The National Comedy Center is really turning up the heat this summer for the 2024 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival taking place August 1 – 4.
The Comedy Center announced “Roastmaster General” himself Jeff Ross and “Nailed It!”’s Nicole Byer will headline the first two nights of the festival, now it its 34th year, at Jamestown’s Reg Lenna Center for the Arts. A third headliner, confirmed for August 3 at the Northwest Arena, will be announced in mid-June.
Known for his numerous high-profile roast credits, including the most recent blockbuster Netflix “Roast of Tom Brady,” Jeff Ross shares a side of himself audiences don’t typically see in his new solo show on Friday, August 2. The semi-autobiographical “Take a Banana for the Ride” paints a poignant portrait of the comedian’s life through both laughter and loss as he celebrates the lives of his grandfather, his best friends and even his dog.
Nicole Byer takes the stage Thursday, August 1. Byer is one of the most distinctive voices in comedy today; widely known as the host of the Emmy-nominated Netflix reality-competition baking series “Nailed It!”, Byer has also won acclaim recently for her Netflix specials “Big Beautiful Weirdo” and “Comedians of the World”. She regularly hosts the popular podcasts, “Why Won’t You Date Me?”, and “What the Tuck?”.
The third headliner, set to be announced in mid-June, is one of the highest grossing stand-up comedians in 2024 and will perform at Northwest Arena on Saturday, August 3.
“Jeff Ross has been a genre-defining artist for decades, both continuing and revolutionizing the art of insult comedy. Beyond the roasts, he’s just a fantastic stand-up comedian, an incredible writer, and a genuine champion of the art form’s past and present, which I love about him,” said Journey Gunderson, National Comedy Center Executive Director.
Visits to the National Comedy Center’s “Art of the Roast” exhibit, featuring the history of insult comedy from the Dean Martin and Friars’ Club Roasts, through Comedy Central Roasts, Roast Battle, and highlighting artists from Don Rickles to Jeff Ross, can also be reserved with museum admission before live shows during the festival.
“Nicole Byer is a fearless performer with a candid, razor sharp take that brings the audience along for a fun ride. I’m thrilled to have her in this lineup and welcome her to Jamestown, where fans from across the country celebrate this craft with our award-winning comedy museum visitor experience by day, and the best live comedy shows by night.”
National Comedy Center Member pre-sale for the Jeff Ross and Nicole Byer shows and other festival events starts May 30 at noon and will go on sale for the general public June 6 at noon at ComedyCenter.org.
The festival is also showcasing over 20 of the most popular artists currently performing in comedy clubs nationwide in its Comedy Late Night Shows running Thursday August 1 – Saturday, August 3. The shows feature comedians previously seen on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Daily Show, Last Comic Standing, Netflix comedy specials, America’s Got Talent, and more.
Much like the National Comedy Center itself, the festival is an all-encompassing celebration of fun and funny.
National Comedy Center Members gain first access to available seats during the pre-sale ticket window, visit ComedyCenter.org/membership for more information or call the National Comedy Center at 716.484.2222. Memberships start at $75 and provide year-round benefits including a “season pass” for visiting the award-winning National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York.