Ladies of Laughter

This fest of funny femmes returns to the Center as the Ladies of Laughter comedy event has been a patron favorite with rave reviews! Expect big laughs, big fun, and a memorable night out. Back by popular demand, comedienne Karen Rontowski, will be returning to the mainstage! Karen Rontowski’s fast-paced, quirky and charmingly optimistic comedy has been featured in clubs, TV, radio, and at corporate events all around the world. Karen uniquely blends comedy with her experience as a Paranormal Investigator, Tarot and reikimaster. She is fascinated with the “afterlife” is convinced she will someday have a near death experience because, “I never finish anything.” Karen has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Sirius Satellite Radio, Comics Unleashed, Comedy.com, Live at Gotham, Comedy Central and Mysteries of the Unexplained.

We are welcoming Comedienne Stephanie Blum who was the Ladies of Laughter National Winner from the 2012 Finale at Madison Square Garden. Stephanie is a former school psychologist from Brooklyn who began her comedy career after winning New York’s Funniest Teacher contest. This ‘apathetic mom-next-door’ has trademarked laziness and procrastination. She is sarcastic, hilarious and universally adored by audiences. She has performed in clubs, colleges, festivals and casinos all around the country. You may have seen Stephanie on one or more of her many television appearances: HBO’s Comedy Minutes, Country Music Television’s Funniest Videos, Star Search on CBS, The Marie Osmond Show for Hallmark Channel, Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, #WhatSheSaid on TLC, and Babies Behaving Badly on Discovery Family Channel.

We are also welcoming Comedienne Sarah Perry. Sarah is the 2021 Ladies of Laughter Professional Virtual Stand-Up runner-up and is a Chicago-based national touring comedian and writer whose fearless delivery and subject matter is highly relatable and resoundingly funny. Sarah graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2016 with a degree in Comedy Writing and Performance and has also completed The Comedy Studies program and graduated from The Conservatory at The Second City, as well as the improv program at iO Theatre. Sarah gained Internet attention when Laugh Factory Hollywood posted videos of her stand-up online, racking up a total of over 4.3 million views on Instagram and Youtube. She performed in The Laughing Skull Comedy Festival in Atlanta, GA in May 2019 and in June 2019 she was named a semifinalist for StandUp NBC. In November of 2019 she performed a TEDx Talk for her Alma Mater, Columbia College Chicago and in January 2020 she performed at Team Coco House in Chicago.

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