Ray Romano, Wanda Sykes, and More to Take Part in GARDEN OF LAUGHS at MSG, 1/26

MSG Entertainment and the Garden of Dreams Foundation has just announced Garden of Laughs, an unprecedented Garden of Dreams event to be held on Saturday, January 26, 2013 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Executive Produced by Emmy Award-winner, Rory Rosegarten, this one-night-only event will feature stand-up performances by some of the biggest names in comedy, including Adam Ferrara, Darrell Hammond, Robert Klein, Ray Romano and Wanda Sykes, with more comedians to be announced. The night of stand-up comedy is being created specifically to benefit the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit charity that works with all areas of The Madison Square Garden Company, including MSG Entertainment, Rangers, Knicks, Liberty, MSG Networks and Fuse.

“The magic of The Madison Square Garden Company has brought joy and hope to hundreds of thousands of children and their families facing difficult circumstances in our community. That’s what the Garden of Dreams Foundation is all about – positively transforming the lives of the children we serve through unforgettable events and programs that forge meaningful, lasting relationships,” said Hank Ratner, president and chief executive officer, The Madison Square Garden Company and chairman of the board, Garden of Dreams Foundation. “While we are extremely proud of the enormous impact we have had, we are committed to doing even more in the future. That’s why we’re so grateful to the numerous entertainers and celebrities who have generously donated their time and talent to be a part of this fantastic event.”

Joining the celebrated comedic line-up of Garden of Laughs will be an esteemed list of entertainment and sports icons, who will serve as presenters for this very special evening.

“In the spirit of charity and humor, I am honored to be a part of Garden of Laughs and support the amazing work of the Garden of Dreams Foundation,” said Ray Romano. “It’s going to be an incredibly funny night and I look forward to sharing the stage and a lot of laughs with my fellow comedians to help raise money for children who need a helping hand.”

The Garden of Dreams Foundation does what no other charity in the world can do: it uses the power of MSG’s personalities and properties to create unforgettable programs that enhance the lives of kids and their families. The Madison Square Garden Company has worked tirelessly to help fulfill Garden of Dreams’ mission to brighten the lives of children who are facing life challenges – whether they relate to illness, homelessness, poverty, foster care or tragedy. Because of these efforts, which often involve unprecedented access to celebrities, events and venues, Garden of Dreams has been able to impact more than 215,000 children and their families since its inception in 2006.

“I have been going to the Garden for as long as I can remember and have been a season subscriber to the Rangers for many years. In being around the Garden, I was well aware of the amazing work they were doing through the Garden of Dreams Foundation for children in the area. I called my friends at MSG to discuss what I could do to help and together, we developed an idea for a night of stand-up comedy,” said Rory Rosegarten, executive producer of Garden of Laughs. “I am thrilled to be a part of an event that I know will be a great night, and will help the Garden of Dreams Foundation continue to change the lives of these kids.”

Garden of Dreams’ signature events and programs include one of the Foundation’s most memorable and impactful annual events – the star-studded Talent Show at Radio City Music Hall. More than 100 children from the Foundation’s partner organizations participated in a wide array of exceptional performances in front of an enthusiastic audience and several A-list celebrities. Over the course of a year, once-in-a-lifetime experiences include exclusive programs with The Rockettes, celebrities, athletes and coaches who make up the MSG family and exclusive meet and greets, along with access to concerts and sporting events. In addition, Garden of Dreams conducts a fun-filled “Dream Week” summer camp that, fulfills the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions, and provides children with memories that last a lifetime through its “Make-A-Dream Come True” and “Dream Night” programs that are conducted at concerts, family shows and sporting events held at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre. Other Foundation initiatives include educational programs designed to mentor and inspire high school students, as well as coat, toy and holiday gift drives. For more information on the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the programs we run, and the children we serve, please visit www.GardenofDreamsFoundation.org.