Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA (1888PressRelease)
November 17, 2008 - Award winning nationally acclaimed comedian Don Barnhart returns to Harvey's Comedy Club in Portland Dec 4-8, 2008. Barnhart is fast becoming a regular comedy name in Las Vegas and this will be his sixth week performing in town already this year.
Barnhart just returned from being selected for the Comedy Festival in Montreal and was the Featured Comedian on MySpace, which Barnhart aknowlages is a career booster. Don is currently on tour and admitted, "The power and exposure of the internet is absolutely insane. It's amazing how many people watched my video clips on myspace and now want to come see me live".
With all of this recent exposure, it looks like Don is next in line to make the Vegas Strip home for his stand up comedy show alongside comedy legends; George Wallace, Louie Anderson, Roseanne Barr and Carrot Top. Barnhart added, "The road has been great and I love to perform but doing it every night here in Las Vegas is the dream come true".
Barnhart combines physical characterizations with well written clever material that makes audiences of all ages howl with laughter and then keep coming back for more. You have to watch and listen at the same time or you'll miss half the show. Don literally has to stop and give the audience a break several times during his show to let the audience catch their breath. At a recent show one lady laughed so hard, her water broke and she had to leave the show to go deliver her baby.
Barnhart was recently named, “One of the Top Comedians to See” three years in a row by Entertainment Business Weekly. In addition to stand-up, Barnhart recently completed production on his independent drama, “China Dolls;” a film he wrote, directed and stars. He is also a contributing author on the book, “I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America’s Top Comics” which The New York Times called "hilarious." The Vegas resident is also producer and host for the television series, "The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show."
Don and his producing wife Linda Vu are currently in pre-production on the feature film, "Freeloader" which Barnhart wrote and will star in. They plan to shoot later this year in Las Vegas with Barnhart's father directing. Don Barnhart Sr. was the director several hit television shows including, "Saved By The Bell" and "Mork & Mindy".
Barnhart Jr, who recently won the American Idol Underground's Comedy Contest, came up with The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show while entertaining U.S. troops overseas. Barnhart explains, "We were censored by the government while entertaining the men and women putting their lives on the line to make the world a safer place." The concept of the Freedom of Speech Comedy Show is no gimmicks or censorship; just top touring comedians performing in front of real comedy club audiences.
Don Barnhart can also be heard as a regular guest on The Bob & Tom Show, XM and Sirius Satellite. In addition to headlining at the top comedy clubs in the country including The Improv and Punchlines, Barnhart tours regularly for The USO and Comics On Duty with frequent stops in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Don Barnhart Jr. is also an alumni of the prestigious Second City Conservatory Program in Los Angeles.
Freeloader is the story of a returning Veteran that finds out his wife is cheating on him and by selling off their house and belongings leaves him alone and homeless. Setting out to find himself, he ends up on the streets in Las Vegas and uses his wit and humor to find his way back to reality.
This is will be the second feature film written and starring nationally acclaimed and award-winning comedian Don Barnhart, Jr. “The story deals with the ongoing homeless problem here in Las Vegas and Freeloader becomes the Robin Hood of the homeless,” said Barnhart in a recent interview while on tour headlining for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. He added, “I really like using comedy to deal with current affairs and hard to face issues and I try to do that in my stand up show as well.”
Barnhart’s production company was selected to showcase his TV show, The Freedom of Speech Comedy Series at The Montreal Comedy Festival and Don was recently the Featured Comedian on MySpace as well as winning last year’s American Idol Underground’s Comedy Contest. Barnhart is currently on tour with his DeEvolution of Man Comedy Show that he is developing into a one-man show and he will take time off to shoot the film Freeloader.
Freeloader will be directed by Barnhart’s father Don Lewis Barnhart whose numerous directing credits include Saved By The Bell, Mork & Mindy and Full House. It will also be the first time Barnhart and his father will be working together professionally. Don’s father, Don Lewis Barnhart had just finished shooting the reality show, “So You Want To Be An Actor?” and is prepping “Vegas Wedding Blues” when he got involved. My dad was in between projects when he read the script and I got the call. Barnhart Sr said, “This is a great script that you shouldn’t let go. Do it yourself and you could be the next great comedy star.”
Freeloader will be produced under the Don Barnhart Entertainment production company and is truly a family run business with producer and wife of Barnhart Jr, Linda Vu who produced and starred in China Dolls and is the author of Fit, Feminine & Fabulous along with Skip Burrows whose recent credits include Con Air, The Mexican, 12 Monkeys and 3000 Miles To Graceland.
Barnhart’s first film, “China Dolls” was a self-funded independent film that deals with the issue of human trafficking and is getting great audience reviews and earning the company money. Don added, “This was an ultra low-budget project that we shot ourselves and put it up on the internet and self distributed. With the power of the online community, we’ve already made our money back thru downloads and DVD sales.”
“With the success of our first project, it was really a no-brainer to produce Freeloader ourselves and take on another film,” said Vu. She added, “Don had always wanted to do a project with his father and combining the two talents together is going to be a great experience as they both live and breath comedy. If we can capture on film what they do so naturally, it’s sure to be a hit.”
For interviews please contact:
Don Barnhart
702-449-1763
barnhartjr ( @ ) embarqmail dot com
www.donbarnhart.com
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