Regis Philbin will be in Jamestown July 30, 2015 to lead a panel discussion focusing on The Late Show with David Letterman.

JAMESTOWN – To celebrate the groundbreaking of the National Comedy Center, Regis Philbin will moderate a panel of producers, writers and crew from David Letterman’s Late Show and Late Night.

“David Letterman – Behind The Scenes Of Late Night’s Longest Running Broadcaster” will take place on Thursday, July 30 at the Willow Bay Theater in Jamestown, NY as part of the 2015 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival.

This will be the first time since David Letterman’s retirement that the group will discuss how they helped craft Letterman’s shows for the last 33 years.

“This event embodies the spirit of the National Comedy Center, and we’re thrilled to host Regis Philbin and these major influencers of comedy,” said Executive Director, Journey Gunderson.

With one hundred and fifty appearances on Late Night/Late Show, Regis Philbin holds the record as the most frequent Letterman guest.  Philbin took part in countless comedy bits on the show and his banter with Letterman was legendary. Over the last five decades, Regis has hosted numerous shows, including: Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Live with Regis and Kelly, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and The Regis Philbin Show.

The panelists for the evening are: Barbara Gaines (Executive Producer/Associate Producer Late Show/Late Night), Jerry Foley (Director/Supervising Producer/Technical Director Late Show/Late Night), Steve O’Donnell (Head Writer/Writer Late Night/Late Show), Steve Young (Head Monologue Writer/Writer Late Show/Late Night), and Biff Henderson (Stage Manager Late Show/Late Night). Gaines and Foley were each nominated in the 2015 Emmy Awards announcement last week.

Tickets are on sale at www.lucycomedyfest.com or 716.484.0800.

The National Comedy Center is a new $40 million attraction that will celebrate comedy: the craft and its greatest contributors. The groundbreaking ceremony takes place Saturday, August 1 in Jamestown as part of the 2015 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. The weekend also includes Jerry Seinfeld, Melissa Rivers, Nick Offerman, Kelly Carlin, the family of Harold Ramis, the critically-acclaimed kids comedy troupe Story Pirates, showcases including Joe Machi, Andy Hendrickson, Michelle Wolf, Michael Palascak, Jon Rineman, Paul Morrissey, and more than 40 events in four days.

About the National Comedy Center: The 501(c)(3) non-profit National Comedy Center visitor experience is being designed by world-renown creative firms:  Jack Rouse Associates, and interactive specialist Local Projects, which just completed work on the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Project feasibility and economic forecasting was provided by AECOM.

In December, the National Comedy Center (NCC) project in Jamestown, NY was awarded $1.5 million by New York State Empire State Development and Governor Andrew Cuomo, making it a partner of the I Love New York campaign.  The $1.5 million in state funds will help complete the NCC’s vision for the first national attraction complex dedicated to the art of comedy in the United States.  For more information visit www.NationalComedyCenter.org.

About the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival: America’s premier comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, will be performing his signature stand-up routine during the 2015 Lucille Ball Comedy Festival on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at the Jamestown Savings Bank Arena. Past festival headliners have included Jay Leno, Joan Rivers, Bob Newhart, Lewis Black, Ray Romano, Ellen Degeneres and more.

The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival is proudly sponsored by Northwest Savings Bank, Southern Tier Builders Association, Seneca Gaming, Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro P.C., Shults Auto Group, Key Bank and many more at www.lucycomedyfest.com. Time Warner Cable News is a television media sponsor.