FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Livermore Valley Arts
Contact: Ruth Egherman (925) 583-2306
Start Out Summer Silly with Some Comedy, This June at The Bankhead
Livermore, CA – (April 28, 2025) – Livermore Valley Arts is tickled to kick off the summer months with some hilarious offerings from some of comedy’s best. From the winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing and a finalist on America’s Got Talent, Josh Blue: The Freak Accident Tour on Friday, June 6, to a return visit from “the funniest woman in the world” (Judd Apatow) Maria Bamford on Friday, June 27, The Bankhead will truly be tickling Tri-Valley funny bones this June. Both of these laugh-filled events will be at the beautiful Bankhead Theater in Downtown Livermore.
After his groundbreaking win on Last Comic Standing in 2006, Josh Blue has risen through the ranks to become a well-established headliner at venues throughout the world. In 2018, Josh crushed his set on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. In the same year, he was honored with a performance at the William H. Macy Gala at the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada. He wrapped up 2018 by recording his fifth hour special, Broccoli, at his home club, Comedy Works in Denver, CO. In 2021, following his 3rd place finish on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Josh Blue hit the road with his As NOT Seen on TV Tour. Josh does over 200 shows a year, continuing to spread laughter and break down stereotypes of people with disabilities. His stand-up routine is in a constant state of evolution and his off-the-cuff improvisational skills guarantee that no two shows are alike. Josh represented the United States in 8 countries as a member of the US Paralympic Soccer Team. Josh and his team were thoroughly disgraced in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, by not scoring a single goal. He is a single father living in Denver, CO, with his son and daughter. Don’t miss Josh on his Freak Accident Tour as he brings the laughs to Downtown Livermore on June 6.
Maria Bamford is revered for her deeply personal and experimental comedy about mental illness. She’s the author of The New York Times bestselling memoir Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult and is the star of four hour-long standup specials (Local Act, Weakness is the Brand, Old Baby, and Maria Bamford: the special, special, special!) and the surreal, semi-autobiographical Netflix comedy series Lady Dynamite, about a comedian who suffers a nervous breakdown. Maria was the first female comic to have two half-hour Comedy Central Presents specials and starred alongside Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, and Brian Posehn in The Comedians of Comedy. She also created and starred in the cult hit web series The Maria Bamford Show, in which she plays all the characters. Maria is often recognized for her prolific voiceover work, including characters on Big Mouth and its spinoff Human Resources, HouseBroken, Teenage Euthanasia, Santa, Inc., Bob’s Burgers, Bojack Horseman, Summer Camp Island, Adventure Time, Talking Tom and Friends, Legend of Korra, Puss in Boots, CatDog, and PBS’s Emmy-winning series Word Girl. She played DeBrie Bardeaux on Netflix’s Arrested Development and recurred on the ABC hit series Fresh Off the Boat. Other TV guest roles include Night Court, Life & Beth, Portlandia, Kenan, Mr. Mayor, and large recurring roles on Hulu’s Everything’s Gonna Be Okay and Showtime’s Flatbush Misdemeanors. Maria was also Emmy-nominated for her guest appearance on the Netflix children’s series Ask the StoryBots. Maria’s late-night appearances include The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CONAN, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and The Tonight Show. Her interview series, What’s Your Ailment? deals with the various mental struggles of celebrities and is available on the Topic streaming service. Her Audible Original, You Are (A Comedy) Special, is a semi-mock instructional book for both standup and life. After a nearly sold-out Bankhead debut in 2023, don’t miss your chance to catch this modern comedy great back in Livermore once again.
Tickets for remaining shows in the 2024-2025 Bankhead Presents season are available online, by calling 925-373-6800, or at the box office windows. For a complete list of events, visit LivermoreArts.org.
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Livermore Valley Arts is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit offering wide-ranging programs that provide access to the arts for the Tri-Valley community and beyond. The Bankhead Theater and Bothwell Arts Center are home to eight resident performing arts companies, over 40 studio artists, and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
Show: Josh Blue: The Freak Accident Tour
Date/Time: Friday, June 6, 2025, at 8:00pm
Tickets: $25—$60 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Maria Bamford
Date/Time: Friday, June 27, 2025, at 8:00pm Previous Bankhead Hot Seller Tickets: $25—$70 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org
