H. G. Fairfield’s Veterans Benefit Tour Approaches Grand Finale
with Show at Paramount Center for the Arts
October 24, 2011
Click Here to Download the October 24, 2011 Press Release
Since October 1st H. G. Fairfield Arts Center for the Environment and Navy veteran PJ Walsh have been putting on comedy shows throughout the Hudson Valley. The 30 Shows in 30 Days Comedy Tour enters its final week with a premier show sponsored by Pepsi on Saturday October 29th, at 7:30pm, at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill, NY. H. G. Fairfield presents PJ Walsh performing his award winning, one-man theater show, “Over There: Comedy Is His Best Weapon.” This show has won numerous prestigious theatre awards, with NYTheater.com describing it as “fantastic, heartfelt, hilarious.”
Throughout this month’s marathon comedy tour, PJ Walsh, accompanied by Katherine Freston, Founder, and Kim Blacklock, President, of H. G. Fairfield Arts Center, has logged over 3,500 miles traveling throughout Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, and Orange counties performing shows at VFWs, American Legions, and VA hospitals. Walsh’s performances have garnered rave reviews.
PJ Walsh, a nationally acclaimed comedian, who regularly takes time off from touring to entertain troops abroad, has come back home to Brewster, NY, to help the local Hudson Valley veterans. Proceeds from all comedy shows go to local VFWs and American Legions to help raise awareness of veterans’ issues and fund critical programs. “Being able to come back to where I grew up, to where my family lives, and to help veterans and their families in my home area is very rewarding and humbling,” says Walsh. “I’ve spent 6 years touring with the stars of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, gotten to perform at Radio City Music Hall, and even had a radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio yet, coming home to help is a fulfilling experience like no other.”
Walsh has even added a bit of local flavor to his shows. In addition to their duties with H G. Fairfield Arts Center, Kim Blacklock and Kathie Freston join the show, adding their own family military histories to the mix. Blacklock is an amateur comedian who has performed many times in the Hudson Valley and New York City. Walsh and Blacklock make a classic odd-couple pair on stage, with Blacklock’s 6’ 7” imposing frame contrasting with Walsh’s 5’9” athletic frame, opening the doors for great material. Miss Freston, an 81 year-old actress in local theatre productions, adds an historical component harkening from her own Marine service during the Korean War and her father’s service in both WWI and WWII. The three deliver poignant yet funny messages of how communities have been, and are, coming together to help veterans and their families.
“The VFW’s, American Legions, VA Medical Centers, and local, County, State, and Federal Veteran Service Officers have been so appreciative of our efforts to help raise funds for them and awareness of their services,” said Blacklock. “When we are out at the shows with the veterans and people from the community, it is invigorating. They thank us for making a difference and for joining the groundswell of activity.”
Post numbers are discount codes that can be entered to support each Post of 30 Shows in 30 Days, garnering the ticket buyer a $10 discount. The code 2011 can be entered for a $10 ticket.
Tickets for the Paramount Center performance are available on line atwww.paramountcenter.org or by calling 1-877-840-0457. ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT LOCAL VETERANS.
Click Here to Download the October 24, 2011 Press Release
PJ Walsh 30 Shows in 30 Days Comedy Tour Approaches Half Way Point
October 12, 2011
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After 11 days of his marathon comedy tour, nationally acclaimed comedian PJ Walsh has traveled nearly 3000 miles, has performed almost a dozen stand-up comedy shows already, has done almost as many radio/tv/newspaper interviews, all while visiting numerous VFW’s, American Legions, and VA Medical Centers.
Beginning October 1st PJ Walsh partnered with H. G. Fairfield Arts Center for the Environment to conduct a marathon comedy tour: “30 Shows in 30 Days – Courage Continues at Home” to benefit local veterans. A Navy veteran and Brewster, NY native, PJ Walsh has been getting rave reviews of his comedy performances. Walsh said, “I am proud to be able to return home to help raise awareness of veteran’s issues and raise funds for much needed local veterans programs.” PJ Walsh shifted his national comedy tour to spend the entire month of October helping raise funds for local veterans. Walsh continued,” I am humbled by the amount of support and encouragement I have received from my fellow veterans.”
Kim Blacklock, CEO and President of H. G. Fairfield, said; “The most rewarding part of this tour is meeting the veterans and their families; they are the real heroes. It is an honor to be able to join them in their efforts to raise awareness and funds for their fellow veterans. PJ Walsh, like many of the veterans I have met, truly exemplifies the motto “Courage Continues At Home.” Even with his national success, PJ Walsh comes back home and helps.”
