Don Barnhart Comedy Tour Begins Series Of World Wide Comedy Tours For The Troops

Don Barnhart Comedy Tour Begins Series of World Wide Comedy Tours For The Troops Starting In The Persian Gulf

Armed Forces Entertainment will sponsor the Don Barnhart comedy tour, which will perform for troops stationed in Bahrain and The Persian Gulf Sept 3-15, 2009. Award winning comedian Barnhart will headline the tour and feature the comedic talents of Jeff Capri, one of the first comedians Barnhart picked for his syndicated TV series, The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show.

The tour will base in Bahrain and the comedians will fly out and land on the ships stationed in the Gulf. Barnhart joked, Well get to tailhook on an aircraft carrier. Last time I did that, I saw my spleen shoot out of my mouth and now I have a tail. Capri added, Landing on an aircraft carrier makes Magic Mountain a place for sissies.

Barnhart is one of the top comedians working today. He is an accomplished actor, writer and director with numerous television and film credits including NBC, Comedy Central and MTV. Don recently wrote, directed and starred in the indie thriller, China Dolls and can be heard regularly on The Bob and Tom Show, XM and Sirius and is a veteran performer for The USO and Comics On Duty and has been entertaining the troops around the world for the last seventeen years.

Don is also the writer, director and star of the upcoming film, Freeloader and was voted the 2009 Best Comedian in Las Vegas and was also the featured comedian on MySpace. He is the creator and host of the syndicated TV series, The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show which was selected for the 2008 Comedy Festival in Montreal and Don won the 2007 American Idol Underground Comedy Contest as well as being voted One of the top 100 comedians to see 3 years in a row by Entertainment Business Weekly.

Barnhart is also a contributing author on, I Killed: True Stories of the Road by Americas Top Comics which the N.Y. Times called, Hilarious and Don on is also an alumni of The Second City Conservatory program in Los Angeles and he is currently developing, The De-Evolution of Man a one man show and sit com based on his successful stand up comedy tours.

Don is a favorite headliner at the top comedy clubs across the country. He combines well-written, topical material and delivers it with a fast paced, high energy and animated improvisational flair that keeps audiences of all ages howling with laughter and coming back for more. Audiences say that Barnhart reminds them of a young George Carlin with the energy and characters of Robin Williams making Don funny on so many different levels...

The award winning Barnhart has shared the stage with comedy legends including Robin Williams, Judd Apatow, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Louie Anderson, Jamie Foxx and Jim Carrey. When you reach a certain level of success, if you dont share it, then it dies with you, says Barnhart. I think we all have a duty to give back.
Barnharts company, Don Barnhart Entertainment is also producing a yearlong series of comedy tours for the troops all next year by getting sponsors. Its so important to keep the moral of our troops up and comedy shows really help. We decided to go to corporate funding to keep the tours going and the response has been unbelievable. Even in a tough economy, corporations realize the importance of the men and women serving our country and have gone above to help with these comedy tours.

Barnhart has performed regularly for the troops over the last 17 years and this tour will mark his second set of performances with Armed Forces Entertainment. Im constantly on the road touring and so many times, soldiers will come up and introduce themselves and tell me the saw me in Afghanistan or somewhere and thank me for coming over. Once, this woman came up after a show and shook my hand and then gave me the biggest hug. She told me her husband was still serving overseas and saw me at his base and she wanted to thank me for going overseas to keep his spirits up. It made her feel closer to him, knowing that we were just there and that he was laughing and smiling for a few minutes. Its amazing how we affect so many different people.

These comics are very talented and very appreciated on tour with us, says Erik Ogilvie, Armed Forces Entertainment Circuit Manager for Southwest Asia. Laughter really can be the best medicine to help build morale and camaraderie, and the troops love it every time. Barnharts act is based on everyday experiences that audiences can relate to, and because hes interacted with troops before, his makes for a unique performance. In fact, both comics on tour have family ties to the military, which lends a familiar air to their work. Capri has been touring for the military for many years as well and this is the first time in years Barnhart and Capri will get to join forces again. Both comics went to Second City and have toured together for the troops for years. By far the troops are the best audiences ever, Barnhart says. They dont have time to laugh if it isnt funny; theyre honest in what they like and dont like and that makes you a sharper comic.

What Barnhart hopes to gain from this tour is the chance to meet as many people as possible, make them laugh a little and bring a taste of home to some people who havent seen home in a while. I always look at comedy as a sort of pressure release valve, says Barnhart. It allows you let off a little steam and you can get through the day. Were so looking forward to going over there, Barnhart says, I cant wait to stick my hand out and thank them and come home to tell people how our men and women are doing.

Described by many as "Energetically laid back," Jeff Capri is one of very few second-generation comics working today. Jeff's observational comedic palette takes a different direction than his father's classic Catskill style. Jeff covers everything from pop culture, biographical and political twists as well as a silly pun or two. The Los Angeles Times calls him "...consistently fun, spontaneous, smart and witty." He has worked a wide variety of audiences. Ranging from national television, headlining comedy club chains, numerous military tours including Iraq/ Afghanistan, and a favorite at collages and corporate events. He has even preformed at a nudist colony! (Fully clothed.)

His ability, while not a priority, to work clean while keeping a caustic cynical edge is what makes this comedian truly unique. With many years of experience, Jeff is considered by his peers to be a consummate professional; his strong improvisational ability enables him to easily adapt to any crowd. Jeff Capri is a favorite in Las Vegas and has made many television appearances, including Comics Unleashed, Last Comic Standing, Ed McMahons Next Big Star and has appeared along side many respected entertainers, including Ellen DeGeneres, Joy Behar and Adam Sandler.

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Don Barnhart Entertainment is the premier booking agency for comedy shows around the world with emphasis on providing comedy entertainment to the U.S. Military personnel serving overseas bringing a touch of home and laughter to more than 500,000 troops annually.

Visit www.DonBarnhart.com for more information.