The time is upon us again for another great Evening Of Comedy. To echo the words which shall be repeated in homes throughout the land this month on the Jewish Holiday of Passover, why is this night different from all other nights? Simply, this is the 25th Anniversary of the Evening of Comedy which marks somewhat of a milestone for The Barns of Wolf Trap. We’re nearing the point when we can claim that we’ve been presenting this show for as many years as Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show, and we’re able to present two artists who appeared with Johnny during his years at NBC, along with another rising talent in the industry. In short, this year’s show is a tribute to comedy past, present and future.
I’m especially excited by this year’s event, because it has special meaning to me as well. I’ve been working in the comedy business for 35 years, and over that time I’ve presented many of today’s top names in comedy when they were just starting out. We’ve had the chance to present on The Barns’ stage many of the country’s top comedy club headliners before they’ve reached the pinnacle of their careers. The hallmark of Evening Of Comedy is that you see these artists as co-headliners without the opening act filler you would see in clubs. Three major headline comedians, all together on one show. That is what makes Evening Of Comedy special, and this year it’s even more special with the incredible talent we’ve been able to assemble.
I am so thrilled to be able to include Kevin Meaney on this year’s bill. Kevin has always been one of my favorites, all the way back to the early 1980s when he appeared with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show over a dozen times. He also made appearances on Saturday Night Live, Late Show with David Letterman, Live with Regis & Kathie Lee, Conan O’Brien, and just about every other television talk fest or variety show on the air. He continues to be one of the country’s top working stand-up comedians.
Rachel Feinstein is a real treat to have on our show. We first got to know her as a finalist on Season 7 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and she has since appeared in her own Comedy Central special, on Russell Simmon’s Presents Live at the El Ray, and several other VH-1 and Comedy Central shows. She has risen quickly due to her likeable stage presence and brilliant delivery and that has brought her to the attention of television executives who are now working to provide her with her own sitcom.
Finally, David Sayh. Wow, so much to say about David. I’ve known David since the mid 1970s when he was a regular on the stage at Catch A Rising Star in New York, one of the country’s top comedy showcase clubs. During one of his performances there, Johnny Carson himself came into the club to catch a show and was so impressed with David, he personally invited him to appear on The Tonight Show later that month. David’s first appearance was a smash, and Johnny had him back on his show 12 times. He’s toured the country as the featured guest with artists such as Paul Anka, Barry Manilow, Chicago, Frankie Valli, and Neil Sedaka. He even performed for President Bill Clinton at his 50th Birthday Celebration. David is a comedy gem – and he’ll shine for us once again this year.
So now you can see why this year’s edition of Evening Of Comedy is so special. We’ve always had great shows in the past and, although this year will be no different in that regard, being able to bring these three great talents together on one stage is especially gratifying. I’ve been proud to be a part of these shows for 25 years, and I can’t wait until we embark on our next 25 year journey.
The 25th Annual Evening of Comedy appears at The Barns on Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5.
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