Featuring Susie Essman of “Curb Your Enthusiasm”

NEW YORK—Five of the country’s funniest female stand-up comics will join together on Monday, October 22 for the 18th Annual Comedy Hour at Carolines on Broadway. The event, which supports the Ms. Foundation for Women—the nation’s first and leading national women’s philanthropy—is co-hosted by women’s movement pioneer and author Gloria Steinem, comedy club owner Caroline Hirsch and Ms. Foundation President and CEO Sara K. Gould. The event is co-sponsored by Comedy Central, Anne Delaney, Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue. There will be limited, complimentary seating for members of the press.

“In today’s sobering political climate, laughter—a healing, regenerative force—is an essential ingredient in our work to promote women’s rights and social justice nationwide” said Ms. Gould. “We are thrilled to benefit from an evening of superb comedic entertainment at Carolines, which will help us raise money and awareness to elevate women’s voices and build our collective power. At a time when successes of civil rights, women’s and other social movements are continually undermined, the relevance and urgency of the Ms. Foundation’s work—and the need for humor and hope to spur us on—have never been greater.”

The comics performing at 18th Annual Comedy Hour are donating their time and talent. They are:

• Susie Essman, star of the critically-acclaimed HBO comedy series, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and host of a new reality show on Bravo, “Better Half,” will emcee the event. A veteran of the stand-up comedy world, she has appeared in her own half-hour HBO comedy special, hosted the American Comedy Awards and performed on Comedy Central's “The Friar's Roast of Jerry Stiller,” “Politically Incorrect” and “The Tonight Show.” Other television credits include “Law and Order,” “The King Of Queens” and “Baby Boom”; film credits include: “Keeping The Faith,” “The Siege,” “Volcano,” “Punchline” and “The Man.” Susie was the voice of Helen Higgins in Comedy Central’s “Crank Yankers” and performed off-Broadway in the play “The Vagina Monologues.”
• Roz G – “Last Comic Standing” finalist Roz G has been featured at numerous comedy venues across the country, including Carolines on Broadway and The Laugh Factory in both New York and Los Angeles. She has also appeared on television on Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend,” Jamie Foxx’s “Laffapalooza,” “UPN Showtime at the Apollo,” “BET Comic View” and HBO/Russell Simmons’ “Def Comedy Jam.”
• Cory Kahaney – Cory Kahaney may be best known as a grand finalist on “Last Comic Standing” on NBC. She’s had half hour specials on Comedy Central and HBO; other TV credits include “Last Call with Carson Daly,” and multiple appearances on “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn,” Joy’s comedy corner on “The View” and “Politically Incorrect.” She was voted Best Comedian in New York City by Back Stage magazine and is the creator and star of the off-Broadway hit, “The J.A.P. Show.” Cory was also the former co-host, with Maureen Langan, of Greenstone Media’s “Radio Ritas” nationally-syndicated talk show.
• Lynne Koplitz – Lynn Koplitz, former co-host of the Food Network’s “How to Boil Water” and NBC’s “Shop & Style,” co-starred on SONY’s syndicated talk show “Life and Style” with Jules Asner, Kimora Lee Simmons and Cynthia Garrett. She has a half hour special on Comedy Central currently in rotation and placed 13th in Comedy Central’s Stand-up Showdown last summer. Lynne is the first comedienne since Roseanne Barr and Brett Butler to have a sitcom development deal with Tom Werner (“Roseanne,” “Grace Under Fire” and “That 70s Show”).
• Veronica Mosey – Veronica Mosey’s strong opinions and fiery performances have earned her appearances at the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival, Live at Gotham on Comedy Central, “The Dr. Phil Show” and VH1. She is a regular at Caroline's Comedy Club, Gotham Comedy Club and the Comedy Cellar in New York City. She has been seen in national television commercials and her sarcastic wit has been published in Us Weekly Magazine’s Fashion Police.

The 18th Annual Comedy Hour at Carolines will take place from 5:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 22 and is generously underwritten by Caroline Hirsch of Carolines on Broadway. Other key supporters include Ms. Foundation Board of Directors Chair Katie Grover and Michael J. Campbell; JetBlue Airways; The Tomorrow Foundation; Morgan Lewis; Arlene and Alan Alda and Lifetime Networks.

Again, there are a limited number of complimentary seats available for press; if interested, please RSVP to Irene Schneeweis at 212.709.4418.

About the Ms. Foundation for Women The Ms. Foundation for Women Inc., founded in 1972 with headquarters in New York City, is the first and the leading national women’s philanthropy. We lift women’s and girls’ voices and promote their power to create a more equitable society. The Ms. Foundation for Women provides approximately $4 million in grants and practical training to community-based and national activist women’s organizations throughout the U.S. each year. Our support makes these organizations stronger and more capable of driving social change and public policy advances in the areas of health and safety, economic security, and women’s and girls’ leadership.