Ryan Hamilton

Friday, September 24, 2021 at 8:00 PM at Tarrytown Music Hall

Ryan’s one-hour Netflix stand-up special, Happy Face, has been reviewed as “the special you can’t watch enough times.” This has been followed by a wealth of television appearances and a non-stop headlining tour. Armed with the unique perspective of growing up in rural Idaho to become a favorite in the New York stand-up comedy scene, he’s one-of-a-kind. He’s been named one of Rolling Stone’s Five Comics to Watch; and his recent appearances include The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Conan, as well as opening spots for Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan. “One of the most reliably funny regulars at the Comedy Cellar, an observational comic who often riffs on the absurdity of his own wholesomeness.”–The New York Times

Nurse Blake: The PTO Comedy Tour

Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 7:00 PM at Tarrytown Music Hall

Nurse Blake is one of a kind entertainer who uses his experience as a nurse for a fun filled comedy event that celebrates the hard work of healthcare providers. Blake tells candid and raw stories from his time in nursing school and from his shifts at the bedside. His upbeat attitude and hilarious spins on the obstacles nurses face day to day offer a fun and interactive experience for audience members. Blake’s comedy stands apart by using humor to advocate for nurses. By using masterful storytelling to captivate audiences, he provides an unforgettable night of laughs and inspiration. He is the ultimate solo performer using visuals, crowd participation, and live sketches that have audiences engaged and laughing from start to finish. Born and raised in Orlando, FL- Nurse Blake is a registered nurse and the most popular nurse influencer on social media, with over 2.4M followers. He has been a nurse for over 7 years and has worked in a number of nursing roles at Level 1 Trauma centers around the country. Blake is a founder of Nurses Support Their Young, which aims to promote healthy work environments throughout the healthcare industry. Blake is also the creator of the ultimate nursing organization, NurseCon which provides education and a supportive online community to nurses worldwide. His 2019 Call Light Tour SOLD OUT, featuring a mix of live skits, videos, and interactive presentations drawn from his real-life experiences as a nurse and nursing student. Blake launched a popular podcast in 2021 alongside his husband Brett. They cover topics relevant to nurses and healthcare workers alike, and tell their own personal stories while being insightful and offering a lot of laughs through it all.

POSTPONED

Guster: An Evening of Acoustic Music and Improv

TBA at 8:00 PM at Tarrytown Music Hall

Featuring a string section and cast of comedy friends! Guster will be leaving their amps at home and embarking on their first acoustic tour in eight years! The band will perform a mix of fan favorites and beloved deep cuts with stringed accompaniment. They’ll also be inviting a rotating cast of improv friends to join them on stage each night for some on the spot songwriting and comedy.

$1 Charity Fee at the Artist’s request donated to REVERB - REVERB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2004 by environmentalist Lauren Sullivan and her musician husband, Adam Gardner of Guster. REVERB creates and executes comprehensive, custom programs to green the tour itself while engaging concertgoers to take action for the environment. www.reverb.org

POSTPONED

Guster: An Evening of Acoustic Music and Improv

TBA at 4:00 PM at Tarrytown Music Hall

Featuring a string section and cast of comedy friends! Guster will be leaving their amps at home and embarking on their first acoustic tour in eight years! The band will perform a mix of fan favorites and beloved deep cuts with stringed accompaniment. They’ll also be inviting a rotating cast of improv friends to join them on stage each night for some on the spot songwriting and comedy.

$1 Charity Fee at the Artist’s request donated to REVERB - REVERB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2004 by environmentalist Lauren Sullivan and her musician husband, Adam Gardner of Guster. REVERB creates and executes comprehensive, custom programs to green the tour itself while engaging concertgoers to take action for the environment. www.reverb.org

Terry Fator

Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 8:00 PM at Palace Theater

It’s a long journey from Corsicana Texas to the Las Vegas stage, but Terry Fator made it to the top as the headliner at the Mirage Hotel in Vegas for the past 10 years.

Terry can impersonate over 100 voices with favorites being Karen Carpenter, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Justin Timberlake, Elvis, Meghan Trainor and Bruno Mars. His cast of characters includes: Winston the Impersonating Turtle; the World’s Greatest Elvis Impersonator; Elton John; Vicki the Cougar; President Donald Trump and annoying neighbor Duggie.

But even with all his time performing, he always finds time to enjoy life with his beautiful wife Angie and to give of his time to the cause he passionately believes in, helping America’s veterans.

Tammy Pescatelli

Friday, January 17, 2020 at 8:00 PM at SOPAC

Tammy Pescatelli brings brassy sexiness with a bold female voice of witty sarcasm to her audiences, holding her own on the topics of sports, television, dating and family life using tongue-in-cheek humor. She is relatable to every audience member, male or female. After seeing her perform, nearly everyone wishes she was their best friend or sister!

