National Comedy Center Announces “Comedy Under the Stars” Free Outdoor Movie Night Series Featuring Ten Classic Comedy Feature Films on its Jumbo Screens in 2020

Jamestown, New York – December 12, 2019 – The National Comedy Center, the country’s official cultural institution dedicated to comedy, announced its “Comedy Under the Stars” feature film series in 2020, as it presents a series of ten free comedy feature films on its two 350-foot, jumbo outdoor screens. From comedy classics AIRPLANE!, FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF and GROUNDHOG DAY to beloved Pixar films TOY STORY and CARS, there will be something for everyone as the film series runs on select Fridays, starting Memorial Day weekend through mid-October of next year.

The movie series announcement for 2020 follows two well-received and highly-attended National Comedy Center free outdoor movie nights in the fall of 2019: SPACEBALLS this past September and GHOSTBUSTERS this past October.

The movie lineup was selected with input from the community via social media.

“There’s nothing like watching a great comedy film — together with friends and family — outdoors, under the stars. Response to our two outdoor movie nights this year was so overwhelmingly positive that we knew we had to create a full movie series for 2020,” said Malachi Livermore, Director of Programming and Guest Experiences for the National Comedy Center. “We look forward to welcoming our local community, along with National Comedy Center visitors from near and far, to ten nights of great comedy on our jumbo screens.”

All films will start at 8:00 pm EDT. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Snacks, beer and wine will be available for purchase.

 

The National Comedy Center Presents “Comedy Under the Stars”

May 22 – AIRPLANE! (40th anniversary) Directed by Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker. Rated PG

June 5 – TOY STORY (25th anniversary) The beloved Pixar film that started them all. Rated G.

June 19 – FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF Starring Matthew Broderick. Written and directed by John Hughes. Rated PG-13.

July 10 – GROUNDHOG DAY Starring Bill Murray and directed by Harold Ramis. Rated PG.

July 17 – MAMMA MIA! Based on the Broadway musical featuring the music of ABBA. Starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan. Rated PG-13. Playing In conjunction with the Scandinavian Folk Festival.

August 21 – CARS  A Pixar classic. Playing during the 28th annual Jamestown Cruise-In.

September 4 – TOMMY BOY (25th Anniversary). Starring Chris Farley and David Spade (MTV Movie Award Winner – Best Duo). Rated PG-13.

September 18 – FUNNIEST MOMENTS OF COMEDY  Featuring legends of stage, screen, and radio who became some of television’s most enduring and beloved stars, including Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Milton Berle, George Burns & Gracie Allen, Jackie Gleason, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, Sid Caesars and Red Skelton. Not rated.

October 2 – LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Starring Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, John Candy, Ellen Greene and Bill Murray. Directed by Frank Oz. Based on the Broadway musical. Rated PG-13.

October 16 – HOCUS POCUS Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy. Rated PG.

 

About the National Comedy Center

The National Comedy Center is the United States’ official cultural institution and museum dedicated to presenting the vital story of comedy and preserving its heritage for future generations, as formally designated by the U.S. Congress in 2019. Opened in August 2018 in Jamestown, New York, the museum complex offers an unprecedented visitor experience using state-of-the-art technology, interactivity and personalization to create the first true 21st Century museum environment.

TIME named the National Comedy Center one of its “World’s Greatest Places,” — one of only “100 new and newly noteworthy destinations to experience right now” and one of only nine attractions to visit in the United States. Condé Nast Traveler called the National Comedy Center “One of the best museums in the country,” while People magazine named it one of “100 Reasons to Love America.” Earlier this year, the National Comedy Center was voted a “Best New Attraction” in the county, ranking #2 out of 20 new attractions by USA Today readers, and chosen as the #1 museum and #1 ticketed attraction in this USA Today poll. Comedy industry authority The Interrobang named the design team second on its list of “Innovators Who Changed Comedy” in 2018. Visitors from all 50 states and eighteen countries have given the Center a rare 5/5 raring on TripAdvisor, ranking among the highest in the attraction and tourism industry

Based on the vision of Jamestown native Lucille Ball for her hometown to become a destination for comedy, the National Comedy Center showcases comedy’s great minds and unique voices in ways that engage, inspire, educate and entertain. As a non-profit institution, the National Comedy Center was funded by a mix of federal, state and private philanthropic support, including partnerships with I LOVE NEW YORK ™, Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York State’s Empire State Development.

Featuring exclusive collections, world-class exhibits and leading-edge technology, the National Comedy Center presents an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at the time-honed creative processes that have elevated comedy entertainment to an art form. Over 50 immersive exhibits within the 37,000-square-foot facility enable visitors to take an interactive journey through comedy history, from early vaudeville to the latest viral memes. Throughout their personalized experience, visitors gain a profound appreciation for comedy icons and innovators, as well as for the tremendous influence of humor on how we think, live and laugh.

Design for the National Comedy Center was led by the most prominent cultural and interactive design firms in the world, whose portfolios collectively include the award-winning 9/11 Memorial Museum, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, The College Football Hall of Fame, SNL: The Experience, and more.

The National Comedy Center has been embraced by the entertainment industry, with props, costumes and archival material provided by many of the most revered names in comedy. The Comedy Center recently announced a major initiative to preserve Carl Reiner’s personal “Dick Van Dyke Show” script archive. Exhibition partners include the Kelly Carlin and the George Carlin estate, George Shapiro and Jerry Seinfeld, Dan Aykroyd, Alan and Robin Zweibel, Joan Dangerfield, The Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation, Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner, The Harold Ramis Family, The Garry Shandling Estate, George Schlatter, Bill Marx and the Harpo Marx Family, the Ernie Kovacs and Edie Adams estate, Desilu Too, NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Corporate Archive, and many more.

The National Comedy Center operates the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum, which explores the lives, careers and legacy of the “First Couple of Comedy,” and the incredible impact they had on the world.

For over 25 years, the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in Jamestown has showcased comedy’s rising young comedians and greatest stars, including Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer, Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin, Lewis Black, Trevor Noah, Joan Rivers, Ellen DeGeneres, Jim Gaffigan, Paula Poundstone, Ray Romano, Bob Newhart and The Smothers Brothers, and over one hundred other comedic artists. The 28th annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, presented by the National Comedy Center, was held this past, headlined by Sebastian Maniscalco and John Mulaney.