Comedy Night At Playhouse On Park Returns, 5/19

Playhouse on Park continues its Season Nine Comedy Series, presented by Series Sponsor Shop Rite, on Saturday, May 19 at 8pm. Tickets are now on sale for the show featuring co-headliners Chris Rich and Corey Manning. As a result of winning the prestigious Ladies of Laughter Contest, a national comedy competition held at Caesar's Palace, Chris was give a long-running spot on Comedy Central's Premium Blend. She's also appeared as a featured comedian on ABC's "The View." She's worked with Jerry Seinfeld, Sherman Hemsley, Joy Behar, Gilbert Gottfried, Roseanne, and Tony Danza, to name a few.

Chris' performing career started as a theatrical "triple-threat": an actress, singer, and dancer in an endless stream of drama, opera, improvisational theater, and musicals: "I did 'Oklahoma' so many times I qualified for Farm Aid." Those years of study and training led to becoming part of a resident company at The Walnut Street Theatre, The Trenton Civic Opera, Bucks County Playhouse, and productions at The Actors' Playhouse in NYC.

All that acting experience turned out to be a perfect foundation for stand-up, leading a reviewer of her one-woman show to rave: "Chris Rich is unbelievably good. From the minute she took the stage she could do no wrong. Not just a stand-up, she's a versatile cabaret performer who incorporates character sketches and improv into an act that's a pure joy."

Corey Manning is a consummate entertainer commanding the attention of various public outlets nationwide. From comedy to media, Corey has done it all. Corey is a tenured headliner performing in clubs and colleges across the U.S. He was a featured comedian on season one of Nick Jr.'s NickMom Night Out Comedy Showcase, appeared on NBC's FAMILY FUED with Steve Harvey, and has a comedic resume that includes performances in Jamie Foxx's Laffapalooza's New Faces In Comedy, opening for DMC, and touring with legendary names such as Monique, Bill Bellamy, Eddie Griffin, Damon Wayans, and Lavell Crawford. He won the 2011 North Carolina World Series of Comedy, and was among the top 8 in the prestigious Las Vegas World Series of Comedy. Known for his "Slick, upbeat, funny, over-the-top comedy," if there is no energy in the room, he brings it. If there IS energy in the room, Corey absorbs it, electrifies it, and then takes it to another level. He has yet to find an audience he can't entertain, or a topic he can't cover.

Tickets are $15, all seats reserved. This event is BYOB! For tickets, call the Playhouse box office at 860-523-5900 x10 or visit www.playhouseonpark.org. Playhouse on Park is located at 244 Park Road, West Hartford, CT 06119.