Recently signed to Git R’ Done Records, the label of Larry the Cable Guy, Tammy looks back in time with her newest album, #tbt Throwback Tammy which debuted at #2 Comedy Album on the iTunes charts. “Have you ever put something away for safe keeping and then forgot where you put it? I did that with this entire album! It’s a true #LaughFromThePast!” said Pescatelli.

Pescatelli’s Way After School Special was filmed in early 2018 and is a highly anticipated follow up to her award-winning one-hour Netflix (now Amazon Prime) special, Finding the Funny.

Some of Pescatelli’s recent appearances include The View, Guy’s Grocery Games: Comics Compete and The Howard Stern Show. She was also recently selected by Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg to be a part of their Dirty, Sexy, Funny franchise that included a hilarious all-female slate of standup comedians in a comedy special on EPIX/ Hulu, a touring live show and a pilot for A&E.

With a slew of other accolades under her belt, including co- creating, executive producing, writing and starring in her own reality show, A Stand-Up Mother on the WeTV Network, Pescatelli has appeared on television shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, A&E’s Donnie Loves Jenny, Bravo’s Rocco’s Dinner Party, CBS’s The Talk, NBC’s Last Comic Standing: The Best of the Best, her own Comedy Central Present Special that won that year’s Comedy Central’s Standup Showdown and many, many more.

Pescatelli’s career jump-started after appearing, and being one of the Final 5, on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Her season played out to more than 17 million viewers, garnering her a mass of loyal new fans that found themselves alongside the others she had created by years of touring the comedy clubs. It solidified her as one of the sharpest women in the comedy world.

Pescatelli appeared a few times on the syndicated Comics Unleashed show and was chosen for their “Best of the Best” that was a world-wide top selling DVD. Internationally, she was featured on the Best of the Just For Laughs, in Montreal, Quebec Canada and The World Stands Up & The Laugh Factory in Europe and Australia.

Pescatelli’s material is a currently a fixture on the comedy channels of Sirius XM Radio and she is a regular guest of: The Howard Stern Wrap Up Show, Jenny McCarthy’s Dirty, Sexy, Funny (where she often co-hosts), TapOut, Opie and Anthony and Bennington. She has made frequent appearances on the syndicated The Bob & Tom Show.

The comedienne recently starred as the flawed, yet lovable lead in in That’s Amore, an independent “grown up rom-com” that will be released at the end of 2019. Other film credits include: Made in Brooklyn, I Am Battle Comic, Single: A Documentary Film and Everybody Wants to Be Italian.

As a regular on USO Comedy tours, Tammy is honored and humbled to have been privileged to have entertained our troops all over the world.

Randy Rainbow

Friday, January 17, 2020 at 8:00 PM at Garde Arts Center

Please Note: This performance was rescheduled from November 9, 2019. If you previously purchased a ticket for that date, it will be good for the same seat at  the January 17 performance.  You do not need to exchange your ticket.  If you have questions, call the Box office at 860-444-7373 ext 1. 

Randy Rainbow (yes, real name) is a comedian, actor, writer, host and Internet sensation best known for his viral comedy videos. His popular series of political spoofs and song parodies have garnered international acclaim and over a hundred million views.  He’s been called “the best thing about the 2016 GOP race” by Dan Savage and his musical tribute to the first presidential debate of 2016 (“BRAGGADOCIOUS!”) received 28 million views in its first two days. He was subsequently asked by the cast of TV’s Will & Grace to parody a song which they performed during a political fundraiser for the 2016 election.

Randy has also written for comedian Kathy Griffin and hosted and performed in numerous theatrical events for the Broadway, cabaret and gay communities, as well as for the Tony Awards and some of New York City’s most popular night spots including 54 Below, Birdland Jazz Club, XL Nightclub and Therapy NYC where his own weekly show ran for two years.

He’s been seen as a talking head on VH1 and has been heard regularly as both a guest and co-host on Sirius XM Radio. He is the creator and star of the long-running BroadwayWorld.com web series Chewing the Scenery with Randy Rainbow and Last Minute with Randy Rainbow. 

Manhattan Comedy Night

Friday, November 29, 2019 at 8:00 PM at Tarrytown Music Hall

An annual tradition at the Music Hall! Continue the Thanksgiving weekend party with an evening of hilarious stand up featuring NYC comedy club veterans. Complete lineup will be announced shortly!

