APATOW, SYKES, ROMANO AND MORE COME TOGETHER FOR “LAUGHTER IN LOCKDOWN” TO BENEFIT THE ACTORS FUND — FRIDAY, 5.29
Press Contacts:
Rick Miramontez / Matthew Troillett / Marie Bshara
rick@omdkc.com / matthew@omdkc.com / marie@omdkc.com
212 695 7400
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
NY LAUGHS
ANNOUNCES
“LAUGHTER IN LOCKDOWN”
A COMEDY FUNDRAISER
WITH COMEDIANS & PERFORMERS INCLUDING
WANDA SYKES. JUDD APATOW, RAY ROMANO, ROY WOOD JR., CARL REINER, CRAIG ROBINSON, DAVE ATTELL, GARY GULMAN, GINA YASHERE, IAN EDWARDS, JEFF ROSS, JIM NORTON, JON FISCH, KEITH ROBINSON, MARINA FRANKLIN, MOODY MCCARTHY, PETE HOLMES, ROBERT KELLY, RONNY CHIENG, TED GREENBERG, SAL VULCANO, VANESSA HOLLINGSHEAD, BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL, AND MORE!
SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY
STARRKEISHA’S CHEER SQUAD
AND
PIFF THE MAGIC DRAGON
HOSTED BY
MO AMER
FRIDAY, MAY 29 AT 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
IN SUPPORT OF THE ACTORS FUND
New York, NY (May 27, 2020) – NY Laughs, in partnership with The Actors Fund, the national human services organization that provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals, is proud to announce a special one-night-only streaming event “Laughter in Lockdown,” to benefit comedians and other comedy professionals in need on Friday, May 29 at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT on nylaughs.org/lockdown.
“Laughter in Lockdown” will be hosted by Mo Amer, one of Rolling Stone’s “10 comedians you need to know” and star of the Netflix special “The Vagabond” and will feature appearances and performances by Wanda Sykes, Judd Apatow, Ray Romano, Roy Wood Jr., Carl Reiner, Craig Robinson, Dave Attell, Gary Gulman, Gina Yashere, Ian Edwards, Jeff Ross, Jim Norton, Jon Fisch, Keith Robinson, Marina Franklin, Moody McCarthy, Pete Holmes, Robert Kelly, Ronny Chieng, Ted Greenberg, Sal Vulcano, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Vanessa Hollingshead, and more. With special appearances by Starrkeisha’s Cheer Squad and Piff The Magic Dragon joined by Mr. Piffles and Jade Simone.
Proceeds from the online event will benefit struggling comedians and comedy club professionals as part of The Actors Fund’s greater initiative to help entertainment creatives in comedy affected financially due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 2-hour event will stream at nylaughs.org/lockdown and will be accessible on YouTube thereafter.
“Laughter in Lockdown” is executive produced by NY Laughs and Kristine Pregot. Technical and remote production services are provided by USTV.
Since 1882, The Actors Fund has advocated for everyone in the entertainment industry and NY Laughs has been passionately building a more empathetic New York City though the art of free stand-up comedy performances presented in public spaces for 14 years. In this time of struggle, these two organizations and the hilariously brilliant talent of the featured performers will come together (while social distancing!) to bring aid to those in need.
NY Laughs wishes to thank The Actors Fund; all of the participating artists and their teams; comedian Jon Fisch; Estée Adoram; Marcie Cleary, and her colleagues at Frankfurt Kunit Klein & Selz PC: Joshua Lewin, Alice Barsky, Rebecca Ross and Dionne Gordon; Cameron J. Henderson; ViralNation; Deneka Dosant; Curtis Roach Management; Mark Pergola; Laura Chavez, Tim D’Amico, Ted Nelson and USTV, as well as The Foundation for Fairer Capitalism, Manhattan Mini Storage and NY Laughs GoFundMe contributors: Tom, Adriana, Jane among others, for their support.
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ABOUT NY LAUGHS
Aspiring “FUN NEWS” organization, NY Laughs (www.nylaughs.org) is a performing arts 501(c)3, that was established in 2007 with the belief that laughter makes the world a better place by fostering informed, engaged and empathetic communities and also works to deepen an appreciation of comedy and seek to include comedy as a creative alternative to tackling societal issues. The organization strives to cultivate a better city by producing free comedy events in public spaces to inspire audiences, enrich NY lives and connect New Yorkers through humor. NY Laughs’ mission has long been to recognize the importance of comedy as a unique NY cultural asset and a community builder, but in times like these, it’s also a source of comfort, resilience, communication and optimism. NY Laughs is a passion project run solely by volunteers to bring health and happiness to others. Comedy matters. Let laughter change the world! For more information visit nylaughs.org or call 917 727 5233.
ABOUT THE ACTORS FUND
The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that fosters stability and resiliency and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. Through offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Fund serves everyone in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance with programs including social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and secondary employment and training services. Visit www.actorsfund.org.
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