TICKETS GO ON SALE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27 AT 10:00AM
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to announce a new collaboration with the Palm Beach Improv. A comedy staple in downtown West Palm Beach for more than 20 years, the Palm Beach IMPROV will join with the Kravis Center to continue their tradition of presenting the best live comedy to South Florida audiences.
The new collaboration, Palm Beach Improv at the Kravis Center promises weekends of uproarious laughter in an up close and personal setting featuring nationally renowned Improv artists.
The side-splitting line-up kicks off with Jeff Ross, AKA “The Roastmaster General” December 8 & 9 at 7:00pm & 9:45pm and continues with Carlos Mencia, December 29 & 30 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm, Emmy® and SAG®-nominated actor and comedian, Kevin Nealon January 19 & 20 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm. and fan favorite Preacher Lawson February 9 & 10 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm. Additional artists to be announced throughout the season.
Palm Beach Improv at the Kravis Center is reserved theater style seating. A full bar and light bites are available for purchase in the lobby for each show.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Jeff Ross
Jeff Ross (AKA “The Roastmaster General”) is a one-man verbal assault unit. For years, his name has been synonymous with Roasting. As a staple on the COMEDY CENTRAL ROASTS, Jeff has anchored the roasts of the industry’s most famous people including Justin Bieber, Alec Baldwin, Bruce Willis, James Franco, Charlie Sheen and more. His newest work, TAKE A BANANA FOR THE RIDE is a hilarious and touching one-man show celebrating the lives of his grandfather, his best friends, and his dog. This intimate and revealing show offers a glimpse underneath the thick skin of America’s Roastmaster.
CARLOS MENCIA
Best known for his raw and unfiltered style of comedy, Comedian Carlos Mencia has performed on stage, TV and in movies, including starring opposite Ben Stiller and Michelle Monaghan in “The Heartbreak Kid,” and “Our Family Wedding,” alongside America Ferrara and Forrest Whitaker. He has recently gone back to his comedic roots with his No Hate No Fear comedy tour. As a comedian who finds hilarious irony in both the day-to-day and the newsworthy events, Carlos is never lacking in material; he recently shot two stand-up specials due out later this year.
Kevin Nealon
Kevin Nealon is an Emmy® and SAG®-nominated actor and comedian who sets himself apart from other comedic performers with his unique sense of humor, dry wit and likable demeanor. Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live and received critical acclaim for his role in the hit Showtime series Weeds. Kevin currently produces and hosts his digital series Hiking with Kevin and tours his stand-up globally.
Preacher Lawson
Lawson is best known for his appearance on season 12 of NBC’s hit series, America’s Got Talent (2017) where he made it to the final round. He was then invited to compete on America’s Got Talent: The Champions (2019) and Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions (2019) where he advanced to the finale after receiving the most fan votes. Lawson shot his first stand-up special, Get To Know Me, which premiered on BET+ in 2019.
Lawson has built a massive following on TikTok of 3.2 Million followers. His YouTube channel has amassed over 600,000 subscribers and features clips of stand-up, MMA training, and even Vegan cooking tips! He recently completed his residency hosting AGT Live in Las Vegas and continues to perform at sold-out venues around the country.
THE IMPROV
In 2023, The Improv celebrates its 60th birthday and, while it remains the largest network of premium live comedy clubs in the United States, its future was anything but guaranteed. Copy-cat clubs sprung up in the shadows of Budd Friedman’s early success. Booking wars for top talent ensued. There were lost leases and industry talent strikes and a massive fire that almost reduced The Hollywood Improv to ashes. In fragile economic times, past Improv performers, including Jay Leno and Andy Kaufman and Robin Williams pitched in with fundraising shows, or to help paint the showroom walls and replace roof tiles.
Somehow, through decades of shifting audience trends, thousands of comedians who killed and bombed (sometimes on consecutive nights) and increased industry competition, The Improv survived. Over the years, many future stars and industry leaders simply worked at The Improv, rarely touching the stage. Among the fraternity of door hosts were Danny Aiello, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Joe Piscopo, Jimmy Miller, Daniel Baldwin, and Judd Apatow. Les Moonves tended bar. Chris Albrecht was the manager in-charge, clearly the right steppingstone to later becoming Chairman and CEO of HBO.
After six decades, through stable and turbulent times, the Improv stages continue to provide a premium platform for hundreds of artists to speak their truth in front of that iconic wall. Many of today’s most celebrated and contemporary artists were first introduced on Improv stages, including Gabe Iglesias, Damon Wayans, Chelsea Handler, Craig Robinson, Taylor Tomlinson, and Bert Kreischer. In 2023, it is widely regarded as the leading brand in live comedy, providing an intimate setting to see superstar talent or witness that electric moment when the audience discovers next gen talent for the first time.
How to Purchase Tickets:
Tickets for Palm Beach Improv at the KRAVIS CENTER will go on sale to the public at kravis.org starting Friday, October 27, at 10am. To purchase by phone or in person, call 561.832.7469 or visit the Box Office Monday through Saturday from 12pm. to 5pm. Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling 561.651.4438. For information on becoming a Kravis Center member, please visit kravis.org/membership or call 561.651.4320
Please visit kravis.org for the latest updates.
Calendar listing:
Jeff Ross: TAKE A BANANA FOR THE RIDE
Friday, December 8 at 7:00pm & 9:45pm and Saturday, December 9 at 7:00pm & 9:45pm
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Tickets start at $37.50*
For tickets visit kravis.org
Audience Advisory:
Strong language and mature content
Calendar listing:
CARLOS MENCIA: NO HATE NO FEAR
Friday, December 29 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm and Saturday, December 30 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse
Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Tickets start at $37.50*
For tickets visit kravis.org
Audience Advisory:
Strong language and mature content
Calendar listing:
KEVIN NEALON
Friday, January 19 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm and Saturday, January 20 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm
Helen K. Persson Hall
Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Tickets start at $37.50*
For tickets visit kravis.org
Audience Advisory:
Strong language and mature content
Calendar listing:
PREACHER LAWSON
Friday, February 9 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm and Saturday, February 10 at 7:00pm & 9:30pm
Helen K. Persson Hall
Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Tickets start at $32.50*
For tickets visit kravis.org
Audience Advisory:
Recommended for 16+
About the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:
The Kravis Center is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL. The Center’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international artists and companies of the highest quality, by offering comprehensive arts education programs; by providing a Palm Beach County home for local and regional arts organizations to showcase their work; and by providing an economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County. For information, please visit kravis.org.
*All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Visit kravis.org for up-to-date information.