Mike Epps

Friday, November 29, 2019 at 8:00 PM at Hawaii Theatre

Mike Epps is generating an extraordinary amount of buzz among his peers for being not only one of the funniest comic actors in town, but also for his burgeoning dramatic talent. In spring 2018 Harper Collins published Epps’s autobiography called Unsuccessful Thug, written by Mike about his life and childhood; growing up in poverty and how comedy saved his life. He recently wrapped the Amazon feature “Troup Zero” starring opposite Viola Davis, Allison Janney, and Jim Gaffigan; He is currently shooting the Netflix comedy “Dolemite Is My Name” starring opposite Eddie Murphy.

Ryan Hamilton

Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 8:00 PM at Hawaii Theatre Center

Ryan recently released his first stand-up special. The one-hour Netflix original “Happy Face,” follows a wealth of television appearances and a non-stop headlining tour. Armed with the unique perspective of growing up in rural Idaho to become a favorite in the New York stand-up comedy scene, he’s one-of-a-kind. He’s been named one of Rolling Stone’s Five Comics to Watch, and recent appearances include The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan, and opening spots for Jerry Seinfeld. Ryan is endearing stand-up lovers, and his future is bright.

“One of the most reliably funny regulars at the Comedy Cellar, an observational comic who often riffs on the absurdity of his own wholesomeness.” – The New York Times

Robert Klein

Friday, October 25, 2019 at 8:00 PM at Tarrytown Music Hall

For more than forty years, Robert Klein has entertained audiences, and has an acclaimed career in comedy, on Broadway, on television, and in film. In the spring of 2017, his documentary “Robert Klein Still Can’t Stop His Leg” aired on STARZ. The special is a hilarious look at his life and career, featuring Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Maher, Ray Romano, David Steinberg, Fred Willard, John Stewart, Jay Leno and others discussing Klein’s influence on their careers, comedy as a whole, and their reverence of his comedic genius. Born in the Bronx, he was a member of the famed “Second City” theatrical troupe in Chicago. He was nominated twice for Grammy Awards for “Best Comedy Album of the Year” for his albums “Child of the Fifties” and “Mind Over Matter.” He received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor, and won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his performance in the hit Neil Simon musical, “They’re Playing Our Song.” In 1993, Klein won an Obie and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in Wendy Wasserstein’s, “The Sisters Rosensweig.” In 1975, Klein was the first comedian to appear in a live concert on Home Box Office. He has gone on to do nine one-man shows for HBO and received his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music and Lyrics in 2001 for Robert Klein: “Child in His 50’s.” Klein released “Robert Klein: The HBO Specials 1975-2005,” a collector’s DVD box set to critical acclaim.

Paul Reiser

Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 8:00 PM at Landmark on Main Street

Comedian, actor, television writer, author, and musician Paul Reiser has spent the last 30+ years acting in Oscar and Emmy award-winning movies and TV shows. He was voted one of Comedy Centrals "Top 100 Comedians of All Time."

The NY-bred and LA-based Reiser has made a number of appearances on screen and even lent his talents behind the camera. Reiser created and produced the seven-episode series There's.... Johnny! (Hulu, 2017). He's recently been on screen in Stranger Things (Netflix), Red Oaks (Amazon), The Romanoffs (Amazon) and The Spy Who Dumped Me (theaters, 2018).

Recent films include John McDonagh's War on Everyone, The Book of Love with Jessica Biel and Jason Sudeikis, The Little Hours, and the Lake Bell-directed I Do... Until I Don't.

Reiser co-created and starred in the critically acclaimed NBC series Mad About You, which garnered him multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, American Comedy Award and Screen Actors Guild nominations. He has had notable performances in films such as Diner, Bye Bye Love, The Marrying Man, Aliens, One Night At McCools, and Beverly Hills Cop (I and II). More recently, Reiser earned acclaim for his supporting role in the 2015 Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-winning film, Whiplash, starring JK Simmons and Miles Teller.

Reiser's book, Couplehood, has sold over two million copies and reached the number one spot on The New York Times bestseller list. His second bestseller, Babyhood, features his trademark humorous take on the adventures of being a first-time father, followed by his third bestseller, Familyhood.

Paula Poundstone

Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:00 PM at Hawaii Theatre

Paula Poundstone is one of our country’s preeminent comedians, known for her smart, observational humor and spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend. She tours regularly performing over 85 shows a year.

Paula is also an Author, Lecturer, Host, and Actress. In her second book, The Totally Unscientific Study Of The Search For Human Happiness (Algonquin Books) she asks the question, “Is there a secret to human happiness?” She offers herself up as a guinea pig in a series of “totally scientific” experiments, recording her data for all mankind. Kirkus Reviews calls it, “A deeply revealing memoir in which the pathos doesn’t kill the humor—delivers more than it promises.” The book debuted at #1 on Amazon best sellers lists in Humor in Hardcover, Audible, Kindle and CD within its first ten days of release and is now out in paperback. The audio book, read by Paula, was one of five finalists for the 2018 Audio Book of the Year.

