NY plans urban comedy festival

New York is to get a $1million+ black comedy festival.

The four-day Urban Comedy Festival will centre on a televised awards ceremony and involve events in venues like Madison Square Garden and the Apollo Theatre, as well as smaller comedy clubs.

If successful, the event will tour some of America's other big cities.

It follows the success of the Kings Of Comedy, a tour showcasing the talents of a group black comics which was made into a movie by Spike Lee.

Organiser Walter Latham, who also produced the Kings Of Comedy, told Variety magazine: "We want to bring the vibe of urban comedy across America to the traditional venues of New York City.

"Urban comedy is no longer just for African-Americans," he added, citing the number of black comic actors who have starred in Hollywood blockbusters.

The Urban Comedy Festival, pencilled in for the third week in April, will also feature seminars, films, free outdoor concerts and a search for the best unknown comic.

Published: 29 Jun 2001