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The Improv at Harrah’s Las Vegas: This Week’s Headliner – Billy Washington

Budd Friedman and Mark Lonow’s world-famous Improv Comedy Club at Harrah’s Las Vegas showcases a different marquee of acts each week. Billy Washington takes the stage tomorrow through Sunday, with supporting acts Chipper Lowell and Flip Shultz. Improv shows are at 8:30p.m. and 10:30p.m. every Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets are $31.95 (plus applicable taxes) or $44.95 (plus applicable tax/fees) for VIP tickets that include special seating, an Improv t-shirt and post-show meet-and-greet with the comics. Special two-for-one tickets are also available for locals. Tickets are available at Harrah’s Box Office (702-369-5223) and online at www.harrahs.com.

If you’re thinking you don’t know Billy Washington, don’t be too hasty, ladies and gentleman. For one thing, if you happened to be spending some time in Houston several years ago, and happened to stray outside the lines of legal behavior–we’re not saying criminal behavior, necessarily, but something that would typically involve a response by a cop–you might well have encountered Billy, back in the days when he was a Houston policeman. But with any luck, you’ve crossed paths with him at some point after he was one of Houston’s Finest, and had embarked on a multi-faceted showbiz career.

Of course, first and foremost, he’s a top-notch stand-up comedian. But he’s also an enormously talented musician, who often incorporates some deft keyboard playing into his comedy act. In fact, he’s so gifted and dazzling on stage–and this also brings us to another possible place where you might’ve brushed up against Billy. After opening a concert in 2003 for Aretha Franklin, she was so was blown away by Billy she hired him on the spot to open all her shows nationwide for the next three years. Billy has recently completed writing and producing the film Bob- The Urban Legend of Comedy and secured his first international distribution deal with BCD Distribution, the largest independent distribution company in the country.

Billy’s original songs, parodies, poems and comedy routine has been featured on The Bob and Tom show (nationally syndicated), HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival and Def Comedy Jam, The Montreal Comedy Festival, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, BET’s ComicView and most recently the Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Last Comic Standing (2007-08).

Billy has performed in hundreds of comedy clubs, colleges and corporate events over his career, and his “low-key intensity, and dead on humor (The Denver Post)” will make wonder you why you haven’t heard more this dynamic performer.

UPCOMING IMPROV ACTS:

April 28-May 3: Dat Phan, with supporting acts Mike Dugan and Adam London

May 5-10: Willie Barcena, with supporting acts Larry Omaha and Brandon Hahn. For this lineup, the weekend’s very special guest John Melendez – the artist formerly known as Stuttering John, will join May 8-9.

May 12-17: Scott Record, with supporting acts Shayla Rivera and Ron Morey

May 19-24: James Stevens III, with supporting acts Scott Kennedy and Debbie Praver

Additional special offers:
In celebration of Mother’s Day on May 10, the world-famous Improv Comedy Club at Harrah’s Las Vegas is treating all mothers attending the Improv show with their son or daughter on Mother’s Day to a complimentary show package. This exclusive offer for Mom on her special day includes a complimentary show ticket and a complimentary tasty dessert at Penazzi Italian Ristorante.