Bentzen Ball: A Comedy Festival in Washington DC October 22nd-25th

[Jouster]

Washington DC is about to be home to probably the coolest four-day comedy festival of the Mid-Atlantic, if not beyond: THE BENTZEN BALL, happening from Thursday, October 22nd to Sunday, October 25th. The event, curated by Tig Notaro (LA-based comedian who has appeared on The Sarah Silverman Program, In The Motherhood and starring as Joan Jett’s Mother in the upcoming “The Runaways” biopic) and produced by BYT will take place up and down the U street Corridor and along 14th street (venues include: Lincoln Theatre, Bohemian Caverns, The Black Cat, 930 Club and the Studio Theatre) and will feature a (terrific, if we say so ourselves) line up of upwards of 60 comedians including the casts and writers of such shows and movies as Little Miss Sunshine, Flight of The Conchords, Saturday Night Live, Parks and Recreation, Jimmy Fallon Show, Conan O’Brien Show, Premium Blend, Chelsea Lately, Best Week Ever and beyond.

SOME OF THE NAMES AND FACES TO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING INCLUDE:

• Patton Oswalt! Big Fan / Comedian of Comedy / Comedy Central Special (who will be performing opening night @ Lincoln Theatre)
• Sarah Silverman! Jesus is Magic / Sarah Silverman Program / School of Rock (who will be performing closing night @ 930 Club)
• Todd Barry! The Wrestler / Comedy Central Special / Flight of the Conchords
• Mary Lynn Rajskub! 24 / Mr. Show / Little Miss Sunshine
• Tig Notaro! Sarah Silverman Program

Click through to see more...

• Jimmy Dore! Comedy Central Presents / Citizen Jimmy
• Morgan Murphy! Jimmy Kimmel Live / Premium Blend
• Dave Hill! King of Miami
• Reggie Watts! Late Night with Jimmy Fallon / Andy Kaufman Award-Winner
• Chelsea Peretti! Sarah Silverman Program
• Natasha Leggero! Chelsea Lately / Tonight Show
• Nick Thune! Tonight Show / Comedy Central Special
• Paul Rust! I Love You Beth Cooper / Inglourious Basterds
• Aubrey Plaza! Funny People / Parks and Recreation
• Laura Silverman! Sarah Silverman Program / Dr. Katz
• Ian Edwards!
• Steve Agee! Sarah Silverman Program
• AD Miles! Head Writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon / Dog Bites Man / Wet Hot American Summer
• Nick Offerman! Parks and Recreation
• Kyle Dunnigan! Reno 911 / Comedy Central Special
• Jen Kirkman! Chelsea Lately
• Nick Kroll! Best Week Ever / Cavemen / Reno 911
• Jessi Klein! Michael & Michael / Showbiz Show
• Jackie Kashian! Comedy Central Special / Last Comic Standing
• Kyle Kinane!
• Jesse Thorn! Sound of Young America
• Ben Kronberg! Jimmy kimmel Live
• Brendan Walsh! Last Comic Standing / Jimmy Kimmel Live
• Chris Fairbanks! Jimmy Kimmel Live / Premium Blend
• Cynthia Levin! Comics Unleashed
• David Huntsberger! Last Comic Standing / Premium Blend
• Lizz Winstead! Co-Creater of the Daily Show / Air America Radio
• Martha Kelly! Conan O’Brien / Premium Blend
• Stephanie Escajeda!
• Adam Cayton-Holland!
• Alex Koll!
• Duncan Trussell! Montreal Comedy Festival
• Hugh Moore!
• Peter Spruyt! Jimmy Kimmel Live
• Seth Herzog!
• Andy Wood! Creator of the Bridgetown Comedy Festival!

(AND MORE, AS THE LIST IS EXPANDING AT ALL TIMES, PLEASE FIND A COPY OF THE CURRENT SCHEDULE AT WWW.BENTZENBALL.COM)

Needless to say, having a weekend in DC with some of the funniest people in America is a terrific opportunity so, in addition to the showcases, we will be hosting a series of parties, afterparties, exclusive comedy boat cruises, funny brunches and dinners (hosted tentatively by DC’s own Warren Brown and Spike Mendhelsson) and other adjunct events.

Thanks to Tuohy for originally posting.

[Berliner]

Horyayyyyyyy

[crlygrl]

Yessssssssssssir I like it.

[scamboogah]

Is this named after Lloyd 'You sir are no Jack Kennedy' Bentzen?

[Umlaut]

Great. One month after I move away. Love it.

(Psst... I'm being sarcastic & bitter.)

[Berliner]

Take that Obamaton out of your location.

I've decided to volunteer to help out at this thing.

[eli]

And it includes a nice amount of local DC comics. Tig has done alot for DC stand-up just with this one move.

That's good since our scene struggles for recognition.

Since so many tickets have been bought, I know comedy fans exist in DC. So, please come to this show, too, it's great comedy at an indie rock club (locals who will be in the Bentzen Ball are in this show too):

http://aspecialthing.com/forum/calen...=2009-9-25&c=1

Also buy tickets for the Bentzen Ball. Especially friday at the Black Cat.


I'm shameless.

[crlygrl]

The guy who performed at my bachelorette party is doing one of the shows too....

[eli]

What's his name?

[crlygrl]

Rob Mahr. Or Maher? Something like that. My cousin got him to come in and do a "set" at 2AM in our weird-ass private karaoke room. Strange and funny.

[eli]

I know Rob, I think he's really good. "Strange and funny" is a good way to put it. Emphasis on the funny. Anyway, hope you make it out to the bentzen ball, i can't wait.

[crlygrl]

I meant it was strange and funny to have him do a bachelorette party in a weird karaoke room.

[Trial]

Is this named after Lloyd 'You sir are no Jack Kennedy' Bentzen?

Ever heard of AST Records recording artist Doug Bentzen?

[jkashian]

I'm excited to do this. I've only been to DC to sell things. "Encouraged" by family of course.

[Ham]

I can't believe this is coming to my town. I can say with all certainty this is the biggest comedic thing to hit DC since anyone can remember. I got put on two shows! It's like a dream.

[Tuohy]

I've decided to volunteer to help out at this thing.

Have you heard back from anyone? I signed up but haven't been contacted. I want to know what's up before I buy tickets.

[crlygrl]

I heard back from someone over there yesterday and it turns out the cruise isn't part of it anymore, but it still looks like fun!

I still can't decide to do the Thursday night or Friday night activities.... (Sat and Sun are out...)

[Tuohy]

Is this named after Lloyd 'You sir are no Jack Kennedy' Bentzen?

Washington Times:
"The event is named for Ole Bentzen, a man who died laughing while watching the comedy film, "A Fish Called Wanda."


wikipedia:
"In 1989, a Danish audiologist, Ole Bentzen, died watching A Fish Called Wanda. His heart was estimated to have beaten at between 250 and 500 beats per minute, before he succumbed to cardiac arrest."


Is that an awesome way to die or a horrible one? I can't decide.

[Berliner]

I've heard back from no one.

[Trinsky]

I've been trying to get photo/video credentials for this thing but no dice.
Breaks my heart, really. Seems like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a DC-area comedy nerd/videographer.

I even offered to donate the highest ticket dollar amount to Walter Reed, name-dropped the handful of performers who know me, and offered to let anyone use anything I shot for free, but nooooooo...

I also offered to volunteer but haven't heard back. Part of me thinks I might just head to the WFMU record fair that weekend, instead.