Company News

The Madison Square Garden Company Announces Garden of Laughs Presented by Delta Air Lines a Night of Stand-Up Comedy to Benefit The Garden of Dreams Foundation with Performances by Leslie Jones, Sebastian Maniscalco, Tracy Morgan, John Oliver, Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld

Hosted by Steve Schirripa with Additional Celebrity Presenters to Be Announced

The Theater at Madison Square Garden
Tuesday, March 28, 2017 At 8:00 PM

Tickets On Sale December 7, 2016 at 10AM

New York, NY (December 7, 2016) – The Madison Square Garden Company (NYSE: MSG) and The Garden of Dreams Foundation are proud to announce the return of Garden of Laughs Presented By Delta Air Lines – the successful bi-annual all-star comedy benefit. This year’s show, featuring, Leslie Jones, Sebastian Maniscalco, Tracy Morgan, John Oliver, Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld, will take place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 8:00 p.m., with all net proceeds going directly to Garden of Dreams.

“We are honored and thankful that so many friends of Madison Square Garden have donated their time to help raise money for our Garden of Dreams Foundation,” said Jim Dolan, Executive Chairman of the Madison Square Garden Company. “This is a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to see this unparalleled group of comedians together onstage and we are looking forward to a fantastic evening filled with laughter, all in support of the Foundation’s important efforts to brighten the lives of thousands of children in our community.”

“As a child who grew up in Brooklyn around kids that really struggled, I know firsthand how important the Garden of Dreams Foundation’s work is for kids facing challenges like homelessness, illness and foster care among many other setbacks,” said Garden of Dreams advisory board member, Tracy Morgan. “Megan and I are so proud to be able to give back by joining the Foundation’s advisory board, and I can’t wait to take the stage at Garden of Laughs. It’s going to be an amazing event that will help children in need in the tri-state area.”

Steve Schirripa, currently starring in “Blue Bloods” and best known for his role as Bobby Baccalieri in “The Sopranos,” is a long-time supporter and advisory board member of the Garden of Dreams Foundation and will host the evening. Joining the celebrated comedic lineup will be an esteemed list of entertainment and sports icons who will serve as presenters for this special evening.

“I am honored to return as host of Garden of Laughs, which will feature the biggest stars in comedy today,” said Mr. Schirripa. “I have seen the impact of the Garden of Dreams Foundation up-close for several years now, and I can’t think of a better charity to support with a night of non-stop laughs. Fans of comedy should not miss this event.”

“We are honored to be the presenting sponsor of this year’s Garden of Laughs benefit,” said Henry Kuykendall, Vice President-New York, Delta Air Lines. “Delta is proud of our successful, long-term partnership with The Madison Square Garden Company, and this wonderful charity event provides us with yet another opportunity to work together. The Garden of Dreams Foundation helps to brighten the lives of children in and around New York, and we’re pleased to support their efforts in the local communities we call home.”

This year’s event is proud to have Delta Air Lines as our Presenting Sponsor as well as Tissot and the Children’s Cancer Institute at Hackensack University Medical Center, one of the 28 GDF partner organizations that make dreams come true for children and families in our area, as two key supporting partners of Garden of Laughs.

The Garden of Dreams Foundation is a non-profit organization that works with The Madison Square Garden Company and MSG Networks Inc. to make dreams come true for children facing obstacles. Since the Foundation began in 2006, this collaboration has brightened the lives of more than 300,000 children and their families.

Garden of Dreams works with 28 partner organizations throughout the tri-state area, including hospitals, wish organizations and community-based organizations, to reach children who are facing challenges such as homelessness, extreme poverty, illness and foster care. The Foundation takes pride in its commitment to truly change lives, hosting more than 500 events and programs each year such as its annual Talent Show and Prom.

In addition, through its Giving program, the Foundation helps its partner organizations through the direct support of scholarships and long-lasting community projects such as the refurbishment of pediatric areas at local hospitals, basketball courts and community centers – with plans for many more vital civic enhancements in the years to come.

Both the 2013 and 2015 Garden of Laughs events were sold-out, raising nearly $2.5 million between them – making Garden of Laughs the most successful fundraiser for the Foundation in its decade-long history. The inaugural event was hosted by Bob Costas and featured comedians Ray Romano, Wanda Sykes, Robert Klein, Brian Regan, Darrell Hammond and Adam Ferrara and the 2015 event featured comedy stars Lewis Black, Bill Burr, Dane Cook, Billy Gardell and John Oliver. Both events featured a full lineup of celebrity presenters, including Will Arnett, Victor Cruz, Michael J. Fox, John Leguizamo, Ben Stiller, Brooke Shields and Garden of Dreams board members Whoopi Goldberg and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels. Garden of Laughs is Executive Produced by Emmy Award-winning television producer and talent manager Rory Rosegarten.

“We want to thank Steven and Chris Mazzilli for their sincere efforts in support of Garden of Laughs,” said Rosegarten and Barry Watkins, executive vice president and chief communications officer, The Madison Square Garden Company and Chairman, Garden of Dreams Foundation. “The 2015 Garden of Laughs event was an overwhelming success, due in large part to their work, and we know that the 2017 event will be even more successful with this once-in-a-lifetime lineup. We are incredibly grateful to have them on board to help create what will be an unforgettable night filled with laughter.”

Ticket prices range from $65-$350 with a select number of VIP packages available. For tickets and more information on Garden of Laughs and the VIP packages, please visit www.gardenoflaughs.com. Public on sale begins December 7 at 10 a.m. and will be available through Ticketmaster Charge By Phone (1-866-858-0008) and all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets will also be available at the box offices at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre beginning Thursday, December 8th at 12noon.

About The Madison Square Garden Company
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) is a world leader in live sports and entertainment with a portfolio of legendary sports teams, exclusive entertainment productions and celebrated venues. MSG Sports owns and operates some of the most widely recognized sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL) and the New York Liberty (WNBA), along with two development league teams — the Westchester Knicks (NBADL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also presents a broad array of world-class sporting events, including: professional boxing, college basketball, tennis, bull riding and e-gaming events. MSG Entertainment features exclusive, original productions that include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and New York Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts a wide variety of live entertainment offerings, including concerts, family shows and special events, in the Company’s diverse collection of iconic venues. These venues are: New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, California; The Chicago Theatre; and the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com