Paula is a popular panelist on NPR’s # 1 show, the weekly comedy news quiz, Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!  Her new weekly podcast for Maximum Fun, Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone, is a comedy field guide to life. Each week Paula and her co-host, Adam Felber, a friend and fellow panelist on Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! bring on leading expert guests and use their unique comedic sensibility to help us navigate life in the 21st century. Along the way, Paula attempts to explain existence through her kaleidoscopic perspective, and Adam tries to interject some rationality.

Paula’s guest appearances include The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Star Talk with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Late Night with Carson Daly, Nerdist with Chris Hardwick, and she was a clue in a New York Times crossword puzzle. She’s filed commentaries for CBS Sunday Morning, and Morning Edition and All Things Considered for NPR. She voices the character “Paulette” in Cartoon Network’s new animated series Summer Camp Island.  An avid Disney movie fan, Paula had a dream come true when she was cast to voice the character “Forgetter Paula” in Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out, winner of the 2017Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

Paula has had numerous HBO specials and starred in her own series on HBO and ABC. Her second special for HBO, Paula Poundstone goes to Harvard, marked the first time the elite university allowed its name to be used in the title of a television show.

Paula was the first woman, in its then 73rd year, to perform standup comedy at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. She won an American Comedy Award for Best Female Standup Comic and is recognized in innumerable lists, documentaries, and literary compendiums noting influential standup comedians of our time.

Tom Papa

Friday, June 21, 2019 at 8:00 PM at the Emelin Theatre

With more than 20 years as a stand-up comedian, Tom Papa is one of the top comedic voices in the country, finding success in film, TV, radio, podcasts as well as on the live stage.  Tom is the new Head Writer and a regular performer for the nationally-syndicated radio show, “Live From Here,” the latest incarnation of the legendary radio show, “A Prairie Home Companion,” and his first book, “Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas,” was released on June 5, 2018 from St Martin’s Press.  

A regular on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “Conan,” Tom’s third hour-long stand-up special, Human Mule, premiered on Amazon and Hulu on March 9, 2017.  Tom’s first two critically-acclaimed hour-long specials were directed by Rob Zombie: Tom Papa: Freaked Out(2013) and Tom Papa Live in New York City (2011).  Tom is host of the hit podcast and SiriusXM show, “Come to Papa,” a weekly, hour-long show featuring Tom exploring the funny side of life, occasionally with guests like Mel Brooks, Ray Romano, Carl Reiner and Jerry Seinfeld.  On the small screen, Tom was seen alongside Clive Owen in two episodes of “The Knick.” He co-starred with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in the HBO film, Behind the Candelabra. He has guest starred on “The Jim Gaffigan Show” and “Inside Amy Schumer.”  Tom was seen in Chris Rock’s film, Top Five, he starred opposite Matt Damon in the Steven Soderbergh film, The Informant, and he appeared in Analyze That opposite Robert DeNiro.

Paula Poundstone

Friday, March 1, 2019 at 8PM at Landmark on Main Street

Paula Poundstone is one of our country's preeminent comedians, known for her smart, observational humor and spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend.

Paula Poundstone Live

The Garde Arts Center • 08.10.18 • 8 PM

With smart, observational humor and a legendary spontaneous interaction with the crowd, Paula Poundstone is one of our country’s pre-eminent comedians. She improvises with a crowd like a Jazz musician, swinging in unexpected directions without a plan, without a net. There's a disarming ease in her craft, an immediate sense that she's so quick on her feet you need never worry about the possibility of something going wrong.  Poundstone’s razor-sharp wit and impeccable timing make for the perfect fit as a regular panelist on NPR’s #1 show, the weekly comedy news quiz, Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me! When asked about Paula, Wait, Wait, host, Peter Sagal replied, "Paula Poundstone is the funniest human being I have ever known. Everything she does, thinks, or says is hilarious. If you cut her into bits, each piece would be funny. (But don’t!). Air becomes funny having been breathed by her.”

Paula Poundstone Live

Tarrytown Music Hall • 06.01.18 • 8 PM

With smart, observational humor and a legendary spontaneous interaction with the crowd, Paula Poundstone is one of our country’s pre-eminent comedians. She improvises with a crowd like a Jazz musician, swinging in unexpected directions without a plan, without a net. There's a disarming ease in her craft, an immediate sense that she's so quick on her feet you need never worry about the possibility of something going wrong.  Poundstone’s razor-sharp wit and impeccable timing make for the perfect fit as a regular panelist on NPR’s #1 show, the weekly comedy news quiz, Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me! When asked about Paula, Wait, Wait, host, Peter Sagal replied, "Paula Poundstone is the funniest human being I have ever known. Everything she does, thinks, or says is hilarious. If you cut her into bits, each piece would be funny. (But don’t!). Air becomes funny having been breathed by her.”

