(1888PressRelease)
May 04, 2009 - An award-winning comic, writer, director and syndicated TV series host, Barnhart was nominated Best Comedian in Las Vegas for 2009, and won the American Idol Comedy Contest grand prize in 2007. He’s shared the stage with comedy legends including Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Robin Williams, Louie Anderson and Jim Carrey, and has appeared on comedy shows featured on NBC, Comedy Central and MTV.
“When you reach a certain level of success, if you don’t share it, then it dies with you,” says Barnhart. “I think we all have a duty to give back.”
While Barnhart has regularly performed for the troops over the last 17 years, this tour will mark his first set of performances with Armed Forces Entertainment. “The troops are so happy to see somebody from home,” says Barnhart. “It has nothing to do with politics; whether you agree with the war or not, these are our people and we’ve got to back them.” “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.”
Barnhart’s act is based on everyday experiences that audiences can relate to, and because he’s interacted with troops before, his makes for a unique performance. In fact, all of the comics on the tour, including Barnhart, Ham and Bruner, have family ties to the military, which lends a familiar air to their work.
“By far the troops are the best audiences ever,” Barnhart says. “They don’t have time to laugh if it isn’t funny; they’re honest in what they like and don’t 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 haven’t 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.”
“We’re so looking forward to going over there,” Barnhart says, “I can’t wait to stick my hand out and thank them and come home to tell people how our men and women are doing.”
Southern California comedian Don Barnhart is an award-winning comedian, he was the featured comedian on the last KLOS 5 O’Clock Funnies All Star Show and will just be returning from entertaining the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq on his Freedom of Speech Comedy Tour. Don was recently the featured comedian on myspace. He is the writer, director and star of the indie thriller, China Dolls and is the creator and host of the syndicated TV series, The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show.
Barnhart has well written and topical material delivering with an upbeat, animated and improvisation flair that keeps audiences of all ages howling with laughter and coming back for more.
Barnhart was already on the rise to comedy stardom when he won the contest and was recently named one of the top 100 comedians to see 3 years in a row by Entertainment Business Weekly. Besides being a talented comedian, Barnhart recently wrote, directed and stars in the independent film, “China Dolls” which is already generating a great buzz with outstanding early reviews. It's a gripping look into the underground world of human trafficking inspired by Don's many tours overseas entertaining the troops.
Barnhart is also a contributing author on the book, “I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America’s Top Comics” which the NY Times calles "hilarious". He is also the producer and host of the new syndicated television series, "The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show" where he showcases his comedy pals in a late night comedy show that doesn't hold back.
Don is also the writer, director and star of the independent feature film China Dolls which will unveil in Cannes during the worldwide film festival later in May. The film is currently hitting the festival circuit seeking distribution but the writer/director and producer also chose to try alternative distribution methods. In a unique twist, Don and his producing partner, co-star and wife Linda Vu have also released the DVD and digital download of the movie on their website: www.ChinaDollsMovie.com
China Dolls had been shopped around Hollywood but Barnhart turned down several lucrative offers along the way opting to keep creative control over the project. It was then that he and his wife decided to produce the film themselves putting in their own money with the belief that the film would find an audience and it already has.
With the power of the internet, Barnhart and Vu's pre-release of the DVD and download of the movie have already gotten them a return on the original investment. “We bypassed the studios altogether and decided to test the power of the internet and were shocked by the huge response” added Vu, “We first put the preview up on our myspace page and that drove people to our official web site where they could order the pre-release DVD or download the movie and in the first month we got just over 100,000 hits on ChinaDollsMovie.com we were blown away at the response with the DVD selling for $19.95 and the mp4 download selling at $4.99”.
Barnhart and Vu are currently in pre-production on a horror film, Morgue with plans to shoot in and around Las Vegas later this year and Don is putting the final touches on a new comedy film, Freeloader that is also in development.
Don recently completed another Comics On Duty World Tour entertaining the troops overseas. He has been performing for the troops since 1992. "I feel we all have a part to play. Some people fly the fighter jets, some scub the decks. My job is to keep them happy so they can get back to their job a bit more refreshed, finish up and come home safe to their families", said Barnhart from a phone interview. "The men and women serving our country really need the moral support from all of us and when we come over there to perform, it brings a piece of home. It means more than you can even imagine".
Armed Forces Entertainment is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment. Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. Visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.
To learn more about Don Barnhart, visit http://www.donbarnhart.com.
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