Kennedy Center Announces Additional Programming For District Of Comedy Festival

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces additional programming and talent for The District of Comedy Festival, a three-day festival which brings together acclaimed stars and rising acts for an all-laughs takeover of the nation's cultural center. The festival, with Presenting Sponsor Capital One, is a part of the Center's Comedy at the Kennedy Center initiative, a signature program focused on elevating comedy as an art form and uniting the local community together through laughter.

RIOT! A Celebration of Women in Comedy will bring together today's most hilarious comedic stars for a special evening of stand-up comedy and music. Bridget Everett (Jimmy Fallon, Inside Amy Schumer), Phoebe Robinson (2 Dope Queens), Amanda Seales (Insecure), Melissa Villaseñor (SNL), and Sasheer Zamata (SNL) will join together in an one-night-only celebration emphasizing the female perspective in our rapidly evolving culture.

The Bentzen Ball Podcast Studio, presented by Brightest Young Things, returns with That's So Retrograde and EMPLOYEE of the MONTH with Catie Lazarus. That's SoRetrograde-hosted by Steph Simbari and Elizabeth Kott-delivers real conversations and humor about health and wellness, all while providing tips and expert insight to guide listeners to a healthy lifestyle. Creator and host of the EMPLOYEE of the MONTH, Catie Lazarus, will host her podcast live, with a special appearances by SNL's Sasheer Zamata and Christopher Jackson, who played the original role of George Washington in Hamilton and currently stars on CBS's Bull. He will perform with the EMPLOYEE of the MONTH house band featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda's hip-hop group Freestyle Love Supreme as well as musicians from Antibalas, The Dap-Kings, Common Rotation, Hamilton, The Lion King, Dear Evan Hansen, and Waitress. With a nod to comedy variety shows, Lazarus interviews comedians, musicians, journalists, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, and social activists who love what they do. Their candid conversations reveal the fun, frustrations, good, bad, and absurd involved in creating and sustaining a fulfilling career.

Highlights of newly added performances to the festival include comic and expert impressionist James Adomian as 2016 presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders; Ophira Eisenberg, host of NPR's and WNYC's weekly trivia and game show Ask Me Another; and Chris Gethard, the host and star of Funny or Die's The Chris Gethard Show on TruTV. The festival will offer an added performance from Emmy Award-winning comedian, actor, writer, and Northern Virginia native Patton Oswalt in his Kennedy Center debut.

Updated Programming: The Kennedy Center will present Harry Shearer: Up To Eleven with a special screening of This is Spinal Tap, considered one of the top comedy films of all time, followed by a post-screening conversation with comedy icon Harry Shearer, who famously played the character of heavy metal bassist Derek Smalls. The beloved comedian will be on stage to share behind-the-scenes stories from his legendary career and life. This event replaces Lukewarm Water Live: An Adventure in Loud Music featuring Derek Smalls with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Previously announced highlights for the festival include the wellRED Comedy Tour: From Dixie With Love with Trae Crowder, Drew Morgan, and Corey Ryan Forrester, which celebrates everything great about the South and tells stories from a place of love. Amanda Seales Presents: Smart, Funny and Black brings your favorite funny folks to the "Hall of Flava" to compete in a head-to-head battle of wits that tests their knowledge of black history, black culture, and the black experience. Hari Kondabolu, director of the critically acclaimed documentary "The Problem with Apu" on truTV will present his stand-up act in the Terrace Theater.

An updated listing of all festival programming can be found on the Kennedy Center website.

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