Selling Out for a Laugh

For Immediate Release
24 April 2006

Selling Out for a Laugh

Blame it on global warming; the silly season has come early this year

With under a month to go until the funniest season of the year, audiences eagerly prepare for 3 weeks of world-class comedy on offer in The 2006 ODDFELLOWS NZ International Comedy Festival.

The frenzy began on the 27th of March when the Festival website launched, receiving a record number of hits causing the server to overload and crash. Enthusiastic audiences embraced this year’s exceptional programme of comedy with three Festival Events; The ODDFELLOWS Comedy Gala, The 5 Star Preview and Danny Bhoy reaching sell out capacity well ahead of the Festival mid May opening dates.

Boding well for the success of this years Festival the 2006 line-up features a pool of over 200 of the most diverse and talented local and international comedians in 101 shows across 29 venues NZ wide. Headlining international comedian and ODDFELLOWS Comedy Gala Host Dom Irrera (USA) is joined by some of the biggest names in international comedy including Andy Parsons (UK), Stephen K Amos (UK), David O’Doherty (IRE), Janey Godley (SCOT) and Danny Bhoy (SCOT), standing proudly alongside Jeremy Corbett, Brendhan Lovegrove, Ewen Gilmour, Jeremy Elwood and Benjamin Crellin, plus many more of the finest of our very own local comedians.

This year Wellington ups the anti, with an expanded programme of great comedy. The hilarity kicks off with ODDFELLOWS First Laughs, the all new Festival Event showcasing the outstanding comedy playing in Wellington this Festival season. Featuring The 4 Noels (NZ/AUST), Charlie Pickering (AUST) and Janey Godley (SCOTLAND), and local comedy heroes Dai Henwood, Rhys Darby, plus many many more… Like the gala and 5 Star Preview this VIP event is certain to sell-out.

Auckland and Wellington aren’t the only places to find the best comedy on offer this Festival season. Featuring Rhod Gilbert (Wales), Charlie Pickering (Aus), Te Radar (NZ), Sam Wills (2005 Billy T Award Winner) and MC Jeremy Corbett , the ODDFELLOWS Comedy Convoy takes to the highway from the 29th of May to the 3rd of June, delivering the very best comedy on offer in this years Festival to six cities, for one show only.

Celebrating the growth and maturity of the NZ comedy industry, this year the Festival offers the chance to pay homage to the most promising, most established and most popular comedians with 3 prestigious comedy awards, The 2006 ODDFELLOWS Billy T, THE FRED and The Peoples Choice Awards. The presentation of these awards bring the audience and comedians together for a grand closing party in the Festival finale the LAST LAUGH, which pays tribute to the genius comic talent on offer in The 2006 ODDFELLOWS NZ International Comedy Festival.

The ODDFELLOWS NZ International Comedy Festival plays:
AUCKLAND 12 May – 4 June
WELLINGTON 15 May – 3 June
Nationwide ODDFELLOWS Comedy Convoy 29 May – 3 June
Check out on the whole programme at www.comedyfestival.co.nz

ENDS

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