Time Out NY Magazine. He was named a "Comic to Watch" by Esquire and was the winner of the 2014 Caroline's on Broadway "March Madness" competition where he beat out 63 of the best young comedians.He has told his jokes in the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, Laughing Skull Festival, and Boston Comedy Festival.

sunday, july 5 / 2p

central park, mineral springs

event map

2015 FIRST JOKE!
NYC PARKS COMMISSIONER 
KICKS OFF SEASON PREMIERE!
COMIC DEBUT!

 

THE HON. MITCHELL J. SILVER

is an award-winning planner with almost 30 years of experience. He's internationally recognized for his leadership in the planning profession and his contributions to contemporary planning issues. He specializes in comprehensive planning, place-making and implementation strategies.  As Parks Commissioner, Silver oversees management, planning and operations of nearly  30,000 acres of parkland, which includes parks, playgrounds, beaches, marinas, recreation centers, wilderness areas and other assets.

 

LITP 2015 Artists

eddie brill

is a veritable legend on the New York comedy scene   He is a comedian and writer who was previously the warm-up comedian and comedy talent coordinator of The Late Show with David Letterman. His long list of television credits include "The Late Show," (10 appearances) and "Louie." Eddie's worked all over the world, appearing on more than 100 television shows in six different countries.     Along with Norman Lear in 1978, he helped create one of the first ever college comedy writing departments in the country at Emerson College in Boston.


 

chloe hilliard

is a Brooklyn native who recently made her national TV debut on NBC's "Last Comic Standing" and appeared on AXSTV's "Gotham Comedy Live." She has also worked as a culture/entertainment journalist, writing for The Village Voice, Essence, Vibe, King, and The Source. Most recently, Chlo� was the Editorial Director of Loop21.com, which focuses on politics, culture, and entertainment from a hip perspective. Chlo� is also a former News Editor at The Source. For her expertise on Hip Hop culture she's appeared on CNN Headline News, ABC News, Our World with Black Enterprise and C-SPAN. 

 

damien lemon

has worked at all of the top comedy clubs across the country. He was chosen a "New Face" of 2013's Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival as well as a featured performer on Whitney Cumming's Gala show that aired on HBO. Damien has been featured on MTV2's Hip Hop Squares and performed stand-up on Russell Simmons: The Ruckus on Comedy Central.  He is a series regular on MTV's Guy Code, Guy Court, and the upcoming Most Extreme Elimination Challenge. He was also featured in The Amazing Spiderman from SONY Pictures Entertainment and is the creator and star of the web series D. Lemon in the Morning.


 

nick turner 

was raised in Richmond, VA and majored in acting at George Mason University. In 2011, he was named a "New Face" at the 2011 Montreal Comedy Festival and made his television debut on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." Since then he has appeared on "John Oliver's New York Stand Up Show" on Comedy Central and "Best Week Ever" on VH1. Turner also recently created, wrote and starred in a pilot for Comedy Central called "Crazy House."

 


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Our target was met, but it remains open as we are still trying to reach all our financial goals for 2015.