Netflix hosting LA comedy festival
March 3, 2020
Netflix is throwing a week-long comedy festival, branded Netflix Is A Joke Fest. Produced by Netflix in association with Live Nation, the star-studded celebration of comedy will take over Los Angeles April 27th – May 3rd and feature live stand-up shows, special events and activations with Netflix comedians and artists from around the world. Featured Netflix talent include Ali Wong, Amy Schumer, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, David Letterman, Jamie Foxx, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, Kevin Hart, Martin Lawrence, Sebastian Maniscalco, the cast of Schitt’s Creek and more. The fest will also include STAND OUT: An LGBTQ+ Celebration with headliners Alan Carr, Hannah Gadsby, Margaret Cho, Rosie O’Donnell, Sandra Bernhard, Wanda Sykes and more.
Anchoring the Netflix is a Joke Fest is the May 3rd closing night inaugural edition of The Hall, a first-of-its-kind hall of fame honoring the greats of stand-up comedy. Today’s biggest names in comedy including Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, Wanda Sykes and more will pay homage to and induct comedy legends George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers and Robin Williams. The Hall and induction ceremony special were created by award-winning director/producer Marty Callner and producer Randall Gladstein. Callner will direct and executive produce through his Funny Business, Inc. shingle. Gladstein and award winning producer/manager, David Steinberg will also executive produce.The Hall, which will have a physical home in a newly designed wing of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, will be taped at The Ace Theater in Downtown LA for streaming on Netflix later in May.
Netflix is also proud to partner with Comedy Gives Back, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a safety net for comedians in need with mental health, medical and financial crisis support. During the Festival, Comedy Gives Back will provide onsite services and information for all interested Festival goers, free of charge. Comedy Gives Back is a 501(c)3 fiscally sponsored project through Road to Artdom Foundation, Inc.
“It’s our honor to transform LA for one week into the funniest place on earth,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Chief Content Officer. “This festival is a unique celebration of the art of comedy, and the role it plays in reflecting our lives and defining culture. It’s a chance for comedy lovers to come together and see their favorite artists as well as discover new ones, and for us to be able to share the electricity and excitement of the festival in Los Angeles with Netflix members around the world.”
The festival will take place across over 20 venues in Los Angeles, including the Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theatre, Hollywood Palladium, The Largo and more, with much of the festival primarily centered in Hollywood.