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GET DISCOUNTED EARLY BIRD TICKETS BEFORE JULY 1st! Ripple Effect Artists is a Social Justice arts production company currently raising awareness for Mental Health & Wellness through film and theatre, and supporting BIPOC student filmmakers.
As a 501(c)3 theatre company REA is also dedicated to theatre and the ability it has to inspire an audience to make a difference!
Learn more at: https://rippleeffectartists.com/about/
MAYSOON ZAYID - OPENER
Maysoon Zayid is an actress, comedian, writer, and disability advocate. She is a graduate of and a Guest Comedian in Residence at Arizona State University. Maysoon is the co-founder/co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and The Muslim Funny Fest. She was a full-time On Air Contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann and a columnist for The Daily Beast. She has most recently appeared on Oprah Winfrey Networks In Deep Shift, 60 Minutes, and ABC News. Maysoon had the most viewed TED Talk of 2014 and was named 1 of 100 Women of 2015 by BBC. As a professional comedian, Maysoon has performed in top New York clubs and has toured extensively at home and abroad.
CTs OWN, JOHNNY RIZZO
The elastic faces, the flopping limbs, the silly, googly eyes…he’s got you in stitches and he hasn’t even opened his mouth yet! Part old school (think Red Skelton, Jerry Lewis, Danny Kaye) intertwined with his own unique observations on everyday life, Johnny Rizzo has been cracking up audiences around the country for over 30 years. Born in raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Johnny cut his comedy teeth in some of the most hallowed clubs in New York City, including Catch a Rising Star, Caroline’s, Dangerfield’s and The Comic Strip. Before long, Johnny was opening all over the country for superstars including Jay Leno, Richard Belzer, Dennis Miller, Tommy Chong, Joan Rivers, “Weird” Al Yankovic, Ray Charles, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Mamas and the Papas, Pat Cooper and Henny Youngman.
GILBERT GOTTFRIED
After spending several years mastering the art of stand-up comedy, producers of the legendary NBC late night comedy show Saturday Night Live became aware of Gottfried and, in 1980, hired him as a cast member. It wasn’t until a few years later when his true notoriety would begin when MTV hired him for a series of improvised and hilarious promos for the newly formed channel. This led to several television appearances on The Cosby Show and Late Night with David Letterman.
Gottfried’s work in television soon led to roles in film. Most notable was his improvised scene as business manager Sidney Bernstein in the hit sequel Beverly Hills Cop II, for which the New York Daily News said, “Gilbert Gottfried steals the picture with a single scene.” Aside from his glowing reputation in comedy clubs, Gottfried began to gain a reputation as the king of quirky roles in both movies and television. He appeared in such movies as Problem Child, Problem Child II, Look Who’s Talking II and The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. He was also the host of the very popular late night movie series USA Up All Night.
After his stellar performance as the wise cracking parrot, IAGO, in the Disney classic Aladdin, Gottfried became one of the most recognizable voiceover talents, lending his voice to several commercials, cartoons and movies, including the frustrated duck in the AFLAC Insurance commercials. Gottfried also is the voice of DIGIT in the long running PBS Series Cyberchase. His signature voice can also be heard on the Comedy Central series The Annoying Orange, the voice of the horse on Family Guy, Mr. Mxyzptlk in Lego Batman 3 – Beyond Gotham video game, and Abraham Lincoln in A Million Ways to Die In the West.
Gottfried has made numerous memorable appearances on Comedy Central Roasts and the Comedy Central series, The Burn with Jeff Ross. Gottfried’s Fifty Shades of Grey reading (College Humor) received over 5 million views on YouTube.
Gilbert has been a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with Seth Meyers, @Midnight with Chris Hardwick and numerous appearances on The Howard Stern Show. He also has had a recurring role on Law and Order SVU as TARU tech Leo Gerber.
Gottfried appeared in the hit comedy documentary The Aristocrats, with Entertainment Weekly saying that “out of the 101 comedians who appear on screen, no one is funnier – or more disgusting – than Gilbert Gottfried.”
Gilbert Gottfried Dirty Jokes was released on both DVD and CD, featuring 50 non-stop minutes of Gottfried telling the funniest and filthiest jokes ever. The show was filmed live at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. Also featured on the DVD are some of the funniest bonus features ever, including wild stories, indignant ranting and celebrity impressions.
Rubber Balls and Liquor is Gilbert Gottfried’s hilarious book- part memoir, part twisted social commentary, and part scratches on the bathroom wall. With this scathingly funny book of rants and musings, Gottfried sullies an entirely new medium with his dysfunctional worldview.
Oh, and did we mention the reality shows and podcast? Gilbert appeared on both ABC’s Celebrity Wife Swap, swapping with Alan Thicke, and NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice where Gilbert took his first trip into the boardroom and perhaps his last. And the podcast… Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast! where Gilbert journeys back in time with some of the Hollywood icons, legends, and behind the scenes talent who shaped (warped?) his childhood and influenced his unique brand of comedy. He is joined each week by his co-host and late night phone friend, fellow showbiz fanatic, and Comedy Writer Frank Santopadre.
Gilbert, the documentary about Gilbert Gottfried, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Director Neil Berkeley’s Gilbert reveals an unexpected side to the iconic comedian. The film peeks behind the larger-than-life persona at a more personal story about growing up in Brooklyn and becoming a husband and father late in life.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Bijou Theatre CT, 275 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport, United States
Tickets
USD 55 to USD 100