Andy Borowitz

Make America Not Embarrassing Again

The Palace Theatre, Stamford CT | 5.18.18 | 8 PM

The New York Times best-selling author and comedian who has written for The New Yorker since 1998 is taking his satirical news column on the road for an intimate conversation hosted by Brian Lehrer and audience Q&A. Join Andy Borowitz as we get down to addressing what in the world is going on! Borowitz has been called a “Swiftian satirist” (the Wall Street Journal), “America’s satire king” (the Daily Beast), “the funniest human on Twitter” (the Times), and “one of the funniest people in America” (CBS News’ “Sunday Morning”). In 2001, he created the Borowitz Report, a satirical news column that has millions of readers around the world, for which he won the first-ever National Press Club award for humor. 

Second City: 

Look Both Ways Before Talking

Landmark on Main Street, April 20th at 8:00 pm

Tired of looking over your shoulder before telling a funny story that might upset grandpa? Or are you still rebounding from that joke he told at your wedding? Why stress!? Let The Second City take all the risk while you sit back and laugh at our latest sketch comedy and improv revue, LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE TALKING. We'll put our signature spin on the things you wish you could bring up in mixed company--just be careful who you share them with when you head back to the office!

Edgy, thought-provoking and always spectacularly funn, The Second City is celebrating nearly six decades of producing cutting-edge satirical revues and launching the careers of generation after generation of comedy's best and brightest.

Ryan Hamilton from the Netflix Comedy Special, HAPPY FACE

SOPAC • 04.24.18 • 8 PM

Ryan Hamilton is endearing comedy lovers, and his future is bright. Named one of Rolling Stone’s Five Comics to Watch with standout appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan, The Late Late Show, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, and Showtime, he’s establishing himself as one of the country’s favorite stand-ups. 

Ryan’s one-hour comedy special, Ryan Hamilton: Happy Face premiered on Netflix earlier this year. In it, the small-town import charms New York with folksy comic observations on big-city life, hot-air ballooning and going to Disney World alone. His tales of big-city life are “highly contagious” (The Comic’s Comic).

He’s often lauded for being a clean comedian, although his audiences span a broad spectrum. Growing up in Idaho, Ryan is  far from his small-town roots but the contrast suits him. He’s currently headlining comedy clubs across the country, building a following of enthusiastic and diehard fans. Recently, he opened for Jerry Seinfeld at the Beacon Theatre.

Ryan has impressed industry insiders by racking up a remarkable number of national competition wins and festival appearances, including winning The Great American Comedy Festival and Sierra Mist’s America’s Next Great Comic Search. He’s also a regular performer at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festivals with several international television performances including The Muppets Gala in Montreal and the Sydney Opera House International Comedy Gala.

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater

Garde Arts Center • 03.16.18 • 7:30 PM

Popovich’s unique blend of comedy and juggling skills features performing pets (all rescued from animal shelters!):  cats, dogs, geese, white doves, parrots and even Diamond the Shetland Pony, along with surprise “guests”.  A family entertainment spectacular you’ll always remember, The Popovich Comedy Pet Theater has a rich  history, presenting thousands of shows in more than 20 countries and is currently in its 6th season at the Planet Hollywood Resort/Casino in Las Vegas.

The Borowitz Report Live with Andy Borowitz

Tarrytown Music Hall | 3.10.18 | 8 PM

The New York Times best-selling author and comedian who has written for The New Yorker since 1998 is taking his satirical news column on the road. Join Andy Borowitz for an evening of conversation and an audience Q&A hosted by Peter D. Kramer of the Journal News. Let's get down to addressing what in the world is going on!  Borowitz has been called a “Swiftian satirist” (the Wall Street Journal), “America’s satire king” (the Daily Beast), “the funniest human on Twitter” (the Times), and “one of the funniest people in America” (CBS News’ “Sunday Morning”). In 2001, he created the Borowitz Report, a satirical news column that has millions of readers around the world, for which he won the first-ever National Press Club award for humor.

$150 VIP package includes prime orchestra ticket, meet n’ greet and photo op. 

