[MD-AtLarge] LOL Comedy Night - July 5, 2021 at 7:30PM Eastern

[president at nfbmd.org]

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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