Katherine Freston, the 81 year old founder of H. G. Fairfield Arts Center for the Environment, is a Korean War veteran and fellow performer. Freston, who has attended many of PJ’s performances, has been an actress for a number of years in well established community theatre; Arts on the Lake, Aery Theatre, The Players Club in Manhattan, and Pawling Players. Freston said, “It is amazing to see that H. G. Fairfield, which has been in existence for less than one year, has had such a positive impact on not only veterans but the community as a whole. This is a dream come true, and it is only the beginning.”
For a complete listing of all stand-up comedy shows in the Marathon Comedy Tour, you can go toPJWalsh.com or HGFairfieldArts.org. All shows are open to the public and all proceeds will benefit veterans’ organizations in Putnam, Westchester, Dutchess and Orange counties.
PJ Walsh will conclude his marathon comedy tour with his award winning one man theater show, “Over There: Comedy is his Best Weapon”. This incredible performance which is sponsored by Pepsi, has won several awards including: Best of Hollywood Fringe 2011, Best of San Francisco Fringe 2011, and Unanimous Producers’ Choice Nominee for Mega Star Award at this year’sm LA Comedy Awards. “Over There” can be seen at the Paramount Center for the Arts, in Peekskill, NY, on Saturday, October 29 at 7:30pm. Tickets are available atparamountcenter.org or by calling 1-877-840-0457.
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For Further Information Contact:
Kim Blacklock: office@HGFairfieldArts.org
Click Here to Download this Press Release
Navy veteran & Brewster, NY, son, PJ Walsh stars in
“30 Shows in 30 Days – Courage Continues at Home;”
an unprecedented event to benefit America’s veterans.
Sept. 27, 2011
Click Here to Download this Press Release
H. G. Fairfield Arts Center for the Environment Inc. has teamed up with nationally acclaimed comedian PJ Walsh in a comedic tour of duty designed to spotlight the needs of local returning veterans and their families and to raise money for, and awareness of, existing veterans’ services. Brewster, NY native, PJ Walsh is bringing stand-up comedy to VFW Posts and American Legions this October in the unprecedented event of “30 Shows in 30 Days – Courage Continues at Home.” As a finale to his month of touring, PJ will perform his award-winning one-man theatre show, “Over There: Comedy Is His Best Weapon,” at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill, NY, October 29th. The marathon comedy tour wraps up by bringing it all home to the Brewster VFW Post 672, October 30th.
“Over There,” recently named Best of Hollywood Fringe Festival 2011 and Best of San Francisco Fringe Festival 2011, illustrates the hardship and hilarity of PJ Walsh’s own journey: from a blue-collar upbring-ing & a self-avowed screw-up kid; to working on a Navy Ship and facing his own mortality in the belly of a C-130 flying over Afghanistan; to serving the First and Second families at the White House and Camp David; to touring with the Blue Collar Comedy crew, Comics on Duty, and his own successful solo comedy career. PJ Walsh’s observational comedy is a hit with audiences both at home and abroad; his quick wit, incredible physical energy, and personal insights on the military, family, and American life keep it real.
PJ Walsh believes that we all can pitch in to support our veterans’ return. “30 Shows in 30 Days – Courage Continues At Home” is an effort to inspire others and to help his hometown veterans and the organizations which support them.
“Over There offers a thought-provoking, side-splitting journey through PJ Walsh’s not so ordinary life… just when you’re thinking you can laugh no more, he hits you in the stomach with raw emotion and you realize his comic agenda is not just about him but to help and support others as well.“ Maura Kelly, NY Theatre.com.
ABOUT H .G. FAIRFIELD ARTS CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT INC.:
H. G. Fairfield is a fully recognized state and federal tax exempt organization, whose founder, Katherine Fairfield Freston, is a Marine Captain who served during the Korean War and up until 1961. Miss Freston leads the charge to figure out innovative ways to meet the needs of our communities utilizing arts and culture. PJ Walsh fits that bill. Working with Putnam, Dutchess, Westchester, Rockland, and Orange Counties’ and New York State veterans’ services officers to help them achieve some of their goals, reminds us we can all help those who gave of themselves for us and for our country. Service is reciprocal.
“30 Shows in 30 Days” runs October 1 through October 30, 2011. For a complete listing of shows or to purchase tickets, go to PJWalsh.com, BrownPaperTickets.com, or call 1-800-838-3006.
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CONTACT: Kim Blacklock at Exec@HGFairfieldArts.org