Welcome to the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY

The long-awaited National Comedy Center opens its doors this week in Jamestown, NY, the birthplace of comedy legend Lucille Ball.

Grand Opening festivities boast appearances and performances by Lily Tomlin, Dan Aykroyd, Amy Schumer, Lewis Black, Fran Drescher, Hari Kondabolu, W. Kamau Bell, Tom Cotter, Judy Gold and more!

Tickets: 716-484-2222, or www.NationalComedyCenter.org. The National Comedy Center is the first non-profit cultural institution and national-scale visitor attraction dedicated to the art of comedy. It embodies Lucille Ball’s vision for her hometown of Jamestown, New York to become a destination for the celebration of comedy in a way that educates, fosters and inspires.

Here’s the full lineup of celebratory events:

Wednesday, August 1

7:30pm – Stand-Up Showcase: Lewis Black, W. Kamau Bell, Tom Cotter, Judy Gold, Hari Kondabolu, Kerri Louise and more. (Reg Lenna)

Thursday, August 2

4pm – Comedy and the First Amendment – A Reflection on Lenny Bruce. Panelists include Kitty Bruce, attorney Paul Cambria and Lewis Black  (Robert H. Jackson Center)

7pm – Saturday Night Live Originators: Hazy Recollections from Aykroyd, Newman & Zweibel. Moderated by Ron Bennington (Reg Lenna)

10:30pm – Comedy Late Night (Tropicana Room)

Friday, August 3

Noon –  Conversation w/ Barry Dougherty & Tom Cotter (Tropicana Room)

5pm –  Kovacs, Adams & Winters National Comedy Center Dialogue. Featuring Josh Mills, son of Edie Adams, and Lucinda Winters, daughter of Jonathan Winters. Moderated by Dan Pasternack (Tropicana Room)

5pm – In Conversation with Fran Drescher. Moderated by Kelly Carlin (Willow Bay Theater)

6pm – Aykroyd motorcycle dedication during block party preceding Amy Schumer’s 7pm show (outside National Comedy Center)

7pm & 9:30pm – Amy Schumer & Friends (Northwest Arena)

9pm & 11:30pm – Comedy Late Night (Tropicana Room)

Saturday, August 4

11am – Story Pirates: Kids Comedy (Willow Bay Theater)

Noon – “Sock It To Me” featuring Laugh-In producer & director, George Schlatter. Moderated by Stephen J. Morrison, (CNN’s History of Comedy) (Tropicana Room)

5pm – Conversation with Ghostbuster’s Daughter featuring Violet Ramis-Stiel (Tropicana Room)

6:30pm – Lucie Arnaz “I Got The Job!”: Songs From My Musical Past (Willow Bay Theater)

8pm – An Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin (Reg Lenna)

10:30pm – Comedy Late Night (Tropicana Room)

12:30am – Set List w/ Paul Provenza (Tropicana Room)

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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