Rosie O’Donnell is set to host a night of comedy benefiting Friendly House LA on Saturday, July 16th, 2022, at The Fonda Theatre, 6126 Hollywood Boulevard. The benefit will feature performances from Atsuko Okatsuka, Beth Lapides, Gina Yashere, and special headliner Kathy Griffin (more to be announced).
Friendly House LA is a beloved space which provides a safe, structured and supportive home-like environment that fosters recovery for women seeking recovery from alcohol and other substance abuse disorders.
“Over 70 years ago Friendly House was created by one woman with a dream,” said Rosie O’Donnell. “A dream of a safe space, that would unconditionally love and support women in recovery from addiction. A safe space for women to learn how to love themselves. I am deeply humbled and honored to help this beautiful home in any way I can. And if I can do it with friends while we make people laugh- well, that’s a dream of mine.”
Tickets for the 600-seat theatre will range from $80 to $150, with all proceeds going directly to Friendly House LA.
About the talent:
Atsuko Okatsuka is a comedian, writer, and actor seen on CBS’s The Late Late Show with James Corden. VULTURE stated that her set “won late-night” the week that it aired. She is currently a cast member on Stephen Colbert’s animated projects Fairview and Washingtonia on Comedy Central and Paramount +.
Beth Lapides is the creator and host of UnCabaret (Comedy Central, Amazon Prime). It is the revolutionary show at the heart of the alt comedy movement. She’s the author of Recorded Books’ critically acclaimed original audiobook “So You Need To Decide”. She’s been seen on Comedy Central, CNN, NPR and in HBO’s Sex & The City.
Gina Yashere was born & raised in London UK, of Nigerian parents, and previously worked as an elevator engineer for Otis.
Gina has been a stand up and TV star in the UK for numerous years now, with appearances on iconic TV shows such as Live At The Apollo & Mock The Week, as well as creating & performing the hugely popular comedic characters, Tanya & Mrs. Omokerede on The Lenny Henry Show. She broke onto the American comedy scene with her appearances on Last Comic Standing (NBC), where she made it to the final 10, and then never went home!
Kathy Griffin is a two-time Emmy and Grammy award-winning comedian, a towering figure on television, on tour and in publishing. She is known globally with her universally recognized brand of pull-no-punches comedy. In 2019, Kathy completed her “Laugh Your Head Off” World Tour. It featured sold out performances across the globe including North America, Europe, Australia and Singapore. This worldwide exposure led to her first docu-comedy feature film, “Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story.” It debuted in over 700 theaters nationwide on July 31, 2019. The film has been featured in numerous film festivals, receiving critical acclaim. “A Hell of a Story” is available for download on Apple, Amazon, or wherever movies are sold.
Rosie O’Donnell – Rosie O’Donnell got her start as the winner of the comedy category of Star Search! Through the years O’Donnell has served as America’s best friend, a voice for truth. She was host and executive producer of the critically acclaimed and multiple Emmy Award winning nationally syndicated talk/variety series The Rosie O’Donnell Show. She did two co-host stints on ABC’s The View. And she hosted the extremely popular and fun, Sirius/XM show, Rosie Radio.
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Friendly House LA Mission Statement:
The mission of Friendly House LA is to provide women seeking recovery from alcohol and other substance use disorders with a safe, structured and supportive home-like environment that fosters recovery, personal growth and civic responsibility. Their goal is to help clients reclaim their dignity and acquire the knowledge, skills, support and resources to maintain a drug-free, purposeful, and productive life. As a community-based non-profit organization, our commitment is to extend a helping hand to every qualified applicant who sincerely desires recovery. https://friendlyhousela.org/
Rosie and Kathy. No thanks. But it is a good cause. I guess I could stomach it for a night.