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The Improv at Harrah’s Las Vegas: This Week’s Headliner – Dennis Blair

Budd Friedman and Mark Lonow’s world-famous Improv Comedy Club at Harrah’s Las Vegas showcases a different marquee of acts each week.  Dennis Blair takes the stage tomorrow through Sunday, with supporting acts Marc Price and Julie McCullough.

Improv shows are at 8:30pm and 10:30pm every Tuesday through Sunday.  Tickets are $29.05 (plus applicable taxes) or $44.95 (plus applicable taxes) for VIP tickets that include special seating and an Improv t-shirt.  Special two-for-one tickets are also available for locals during the 10:30pm show.  Tickets are available at Harrah’s Box Office (702-369-5223) and online at www.harrahs.com.      

An accomplished screenwriter, award-winning songwriter and comedic actor, Dennis Blair is a true Renaissance man, yet he is probably best known for the caustic observations and musical satires of his live comedy performances.  Early in his career, Rodney Dangerfield made him his protégé, and together they toured the United States and Canada for over three years.  Dennis conceived and co-wrote Rodney’s hit movie, Easy Money, and also played two cameo roles. He co-wrote and was a featured actor in two Dangerfield specials on ABC, and was creative consultant for the album Rappin’ Rodney. The title song (which he co-wrote) was nominated for a Grammy Award.

His post-Rodney career has seen him opening for a multitude of celebrities such as Tom Jones, The Beach Boys, Garry Shandling, Joan Rivers, Gloria Estefan, Jackie Mason and George Carlin, with whom he toured for over 18 years.  He has appeared on The Tonight Show several times, won an Emmy Award for both writing and voiceovers for the animated film Confessions of a Standup, and has a book, Me First, about his experiences opening for some of the most famous celebrities in show business. He has released two standup comedy CD’s, Live Performance Anxiety, and Words, Music and Drunks as well as an album of original songs called I Sleep Naked in the Rain. He has also dabbled in theater, starring in Los Angeles in his self-penned, one-man musical comedy entitled Also Appearing…, about the ups and downs of his career as an opening act. And his new screenplay, The Money Trail, is being optioned by a production company in Hollywood.

Meanwhile, he continues to headline in comedy clubs and at corporate events and open for major celebrities, and also appears from time to time in the road production of The Rat Pack is Back as comedian Joey Bishop.

Movies, TV shows, theaters, comedy clubs, comedy and music albums, a book, a play…has he had his fill?  “As long as there are jokes to be written,” says Dennis, “and as long as my bank account remains at zero, I’ll be around.”

UPCOMING IMPROV ACTS:

• January 4-9: Don McMillan, with supporting acts Larry Brown and LA Hardy
• January 11-16: Eddie Ifft, with supporting acts Kat Simmons and Kenny Kane
• January 18-23: Dat Phan, with supporting acts Jim McCue and Mike Uryga
• January 25-30: Vince Morris, with supporting acts Gene Pompa and Dave Krause