Aspen Gay Ski Week Presents Comedy Night at the Wheeler Opera House!

Aspen Gay Ski Week is once again bringing you a night of comedy at the Historic Wheeler Opera House on Thursday, January 21st at 7:30.

ELEVATION:  10,000 LAUGHS

Always one of the highlights of Ski Week, Comedy Night is taking on a new format this year.  Long time producer and comedian, Paul J. Williams, has put together an evening of stand-up and music to create a show that is truly a comedy cabaret.  Combining the manic wit of comedian ANT with the bawdy and brassy songs of Chicago-based performers, Amy and Freddy, ELEVATION:  10,000 LAUGHS promises to be just that…..a comedy “high” with loads of laughter.  Keeping the show running smoothly, Paul J. promises appearances by some of his larger-than-life Texas alter egos.

Hyper, irreverent, and downright fabulous, ANT has steadily climbed the comedy hill to become one of the most successful comedians of our time. A regular guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Tyra Banks show, ANT is the only comedian to appear on all five seasons of NBC's hit series Last Comic Standing.  Currently he can be seen as the host of VH1's juggernaut smash Celebrity Fit Club, now in it's 6th season, and in the LOGO series, "U.S. of ANT."  In the summer of 2008, ANT ventured out of his comfort zone, appearing in the VH1 series, "Celebri-Cadabra" a competition show featuring magic and celebrities.  His hit stand-up DVD, "ANT: America's Ready" and comedy CD "Follow my ass!" have sold tens of thousands of copies and are available in stores nationwide and online at every CD/DVD retailer including amazon.com.  ANT's daily video blog, "The ANT Colony," has taken the web by storm.  Consistently rated as one of the top 10 celebrity blogs on MySpace and at mirror site www.nbc.com/ant, The ANT Colony garners over a million visitors per month. www.antcomic.com/blog.

Seeing Amy Armstrong and Freddy Allen for the first time, one gets an idea of what it was like seeing Bette Midler and Barry Manilow early in their careers together.  A powerhouse vocalist with a ribald and bawdy sense of humor, Amy Armstrong is well on her way to being a star.  With her ever present “straight man” and musical director Freddy Allen at the keyboard, Amy & Freddy have captivated audiences with their one-of-a-kind wit and musical prowess for over 15 years, gracing the stages of cities from coast to coast.  Originally from Detroit, Amy Armstrong has been a professional entertainer since she was a young child.  Her powerful and soulful voice mesmerizes listeners while her hilarious and risqué humor keeps them doubled over in laughter.  Freddy Allen, Amy’s accompanist and music director, has been a professional musician for over twenty-five years.  Amy and Freddy have produced four very successful albums; Amy and Freddy- the debut, Life is a Cabaret, Naturally Flawless and Feeling Good.  Amy’s beautiful voice, edgy humor and quick wit, combined with Freddy’s impeccable musical arrangements and sly repartee, create an evening of the most enjoyable and unforgettable entertainment.  www.amyfreddy.com

Emcee Paul J. Williams. Now in his eighth year producing this show, Paul J. Williams is also well-known as cruise director for the all-gay RSVP Vacations.  His first television special, ONE NIGHT STAND UP-HOLLYWOOD started airing on the MTV/LOGO network in October.  Ski Week audiences will also know Paul J. as the comic mind behind “Sister Helen Holy”, the hilarious hostess of the Downhill Costume Contest.  In addition, Paul J. is also a classically trained singer who has performed with the New York Philharmonic and the Dallas Symphony.  Find out more about Paul at www.pauljwilliams.com

Amy Armstrong and Freddy Allen Of all the entertainers performing today, Amy Armstrong and Freddy Allen are standing out above the rest as one of the most talented and acclaimed acts to emerge from the Chicago cabaret scene in over a decade.  Amy & Freddy have captivated audiences with their one-of-a-kind wit and musical prowess for over 15 years, gracing the stage of cities coast to coast, including Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, St. Louis, San Francisco, St. Paul, Seattle, Portland, Provincetown, Oregon, Detroit, Saugatuck, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, Grand Rapids and their home town of Chicago. 

Recently, their travels took them to Denmark where they were the featured artists at Copenhagen’s New Year’s Concert.  They also had the pleasure of opening for several familiar names including Mary Wilson and the Supremes, Phyllis Diller, Bea Arthur, Jennifer Holiday, Judy Tenuta, Lois Bromfeld, and Judy Gold. 

Amy and Freddy have been performing for RSVP Vacations since 1999, considered to be one of the most popular main-stage and cabaret acts in RSVP Vacations’ history: they became the official “Entertainment Ambassadors” for RSVP Vacations in 2006. Amy and Freddy were headline entertainers for the National HRC Black-tie event in Dallas, 2007.  They proudly served as Grand Marshals for the Pride Parade in Washing D.C. in 2006, and were headliners on the main stage in front of the U.S. Capitol. Amy and Freddy are constantly performing for gay organizations, special events and not-for-profit organizations all over the United States and Europe.  Their fundraising concerts have already generated close to $2 million for LGTB charities worldwide.  They also enjoy performing for various corporate events and private functions.

Originally from Detroit, Amy has been a professional entertainer since she was a young child.  Her powerful and soulful voice mesmerizes listeners while her hilarious and risqué humor keeps them doubled over in laughter.  Amy made her home in Chicago in 1995 and quickly became one of the Windy City’s hottest talents.

Freddy, Amy’s accompanist and music director, has been a professional musician for over twenty-five years.  After moving from St. Louis in 1995, Freddy successfully made his name as one of Chicago’s most accomplished pianists.  When he’s not performing with Amy, Freddy works as a freelance musician and teaches piano and voice.  Amy and Freddy have produced four very successful albums; Amy and Freddy- the debut, Life is a Cabaret, Naturally Flawless and Feeling Good. All of the recordings have been recognized nationally, receiving rave reviews from audiences and critics alike.

                                     ANT Hyper, irreverent, and downright fabulous, ANT has steadily climbed the comedy hill to become one of the most successful comedians of our time. A regular guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Tyra Banks show, ANT is the only comedian to appear on all five seasons of NBC's hit series Last Comic Standing. Currently he can be seen as the host of VH1's juggernaut smash Celebrity Fit Club,now in it's 6th season, and in the LOGO series, "U.S. of ANT." In the summer of 2008, ANT ventured out of his comfort zone, appearing in the VH1 series, "Celebri-Cadabra." a competition show featuring magic and celebrities. His hit stand-up DVD, "ANT: America's Ready" and comedy CD "Follow my ass!" have sold tens of thousands of copies and are available in stores nationwide and online at every CD/DVD retailer including amazon.com. Newly slim and trim after an impressive 34lb weight loss on the NutriSystem diet program, the company named ANT spokesman joining Tori Spelling and Jillian Barberi in a $20 million dollar ad campaign for 2008-2009. ANT's daily video blog, "The ANT Colony," has taken the web by storm. Consistently rated as one of the top 10 celebrity blogs on MySpace and at mirror site www.nbc.com/ant, The ANT Colony garners over a million visitors per month. www.antcomic.com/blog.