National Comedy Theatre Returns from Iraq Tour

New York, NY –The National Comedy Theatre, one of the leading improv comedy companies in the country, has returned from their four-week tour visiting troops in Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Djibouti, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. This is the fourth time that the NCT has performed for the Armed Forces.

“We were scheduled to fly between the Iraq bases in Blackhawk helicopters, but were informed that the helicopters were suddenly needed,” quotes Artistic Director, Gary Kramer “They wouldn’t tell us why until we saw Operation Swarmer on CNN the next day. It was actually being conducted from the base where we were staying and performing. That was an eerie feeling.”

The troupe performed one to two shows a day on military bases throughout the Middle East. “We performed in tents, rec halls, even outside in the sand,” said Producer Kim Chase, “Our audiences were as large as 1000 troops at a time, and were enormously appreciative.”

Although the troupe was performing in a dangerous corner of the world, Kramer says that they felt relatively safe. “We were very well protected, and traveled with an armed escort through any questionable areas. It was a little disconcerting having to wear body armor during our stay in Iraq, but we never strayed from the base. The only scary moment was when there was a mortar attack on our base one evening before the show. That got the heart pumping a bit.”

The Tour lasted 26 days and according to Chase was life-changing. “We met and chatted with troops in hospitals, as well as every corner of each base. The irony was when an injured soldier would thank us for being there. They are deployed there up to 12 months, we’re just passing through, and yet they still thanked us. It really demonstrated how difficult things are over there.”

For more information, contact the National Comedy Theatre at 212-629-5202 or www.manhattancomedy.com
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