Pittsburgh Native to Co-Host National Comedy Tour
Nationally Known Comics to bring Observations--and Lots of Laughter--
to Several U.S. Cities as Part of Midlife Crisis Comedy Tour


(Pittsburgh, PA) One of the best things about reaching middle-age is knowing that the challenges you face on a daily basis are shared by lots of other people. When those other people are stand-up comedians, suddenly the things that frustrate become a laughing matter.

That's the inspiration for the Midlife Crisis Comedy Tour, organized and produced by professional comic and comedy writer Buzz Nutley, a native of Pittsburgh, PA's Brookline neighborhood.

The tour, which will begin in April 2005 and continue into 2006, is scheduled to play several cities across the United States. The tour will kick off April 21 through 24 with four dates in Western Pennsylvania: Corinthian Theater, Sharon, PA (April 21); Day's Inn, Butler, PA (April 22); Pitzers, Jeannette, PA (April 23); and Jimmy G's, Sharpsburg, PA (April 24). April 21, 22 and 23 shows will begin at 8 p.m. The Sunday, April 24 show will begin at 7:30.

Tickets for all shows are $20 each, and are available by calling Ticketmaster at 412-323-1919.

In a number of venues, Nutley will co-headline a full production featuring nationally known comics whose combined experience totals more than 64 years. Each brings a distinct perspective to the stage.

Nutley, a single father of four, who, in his words, "would get married, but is afraid of the words Ôtill death do us part,Õ" will be joined by:

Jim Brogan, a single resident of Los Angeles, is a comedian, writer and actor. Most recently Brogan worked as writer and audience warm-up comic on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. His stand-up credits include major comedy clubs, colleges, and corporate events across the U.S., as well as appearances on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman, Merv Griffin Show, and Evening at the Improv. He has also hosted several television shows including The Late Show, You Asked For It Again, and Comic Strip Live, and has appeared as an actor on Jerry Seinfeld and Billy Crystal specials. He also starred in a sitcom entitled Out of the Blue and was seen in the movies King Kong, Punchline and Comedian, and joined Nutley as creative consultant on Yakov Smirnoff's one-man Broadway show As Long As We Both Shall Laugh. He has also served as audience warm-up comic for several sitcoms, including Seinfeld, Taxi, Cheers, Newhart, Golden Girls, Coach, and others.

Brad Upton, a married father from Seattle. Upton has headlined at numerous comedy clubs, including Catch a Rising Star, The Improv, The Comedy Works, Hilarities, Knuckleheads, The Funny Bone, The Comedy Castle, Giggles, and many others. He's also opened concerts for Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, the Smothers Brothers, Tim Allen, Rita Rudner, the late Rodney Dangerfield, and others. He's also a featured performer on Royal Caribbean and Holland-America cruises, and at a long list of corporate events.

Cathy Ladman, a married mom from Los Angeles. In addition to headlining her own One Night Stand on HBO, Ladman has performed stand-up comedy on a number of television shows, including The Tonight Show, Penn & Teller's Sin City, Comic Strip Live, The Caroline Rhea Show, and others. She has also appeared in such sitcoms as Everybody Loves Raymond, Just Shoot Me, Mad About You, Caroline in the City, and Roseanne, and in several films and stage plays.

In some smaller venues, Nutley will headline or perform solo in a scaled-down version of the show. "I was born on the last year of the baby boom," said Nutley. "When I got to the stores, the shelves were empty." He is confident that the Midlife Crisis Comedy Tour will greatly appeal to his fellow mid-lifers, as well as those who are approaching that point in their lives:"people who, like me, are experiencing the challenges of work, love, parenthood, and more, and trying to balance it all on a day-to-day basis. We live in the richest nation on earth, yet we probably worry about more things than anyone else."

Nutley has also appeared across the U.S. at such comedy clubs at the Improv, Funny Bone, Punchline, The Comedy Store, and The Laugh Factory. He has toured nationally with Yakov Smirnoff and performed with numerous comics, including Louis Anderson, Chris Rock, John Stewart, Bobcat Goldthwait, Bob Saget, George Wallace, and others. As a writer, his work has been featured on The Tonight Show; in Reader's Digest, the LA Times, and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; and on morning radio.

His material was also selected to appear in Jokes To Go and The Funny Pages, two popular compilations of jokes and bits from many of todayÕs most prominent comedians, available nationally in major bookstores.

In addition, heÕs written several screenplays, one of which, Raw Talent, won five acres of land in the prestigious Taos Land and Film Festival. Over the past two years, in addition to writing and performing his own material, Nutley has worked extensively with Smirnoff, including serving as creative consultant (with Brogan) on "As Long As We Both Shall Laugh," SmirnoffÕs one-man Broadway show at the American Airlines Theater. The show was also taped and aired as a PBS-TV special.

Details about the Midlife Crisis Comedy Tour are available at www.midlifecrisiscomedy.com. # # #