| Armed Forces Entertainment will sponsor Don Barnhart’s comedy tour, which will perform for troops stationed in Bahrain, Qatar, Djibouti and Saudi Arabia from May 7-20, 2009. Barnhart’s tour will feature the comedic talents of Slade Ham and Bryan Bruner and is hosted by Linda Vu, actress, author and fitness instructor, best known for her starring role in the indie thriller “China Dolls.”
An award-winning comic, writer, director and syndicated TV series host, Barnhart was nominated Best Comedian in Las Vegas for 2009, and won the American Idol Comedy Contest grand prize in 2007. He’s shared the stage with comedy legends including Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Robin Williams, Louie Anderson and Jim Carrey, and has appeared on comedy shows featured on NBC, Comedy Central and MTV.
“When you reach a certain level of success, if you don’t share it, then it dies with you,” says Barnhart. “I think we all have a duty to give back.”
While Barnhart has regularly performed for the troops over the last 17 years, this tour will mark his first set of performances with Armed Forces Entertainment. “The troops are so happy to see somebody from home,” says Barnhart. “It has nothing to do with politics; whether you agree with the war or not, these are our people and we’ve got to back them.”
“These comics are very talented and very appreciated on tour with us,” says Erik Ogilvie, Armed Forces Entertainment Circuit Manager for Southwest Asia. “Laughter really can be the best medicine to help build morale and camaraderie, and the troops love it every time.”
Barnhart’s act is based on everyday experiences that audiences can relate to, and because he’s interacted with troops before, his makes for a unique performance. In fact, all of the comics on the tour, including Barnhart, Ham and Bruner, have family ties to the military, which lends a familiar air to their work.
“By far the troops are the best audiences ever,” Barnhart says. “They don’t have time to laugh if it isn’t funny; they’re honest in what they like and don’t like and that makes you a sharper comic.”
What Barnhart hopes to gain from this tour is the chance to meet as many people as possible, make them laugh a little and bring a taste of home to some people who haven’t seen home in a while. “I always look at comedy as a sort of pressure release valve,” says Barnhart. “It allows you let off a little steam and you can get through the day.”
“We’re so looking forward to going over there,” Barnhart says, “I can’t wait to stick my hand out and thank them and come home to tell people how our men and women are doing.”
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Armed Forces Entertainment is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment. Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. Visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.
To learn more about Don Barnhart, visit http://www.donbarnhart.com.
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