The Improv at Harrah's Las Vegas Welcomes Allan Havey

THE IMPROV AT HARRAH'S LAS VEGAS: THIS WEEK'S HEADLINER – ALLAN HAVEY

Special two-for-one tickets available to locals for 10:30pm show

Budd Friedman and Mark Lonow's world-famous Improv Comedy Club at Harrah's Las Vegas showcases a different marquee of acts each week. Allan Havey takes the stage tomorrow through Sunday, with supporting acts Chipper Lowell and Daryl Wright. Improv shows are at 8:30pm and 10:30pm every Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets are $29.05 (plus applicable taxes) or $44.95 (plus applicable taxes) for VIP tickets that include special seating, an Improv t-shirt and post-show meet-and-greet with the comics. Special two-for-one tickets are also available for locals. Tickets are available at Harrah's Box Office (702-369-5223) and online at www.harrahs.com.

Allan Havey started his stand-up career in New York City in 1981. Up until that time he had been part of the comedy duo "Two for Nothing" which he co-founded with John McFarland, a classmate at Florida State University. The two were busy actors at the School of Theatre, but the sizes of their roles gave them ample time to goof-off and discover their mutual love of getting laughs.

After graduating in 1978 with a BFA in theatre, Havey took off for New York with McFarland close behind. For the next two years they performed their act in small clubs and coffee houses around the city. They were well received but Havey, jealous of stand-ups who did not have to rely on anyone but themselves, lit out on his own. He first passed at the Improvisation in the fall of 1981. Bartending, waiting tables and finally answering phones at the Improv he started to make a living at stand-up in October 1982 and never looked back.

He played small clubs and Jersey one-nighters for awhile. Getting small parts in commercials and hustling any gig he could. In January 1984 he was cast by Lorne Michaels in The New Show, Michael's first venture after leaving Saturday Night Live in 1980. For the next 10 weeks Havey worked with Steve Martin, John Candy, Buck Henry, Gilda Radner, Dave Thomas and some of the best writers and comic actors in the business. Unfortunately the show was canceled and Havey went back to the clubs.

He made his national television debut on November 13th, 1986 on Late Night with David Letterman. By this time Havey was headlining in colleges and clubs all over the country. He went on to make several appearances on the Letterman show in the eighties and nineties.

As an actor he has appeared in the films Internal Affairs with Richard Gere, Checking Out with Jeff Daniels, Rounders with Matt Damon, as well as Wild Things Part 2 with Isaiah Washington. Over the years he has appeared on television acting in Seinfeld, The Louie Show and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

In November of 1989 he was selected by HBO to be one of the hosts of The Comedy Channel which later became Comedy Central. He created, hosted and produced Night After Night with Allan Havey. It ran for just over three years and became a cult classic that is remembered fondly for breaking new ground and talent in comedy today. During this period his stand-up flourished, shooting two half-hour specials for HBO, both being nominated for cable ace awards.

He has taken part in the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal on several occasions as well as the Kilkeeny Comedy Festival, Aspen Comedy Festival, and the New York Comedy Festival. He has made tours of Australia and Europe and continues to be one of the best comedians working today.

UPCOMING IMPROV ACTS:

March 8-13: Max Alexander, with supporting acts Scott Henry and Dava Krause

March 15-20: John Henton, with supporting acts John Diresta and Joan Fagen

March 22-27: Rocky LaPorte, with supporting acts Darryl Lenox and Chris Mancini

March 29-April 3: Thea Vidale, with supporting acts Alan Bursky and Ron Morey