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Lewis Black: New York City
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Lewis eventually settled in New York City and became the playwright-in-residence at the West Bank Café’s Downstairs Theatre Bar. Lewis oversaw the development of more than 1,000 plays, including works by "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin, "American Beauty" writer Alan Ball as well as his own original works. In addition to overseeing the works on stage, Lewis emceed every show. As the West Bank grew, so did Lewis’ skill as a stand-up and eventually, the fulfillment of performing stand-up outweighed that of working in the theater. Having found his public voice, Lewis left the West Bank in the late 80’s to pursue stand-up full time.
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As a young man, Black first turned his creative sights on theater, namely as a playwright. Influenced by the likes of Beolco’s commedia dell’arte, Moliere, and Nobel Prize-winning satirist Dario Fo, Black would tackle every genre of theater, ultimately writing forty plays. While serving as playwright-in-residence and associate artistic director of the West Bank Cafe Downstairs Theatre Bar in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, Black began performing stand-up as an opening act and master of ceremonies before each play. Black’s theatrical background gave him a unique edge: He cast himself as both prankster and prophet in his own one-act show.
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Known for his hysterical social satires and trademark angry finger- shaking, Black has performed to sold out crowds all over the world with frequent stops at New York City's famed Carnegie Hall and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Regarded as one of the highest grossing and hardest working live performers, he averages more than one hundred shows a year and is the creator behind "Back in Black," a commentary segment on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with John Stewart."
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