[Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: LOL Comedy Night Press Release -

[David Andrews]

>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>NFB of Maryland to Host LOL Comedy Night
>Blind Actor Marilee Talkington Is Master of Ceremonies
>
>Baltimore (July 1, 2021): The National Federation of the Blind of 
>Maryland, the host affiliate for the 2021 national convention, is 
>proud to host the first-ever NFB LOL Comedy Night. The master of 
>ceremonies for the event is 
><https://www.marileetalkington.com>Marilee Talkington, an acclaimed 
>blind actor who recently appeared onscreen in the Apple TV Plus 
>adventure drama See. Nine blind contestants will present comedy 
>material to an audience of convention attendees, who will then vote, 
>American Idol-style, for the winner. The best two performers will 
>win cash prizes of $200 for first prize and $100 for second prize. 
>The event takes place Monday, July 5, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.  Like 
>the convention, the event is virtual and is accessible via Zoom link 
>in the convention agenda and #nfB21 app. For more information, visit 
>www.nfb.org/convention.
>
>"We are proud to present this event, the first of its kind, as part 
>of the kickoff of the 2021 convention," said Ronza Othman, president 
>of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. "Laughter and 
>fun are always an important part of our conventions, so we wanted to 
>make it official and to give rising blind comedians a chance to show 
>us what they've got."
>
>Marilee Talkington, the emcee for the event, is an award winning 
>actor, writer, director, motivational speaker, and creator of new 
>theatrical works including TRUCE, her one-woman solo show (BBC 4) 
>and several short independent films. She spoke at the 2019 national 
>convention after her breakout TV role on the CBS crime drama NCIS, 
>in which she played Annie Barth, a blind witness whose information 
>was critical to solving a case. Later that year, she drew rave 
>reviews from critics in the role of Souter Bax in the first season 
>of the Apple TV + sci-fi adventure drama See, which also starred 
>Jason Momoa and Academy Award winner Alfre Woodard. In 2020, she 
>received the NFB's prestigious Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award for her work 
>in helping transform the entertainment industry's views of blind 
>people and for founding Access Acting Academy, a first of its kind 
>acting program specifically for blind and low vision performers.
>
>Marilee Talkington said: "I'm no stand-up comedian, but I love me 
>some comedy! And I'm delighted to continue my support of the NFB by 
>emcee-ing this event. We're gonna have some fun!"
>
>###
>
>About the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland defends the rights 
>of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to 
>families with blind children, older Marylanders who are losing 
>vision, and more. The NFBMD is an affiliate of the National 
>Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy 
>organization of blind Americans. We believe in the hopes and dreams 
>of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. 
>Learn more at <http://www.nfbmd.org>www.nfbmd.org.
>
>CONTACT:
>Chris Danielsen
>Director of Public Relations
>National Federation of the Blind
>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
><mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
>
>
>Ronza Othman, President
>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
>443-426-4110
>Pronouns: she, her, hers
>
>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that 
>blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. 
>Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low 
>expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. 
>You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
>
>
>
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