An Evening with Andy Borowitz

South Orange Performing Arts Center | 3.03.18 | 5 PM & 8 PM

5PM Performance – LIMITED AVAILABILITY! 
VIP tickets are available in the orchestra section for this performance. VIP tickets include a post-show Meet & Greet in the SOPAC Loft. Andy Borowitz will be available for photo opportunities and book signings (BYOB, bring your own book!). 

8PM Performance – SOLD OUT! 

Andy Borowitz is a New York Times best-selling author and a comedian renowned for the Borowitz Report, a satirical news column that has millions of readers around the world. He is an award-winning writer and producer, and his Twitter feed is followed by more than 615,000. 

An Evening with Andy Borowitz will feature a presentation, interview and question and answer session. SOPAC Governor and former partner in the New York City office of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Donna Coallier will host the interview. Donna’s career at PwC encompassed speaking engagements on a variety of topics, in formats ranging from intimate and conversational roundtables to large scale (2000+) audience panels and broadcasted venues and webcasts.

Borowitz was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where he attended Shaker Heights High School. In 1980, Borowitz graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College, where he was president of the Harvard Lampoon. He also wrote for the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. After graduating from Harvard, Andy Borowitz moved to Los Angeles and worked for producer Norman Lear.

During the 1980s he wrote for the television series Square Pegs, starring Sarah Jessica Parker and several other television series. In 1990, Andy Borowitz created The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which ran for six seasons on NBC and launched the acting career of Will Smith. Borowitz received an NAACP Image Award for the series.

In 1998, Borowitz co-produced the film Pleasantville, starring Reese Witherspoon, Tobey Maguire, William H. Macy, Joan Allen, and Jeff Daniels. It was nominated for three Academy Awards. In 2004 Borowitz appeared in Woody Allen’s Melinda and Melinda, starring Will Ferrell, and in Marie and Bruce, starring Julianne Moore and Matthew Broderick. 

In 2001, he created the Borowitz Report, a satirical news column that has millions of readers around the world, for which he won the first-ever National Press Club award for humor. The Borowitz Report was acquired by The New Yorker in 2012. He has published two recent best-selling books: The 50 Funniest American Writers, which became the first title in the history of the Library of America to make the New York Times best-seller list; and a memoir, An Unexpected Twist, a No. 1 best-seller, which Amazon named the Best Kindle Single of 2012. His Twitter feed, @BorowitzReport, has more than 615,000 followers and was voted the best Twitter feed of 2011 in a poll by Time.

As a comedian, he performed sold-out shows around the world and has made countless television and radio appearances, on National Public Radio, VH1, and Comedy Central, among other places. He has been called a “Swiftian satirist” (Wall Street Journal), “America’s satire king” (Daily Beast), “the funniest human on Twitter” (New York Times), and “one of the funniest people in America” (CBS News’ “Sunday Morning”).

"Weird Al" Yankovic

Special Guest: EMO PHILIPS

Ill-Advised Vanity Tour

"Weird Al" Yankovic burst onto the scene over three decades ago and never looked back.  For the first time in his storied career, the world’s foremost musical satirist and four-time Grammy-winner foregoes his usual high-octane, big-production show for an intimate evening of music, focusing on original (non-parody) songs from his 14-album catalog.  After his 2016 world tour, including venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and Radio City Music Hall, this is a rare opportunity to get up-close and personal with this legendary performer. Weird Al’s most recent album Mandatory Fun was the first comedy album in history to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart.  In 2018 he will be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
 

2018 VIP Meet & Greet Experience – $279 per ticket package

• One (1) Premium Reserved Ticket in the first 15 rows (center)
• Meet and Greet with Weird Al after the show. Signature* and photo (with your camera).
• Be a part of Weird Al Jeopardy! - a Pre-Concert Game Show Experience challenging people to the ultimate Weird Al trivia contest. Register for the chance to be a contestant, or just play along from the audience (Shhh! No shouting answers!)
• Custom Framed Set List from your own unique show (every show on the 2018 Tour has a different set list!), signed by Al*
• Exclusive, Limited Edition Weird Al Wristwatch with moving limbs as hour and minute hands
• Souvenir VIP Laminate
• Crowd-Free Merchandise Shopping
• Pre-Show Hang with fellow fans — including cash bar with complimentary non-alcoholic beverages & one (1) drink ticket
• Early Entry into the Venue
• On-Site VIP Host

*Set list to be signed by Al at Meet & Greet or may be swapped out for one item of your choice.

