Bill Burr, Michael Che, Tracy Morgan, Jon Stewart, Steve Schirripa, more team up for kids
Steve Schirripa doesn't mince words.
"If you don't laugh when you come to this, there's something wrong."
The "Sopranos" and "Blue Bloods" star is talking about Garden of Laughs, and it's no bluff.
Returning for the first time in five years on March 27 at Madison Square Garden, the all-star night of comedy has raised more than $6 million for the programs of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing life-changing opportunities to young people in need.
This year's lineup packs quite the punch(lines).
Comics Bill Burr, Michael Che, Chris Distefano, Jim Gaffigan, Heather McMahan, Tracy Morgan, Sam Morril and Jon Stewart are set to appear, with Schirripa hosting.
Presenters will include Victor Cruz, Susie Essman, Edie Falco, Whoopi Goldberg, Doc Gooden, Adam Graves, Henrik Lundqvist, Camryn Manheim, Jill Martin, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, John McEnroe, Chris Meloni, Marc Roberge, CC Sabathia, JB Smoove, John Starks, Ben Stiller, Kenan Thompson, Paul Wesley and more.
"It's a great show. It's a great night. Everyone always has a good time. It's something that was missed, and now we put a great lineup together," Schirripa said. "They're here and they're not making a dollar. They're here for the right reason, they're here because they want to be here. It's a different vibe than if it was a paid gig. They're here for the kids, they're here because it's a good cause."
Comic and podcaster Distefano, appearing for the first time, agrees, and also says the big-name studded lineup adds a little extra wallop to everyone's set.
"A show like this is not only incredible for the audience because every comedian that's going up there as a headliner has headlined MSG by themselves already. So it sounds amazing, but then for the actual comic, it really makes us be on our 'A' game because whatever place I am in the lineup, whoever is next is going to hear your material. I don't know if I'm going to be going before Jon Stewart or Tracy Morgan or going after one of them. They might rip the roof off, and then you can't be that guy."
Garden of Dreams Foundation
The Garden of Dreams Foundation holds special meaning for both Schirripa and Distefano.
The charity works with 30 partner organizations from across the tri-state that include community-basedorganizations, hospitals, wish-granting charities and organizations representing the families of uniformed personnellost or wounded in the line of duty. They provide scholarships, community and legacy projects and patented Moments of Joy. Since 2006, the foundation has facilitated more than 250,000 Moments of Joy at MSG Entertainment venues, sports events, VIP experiences and gifts.
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One of its signature events is the Garden of Dreams Talent Show at Radio City Music Hall, which gives more than 100 young artists the opportunity to perform on the Great Stage each year.
Uniquely, the foundation says, it stays involved in the lives of the young people whose lives are touched by its programs.
"The thing I like about it is a lot of the kids are still with us," Schirripa said. "These are the same kids that have stayed with the program from 2006 on. There's scholarships and mentorships and you see how these kids are grown and stayed with us, and possibly changed the course of their lives."
"I feel like I'm a part of their team," Distefano said. "So it feels like home. My memories with my father are me being 5 years old and going with my dad to a Knicks game. So it's a very, very, very special place, and again for a great cause."
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Garden of Laughs is set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Limited tickets remain for the evening and are available via Ticketmaster.com, with all net proceeds going directly to the Garden of Dreams Foundation.
There also is a newly announced charity auction to benefit the Garden of Dreams Foundation via CharityBuzz. The auction is open now and runs through April 3. Prizes include everything from Billy Joel, Pearl Jam and Olivia Rodrigo VIP tickets, Mets, Jets, Knicks and Rangers VIP options and much more.
Visit charitybuzz.com/gardenoflaughs for more information on the auction.
Visit gardenofdreamsfoundation.org to learn more about the Garden of Dreams Foundation.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Garden of Laughs features Michael Che, Tracy Morgan, Jon Stewart, more
