Hartford Courant: Playhouse on Park makes the list as a “reliable local” for Comedy Night!
BEST OF CT: We've been named one of the
10 Best Comedy Clubs in CT 2023 - Read about it here.
COREY MANNING (Headliner)
Corey Manning is a Comedian by Night and Superhero by Day who has been making audiences laugh for more than two decades. He has headlined the legendary Apollo Theater, appeared on NBC’s Family Feud with Steve Harvey and Nickelodeon’s NickMom, and was featured in Jamie Foxx’s Laffapalooza. His Dry Bar Comedy special, Witness Protection, is streaming now. Offstage, Corey uses humor and his experience as a community leader to connect, educate and inspire. Whether behind a microphone or in the community, his mission is simple: saving the world one smile at a time.
JESS MILLER (Opening Act)
On stage, Jess brings sharp, lived-in perspective and a crowd-forward delivery that travels well in clubs, theater, and private events. Her credits include appearances at Women in Comedy Festival and Boston Comedy Chicks, a win at the Ladies Room Comedy Festival (NYC), and finalist placement at New York City’s Devil Cup Comedy Festival. She’s performed nationwide at venues and clubs including Caroline’s on Broadway, New York Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club, Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Punchline, The Comedy Store (LA), plus a long list of rooms across the country.
PAUL NARDIZZI (Co-Headliner)
Paul Nardizzi isn’t just funny – he’s a comedy veteran with decades of punchlines under his belt, a relentless sense of sarcasm, and the kind of timing you can’t teach. He exploded onto the Boston comedy scene in the 1990s and quickly became a local favorite and national headliner. Within four years of starting stand-up, Paul was appearing on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and soon after on Comedy Central, Fox Sports’ Best Damn Sports Show Period, NESN Comedy All-Stars, and more. He also took home first place at the Boston Comedy Festival — because apparently, “funniest guy in the room” is a thing you can win. Paul’s material covers everything from parenting chaos and real-life absurdities to the little annoyances that make you want to scream — or laugh until you cry. His sharp delivery and clean(ish) humor have made him one of the most requested acts on satellite radio and a go-to comedian for hire for corporate events, private parties, fundraisers, and comedy clubs across the U.S. He’s also the creator of the Ranting Parents Comedy Tour, a no-holds-barred take on family life, featuring fellow comics Dave Rattigan and Jim Ruberti.
JOHN PERROTTA (Co-Headliner)
John Perrotta is a stand-up comedian who’s been making New England audiences laugh for over 30 years. The founder of John Perrotta's Comedy Factory and a Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Fame inductee, he's shared stages with comedy legends like Bill Burr, Bob Marley, Lenny Clarke, Tammy Pescatelli, Tom Cotter, and Gilbert Gottfried. A Navy veteran and retired correctional officer of 36 years, John has lived enough wild stories to fill several memoirs. Some of John’s comedy highlights include closing a show at the legendary Friars Club in New York city, opening for Bill Burr, Dane Cook, Gilbert Gottfried, Jim Breuer, Colin Quinn, and others. He has owned John Perrotta's Comedy Factory since 1992 and was voted Providence's best comic in 2008.
COREY ALEXANDER (Co-Headliner)
A 5-time comedy contest winner including the NJ Laugh-off, Corey is a Philadelphia native that travels all over the country. With over 20 years in comedy, Corey has been named one of the top 500 touring comics by the award winning Merryfield podcast. Corey has played such top clubs as Carolines, Broadway, and Gotham in NYC. He has also played top clubs like the Improv, Flappers, and the World Famous Comedy Store in LA. He has also played in Las Vegas, Montreal, and England. He had his debut comedy album in 2020 produced at the Funny Bone in St. Louis. He was featured on 2023 season's "Sell This House" on A&E, Emmy-winner "Counter Culture" on PBS, MiND TV Comedy Special, and the movie Bad Dad. He also has two podcasts: Fly Eagles Fly (Sports) and Conversations with Corey (Comedy). His combined views are over 5 million as of 2026. He's also been seen on CBS Sports Wrap-up, FOX (Good Morning), and the FYI channel. He most recently played the Denver Improv and Jokers Wild in the Atlantis Resort (Bahamas).
BOB MARSDALE (Co-Headliner)
Bob Marsdale is a talented comedian known for his dead-on impressions, sharp observational humor, and engaging stage presence. Bob has been featured on the nationally syndicated TV show Right This Minute and has performed at some of the region’s premier entertainment venues, including the Tropicana in Atlantic City, Harrah’s, and Parx Casino. With a unique ability to capture the personalities and mannerisms of the people he impersonates, Bob delivers a high-energy comedy experience that keeps audiences laughing.
IRWIN LORING (Co-Headliner)
Irwin finds life funny. On stage he tells stories of his children, parents, his take on being divorced, or the twists of being in a relationship with a vegan. He does all this with a smile, and his apparent love of all of them. He was a finalist in the 2007 Comic of the Year competition, winner of best new talent comic at the Reading Comedy Outlet 2008, and a finalist in the Big Break Comedy Competition in 2009. Irwin has performed in venues ranging from New York staples such as the Laugh Factory, Comix, Broadway Comedy Club, New York Comedy Club and Gotham Comedy Club, to the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. He also participated in the Guinness Book of World Records Longest Consecutive Comedy Show at Magoobys Joke House in 2011. He has worked with many great comics currently touring today such as Michael Winslow, Jimmy "JJ" Walker, Jackie "Jokeman" Martling, and Dustin Diamond. He has headlined shows in Pennsylvania, Baltimore and Washington DC and has been a featured comedian for Comcast on Demand, Web Comedy Club, and Local Point TV.
PATTY ROSBOROUGH (Co-Headliner)
Patty Rosborough is one of the top headlining comics in the country with her hard hitting, high‐energy style of comedy. She got her start in New York City appearing with the improv troupe, ‘Future Schlock’ and in the Off-Broadway production of ‘Gay Dracula,’ a campy romp where she bared it all. Her first stint on television was with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central’s ‘Short Attention Span Theatre.’ Patty has been seen on Showtime, Comedy Central and on the BBC’s ‘The World Stands Up.’ She has also performed at the ‘Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Festival’ and is the winner of NYC’s prestigious ‘Charlie Award.’ Patty is the winner of the ‘Ladies of Laughter Comedy Competition’ and tours across the U.S. with her standup act. She is also a regular at the ‘Borgata’ in Atlantic City and performs at New York city comedy clubs.
Scott Higgins is a comedian, show producer and podcaster. He started doing stand up in 2002 and quickly became the go to act for many clubs. In 2014, he started producing his Comedy All Stars show at the Bradley Playhouse that continues today in multiple theaters. The Behind The Funny Podcast was launched by Scott in 2017 and Ace Aceto joined as co-host. Behind The Funny has built a loyal fan base and was nominated for a Boston Comedy Choice Award in 2024 and a Motif Magazine Award in 2026. Behind The Funny can now be heard on Ground Control Radio weekdays. Constant improvement and never resting on the past is how Scott continues to work today. His everyman relaxed style draws an audience in, then keeps them. His family based observational humor is fresh but familiar to us all.
KAREN JAFFEE (Co-Headliner)
Karen has been making people laugh since the age of six, when she punched an actor from Sesame Street LIVE in a rather sensitive area in front of a theater full of people. As an adult, she has found appreciative audiences in comedy clubs and independent shows all over the country, and she is a semi-finalist in the 2019 World Series of Comedy Festival. Her podcast, "Everybody Dies," will debut later this year. She has worked with such notable and varied comedians as Stewart Huff, Greg Hahn, Bobcat Goldthwait, and Mark Normand.