Eddie Izzard | Believe Me, Tour

Comedy, Painted Nails, Politics, My Life

Troy Music Hall • 02.17.18 • 8 PM

Over the course of a thirty-year career, Eddie Izzard has proved himself to be a creative chameleon, inhabiting the stage and film and television screen with an unbelievable fervor. Born in Yemen and raised in Northern Ireland, Wales, and England, he lost his mother at the age of six and that has affected the rest of his life. In his teens, he dropped out of university and took to the streets of London as part of a comedy double act.  When his partner went on vacation, Izzard kept busy by inventing a one-man escape act, and thus a solo career was ignited. As a stand-up comedian, Izzard has captivated audiences with his surreal, stream-of-consciousness comedy—lines such as “Cake or Death?” “Death Star Canteen,” and “Do You Have a Flag?” have the status of great rock lyrics. As a self-proclaimed “action transvestite,” Izzard broke a mold performing in makeup and heels, and has become as famous for his “total clothing” rights as he has for his art. In Believe Me, he recounts the dizzying rise he made from the streets of London to West End theaters, to Wembley Arena, Madison Square Garden, and the Hollywood Bowl.

Manhattan Comedy Night | Landmark on Main Street

Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 8 pm

A night of NYC's favorite stand-ups. Scheduled to appear are Sandy Marks, Christian Finnegan, Lenny Marcus and Wil Sylvince.

Christian Finnegan is perhaps best known as one of the original panelists on VH1's "Best Week Ever" and as Chad, the only white roommate in "Chappelle's Show's" infamous "Mad Real World" sketch. Politics junkies will recognize Christian from his many appearances on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann". Over the past decade, Christian Finnegan has been a fixture on Comedy Central, and has appeared on "Conan", "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson", "Good Afternoon America" and "The Today Show". Christian's comedy special, "The Fun Part" was released on Netflix in April 2014.

Long Island native Lenny Marcus has been a mainstay of the New York City comedy scene for over for twenty years, performing regularly in every major comedy club in New York City.
He performed on The Late Show with David Letterman three times to amazing reviews and has also appeared on Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, NBC's Comedy Showcase with Louie Anderson and MTV's The Jim Brewer Show. Lenny has made multiple appearances on Tru-tv making fun of the worlds stupidest criminals, shoppers and drivers.

Wil Sylvince is one of the most explosive comedians performing today. His comedic performances on COMEDY CENTRAL, HBO'S DEF COMEDY JAM, and SHOWTIME all garnered standing ovations by the audiences, a feat rarely seen accomplished by many performers. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Sylvince has honed his act in New York's top comedy clubs. His unique perspective on political and social issues, with a twist of his West Indian Haitian culture, makes Sylvince a comedian in high demand. He has been hand-picked by comedy heavyweights Damon Wayans, D.L. Hughley, Katt Williams and Gabriel Iglesias to tour the country.

Lineup subject to change.

Kevin Hart | June 30th | Garde Arts Center

SOLD OUT

Actor and comedian Kevin Hart just announced on Tuesday, four days before his scheduled Birthday Bash at Foxwoods, that he would be holding an impromptu show at the Garde Arts Center to test new comedy material — a growing trend in the comedy world.

In February, Louis C.K. threw an impromptu comedy show in Boston that had crowds flocking en masse to the gig, and Chris Rock did the same thing at Greenwich Village’s Comedy Cellar in October.

Hart’s show, however, is scheduled only two hours before his party is to begin, which had us wondering how he would even make it on time. A helicopter, perhaps? All jokes aside, for Hart, this makes sense. He is known for his work ethic, and his decision to seize on an opportunity to perform at a great local arts institution shows, on his part, that coming to Connecticut for what seems like a promotional event for Foxwoods, wouldn’t be enough for him.

So wait ’til those who already bought a $45 ticket to his birthday party hear of this. Foxwoods’ vague description of Hart’s party had us wondering what going to such an event would entail — it seems that Hart won’t be doing any sort of performance at the party, so onlookers might be left to watch their star sit across the room drinking champagne. At the very least, based on the party info, everyone will be guaranteed a lot of cake.

Louie Anderson at Landmark on Main Street

June 16th | 8PM

Iconic comedian Louie Anderson, the three-time Emmy Award® winner, is one of the country’s most recognized and adored comics; named by Comedy Central as “One of 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time.” His career has spanned more than 30 years. He is a best-selling author, star of his own stand-up specials and sitcoms and he continues to tour the country performing to standing-room-only crowds worldwide.

In 2016 Anderson was cast to co-star along with Zach Galifianakis and Martha Kelly in the hit FX comedy series Baskets. Anderson plays the extraordinary role of Christine, the matriarch of the Baskets clan. He based the character on his mother and his five sisters who were all a major presence in his life. Anderson won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Christine Baskets in 2016. “I’m not as nice in the character as my mom was as a person. It really is an extension of my mom, Anderson says, adding that he always aims to make his performance “as real as possible” without “affecting or cartooning it up. It felt like it was divine intervention when I got the call to be on the show, that somehow my mom, from the great beyond, was finally getting herself into show business where she truly belonged in the first place.”

