Catch a Rising Star Brings Rob Bartlett & Tony Powell to Ocean State Theatre Tonight

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit professional theatre company, which recently completed its third season in its state-of-the-art theatre in Warwick, along with the legendary comedy club, Catch A Rising Star, are proud to announce the appearance of "Imus in the Morning's" Rob Bartlett and Tony Powell at Ocean State Theatre tonight, June 27 at 7:30pm.

Rob Bartlett started in stand-up comedy at Richard M. Dixon's White House Inn, a talent showcase club on New York's Long Island run by the presidential look-alike. He has headlined at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Atlantic City's Tropicana and Hilton Hotels, Mohegan Sun, and Foxwoods Resort and Casino. On television, Rob has appeared as a stand-up comedian on the "MTV Half Hour Comedy Hour," "Standup Spotlight" on VH1 and on "Late Night with David Letterman" and "Conan O'Brien."

In 1986, Rob became a regular in-studio guest of Don Imus at radio station WNBC 66AM. When the station was sold and the "Imus in The Morning" program moved to the WFAN studios in Astoria, Rob became a contract player, and has since written and performed some of the show's popular cast of characters. He has brought some of them, such as Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Camilla Parker Bowles, former president Bill Clinton and Dr. Phil to the new "Imus in the Morning" set at MSNBC.

Rob's television credits include starring roles on the Paramount/CBS comedy special "What's Alan Watching?," ABC's "Move the Crowd," and a recurring role on NBC as attorney Milton Schoenfeld on "Law & Order, Special Victims Unit." Rob is very proud to have been voted one of the "Top Ten Worst" wrestling announcers in history for his short-lived stint at color commentator of the "WWF Monday Night Raw." He is also the voice of Marty, the hyperactive dog, on the popular cartoon series "Kenny the Shark."

Rob made his Broadway debut as author and star of More to Love. His Broadway credits also include Amos Hart in Chicago, Mr. Mushnik in the 2003 revival of Little Shop of Horrors, and as Herman in the 2005 revival of Sweet Charity with Christina Applegate. In addition to his recent return to the cast of Chicago, Rob portrayed Speed, one of Oscar and Felix's card playing cronies in the original cast of the revival of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. His other stage appearances include Golden Boy and Pardon My English for City Center's Encores! and he won a Drama Desk award for his role as Marcus in the Off-Broadway play Tabletop.

Tony Powell, a veteran stand-up comic/writer can also be seen and heard weekday mornings on "The Imus in the Morning Show," which is simulcast on the Fox Business Channel on cable television and Direct TV. His television appearances include "USA Live" on USA Networks, "A&E Comedy on the Road," and NBC's "Showtime at the Apollo," to name a few. Tony has appeared in several national commercials including Visa All Star Café with Andre Agassi, Ritz Crackers, Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, Fila, Heineken, and he was also the national radio spokesperson for both the Miller Genuine Draft and U.S. Army. As a stand-up comedian, Tony has worked as a warm-up for Bill Cosby and Nickelodeon's "Keenan and Kel." He has performed in the nation's premier comedy clubs including The Improv in Santa Monica, CA, The Ice House in Pasadena, CA, Charlie Goodnights in North Carolina, and Gotham Comedy Club, The Comic Strip, Caroline's, and Dangerfield's, all in New York City. He's opened for major recording artists such as The O'Jays, The Spinners, The Whispers, The Jets, GQ, and The Platters. He's been a regular at The Caesar Pocono Resorts, The Tropicana, and Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.

A Brooklyn native, Tony excelled academically and at the age of thirteen was accepted into the prestigious Choate Rosemary Hall boarding school. At sixteen he attended The University of Virginia, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetoric Communications.

Rob Bartlett and Tony Powell will be at Ocean State Theatre on Saturday, June 27 at 7:30 pm. Joining them as host, will be local comedian Frank O'Donnell. The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Tickets are $50 for front section seating and $40 for all other seating and are on sale at the box office Monday through Friday from 12 noon - 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 12 noon - 4:00 pm and from 12 noon until curtain on performance days. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800.