The FINANCIAL — Marking its 10th anniversary November 6 – 10, the New York Comedy Festival (NYCF), in association with COMEDY CENTRAL, announced its 2013 line-up, featuring some of the comedy industry's biggest stars performing in New York City's most prestigious venues, including the Beacon Theatre, Carnegie Hall, the Theater at Madison Square Garden and Town Hall, to name a few.
Among the highlights of this year's festival, Larry David, creator and executive producer of "Seinfeld" and creator, executive producer and star of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," will engage in a conversation with comedian, producer and host of Showtime's "Inside Comedy," David Steinberg.
Joining these two comedy veterans on the festival's talent-laden bill this year are Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Kathy Griffin, Jim Jefferies, Anthony Jeselnik, Bill Maher, John Mulaney, Nick Swardson and Wanda Sykes. Burr, Griffin, Maher and Sykes will be returning to the NYCF, while Cummings, Jefferies, Jeselnik, Mulaney, and Swardson will all be making their festival debuts.
This year's NYCF will feature more than 175 of the country's best established and emerging comedians performing in more than 50 shows throughout the city during the five-day laugh fest. Additional shows will be announced in the fall.
"It's quite an achievement for the festival to reach ten years," says Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of the New York Comedy Festival and Carolines on Broadway, which marks its 30th year in business. "In recognition of the anniversary, I think we've put together a really impressive line-up of comedy talent. We're thrilled to welcome back those who have performed in our festival in the past and are just as excited to welcome some new faces. We expect there to be no shortage of laughs around the city this November," Hirsch adds.
"I'm thrilled to play the New York Comedy Festival again this year, where I will again attempt to push the envelope beyond where even the other comics will go – I strive always to be Carlos Danger!" said Bill Maher.
"The New York Comedy Festival showcases stellar comedic performances at legendary venues annually and by reaching its 10 year milestone is a testament of the festival's phenomenal success," said Mitch Fried, Executive Vice President, COMEDY CENTRAL Enterprises.
Not only has the festival brought the best in live stand-up to New York City, but it has provided a platform from which some of the industry's biggest stars have used to release their respective NYCF performances to widespread audiences, according to Viacom. At the 2011 Festival, Louis C.K. taped and released his stand-up special, Louis C.K. Live At the Beacon Theatre, directly to consumers through his website, with a large portion of the proceeds going to charity. During the 2012 Festival, Kevin Hart shot his stand-up film Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain at Madison Square Garden. He performed two shows in one night at The Garden, making him only the second comedian ever to perform back-to-back shows in one night at The Garden. Dane Cook was the first when he performed his show Dane Cook: Vicious Circle LIVE during the 2006 New York Comedy Festival.
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