Sharing the ups and downs of his childhood experiences as one of eleven children in Minnesota, Louie crafted comedy routines that rang true for his early club audiences while reducing them to helpless fits of laughter, routines that led him from his career as a counselor to troubled children to the first--place trophy at the 1981 Midwest Comedy Competition. Henny Youngman, who hosted the competition, recognized the diamond-in-the-rough genius of the young comic and hired him as a writer, providing invaluable experience that soon put Louie in his own spotlight on comedy stages all over the country. Johnny Carson, the comedy icon for generations of rising stars, invited Louie to make his national television debut on the “The Tonight Show” in 1984, and the rest is history. Leno, Letterman, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, “Comic Relief” and Showtime, HBO and CMT specials followed, including hosting the legendary game show, Family Feud, making Louie a household name and opening doors for him as an actor. He has guest starred in sitcoms like “Grace Under Fire” and dramas like “Touched by an Angel” and “Chicago Hope,” and he has had memorable featured roles in film comedies like “Coming to America,” opposite of Eddie Murphy, and the classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” In 2013, he took a dive on the ABC reality series, “Splash” where he conquered his own fears while becoming an inspiration of hope. His standup Special, “Big Baby Boomer” premiered on CMT, in 2013. Also in that year, he competed and inspired on the ABC reality competition show, Splash.

In 1995 Louie put his creative energies to work on the Saturday morning animated series “Life with Louie.” The long--running series based on Louie’s own childhood and his life with his father won three Humanitas Prizes for writing on a children’s’ animated series, making him the only three--time recipient of this award. It also earned a Genesis Award for its depiction of the proper treatment of animals and, most significantly, two Emmy Awards.

His best-selling books include “Dear Dad – Letters From An Adult Child”, a collection of alternately touching and outrageous letters from Louie to his late father, and “Good-bye Jumbo...Hello Cruel World”, self-help for those who struggle with self-esteem issues, and his latest installment on family, “The F Word, How To Survive Your Family.”

When not in production, Louie continues to tour, traveling the States doing what Louie loves to do, Stand-Up Comedy. Louie again delivers to his fans his inimitable brand of humor and warmth

The Second City presents “We’re All in This Room Together”, 5/12/17 at 8PM Live at SOPAC

Full of the live and in-your-face entertainment Netflix can’t provide, The Second City’s We’re All In This Room Together features improvised comedy, audience interaction, and of-the-moment sketches and songs from the legendary sketch comedy archives made famous by superstars like Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and more. Never the same show twice, join us in the “Room” where it happens during this special engagement.

The Second City opened its doors on a snowy Chicago night in December of 1959, and has since grown to become the world’s premier comedy club, theatre and school of improvisation—with live shows every night in Chicago, Toronto and Hollywood. Bernard Sahlins, Howard Alk and Paul Sills, son of teacher Viola Spolin, founded the theater as a place where scenes and story were created improvisationally, using techniques that grew out of the innovative techniques Spolin developed and taught. The Second City chose its self-mocking name from the title of an article about Chicago by A. J. Liebling that appeared in The New Yorker in 1952.

Andrew Alexander and his recently deceased partner Len Stuart acquired The Second City in 1987. Andrew Alexander has helmed the Second City for 42 years and has produced television programs in both the United States and Canada including “SCTV,” “Second City Presents” and “Next Comedy Legend.” Since its debut, The Second City has been a launching pad for comedians, actors, directors and others working in show business. Notable alumni include Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, James Belushi, John Belushi, John Candy, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Rachel Dratch, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Jeff Garlin, Ian Gomez, Bonnie Hunt, Richard Kind, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Andrea Martin, Jack McBrayer, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Catherine O’Hara, Gilda Radner, Harold Ramis, Joan Rivers, Amy Sedaris, Martin Short, George Wendt and Fred Willard, among many others.

Happily Ever After | SOPAC | 5.6.17 | 2 PM

With Happily Ever After, get ready to laugh out loud at our hilarious renditions of some of the best stories from the Grimm Brothers’ iconic works. In this (not-so-grim) adventure, our engaging performers transform into Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin and The Elves and the Shoemaker.

This fairy tale inspired production is the perfect way to create a magical afternoon! Loaded with audience participation and an endless stream of laughs, this show will leave you and your children shouting for more!

Founded in 2003, Bright Star Theatre tours the nation offering high quality, affordable programs to every imaginable venue including the National Theatre.

Bright Star Touring Theatre
Recommended Ages: 4-10