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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;letter-spacing:-.5pt'>NFB of Maryland to Host LOL Comedy Night<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;letter-spacing:.75pt'>Blind Actor Marilee Talkington Is Master of Ceremonies</span></i><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;letter-spacing:.75pt'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Baltimore (July 1, 2021):</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> 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 </span><a href="https://www.marileetalkington.com"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Marilee Talkington</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>, an acclaimed blind actor who recently appeared onscreen in the Apple TV Plus adventure drama <i>See</i>. 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Marilee Talkington, the emcee for the event, is an award winning actor, writer, director, motivational speaker, and creator of new theatrical works including <i>TRUCE, </i>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 <i>NCIS</i>, 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 <i>See</i>, 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>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!" <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>About the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>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 </span><a href="http://www.nfbmd.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>www.nfbmd.org</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Chris Danielsen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pronouns: she, her, hers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>