Local 'Tonight Show' Veteran to Headline Fundraiser

A Deer Park entertainer who has appeared on hundreds of TV shows including "The Tonight Show" with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno will headline Gilda's Club's annual "Night of a Thousand Laughs" fundraiser at the Bomhard Theatre on May 16. Comedian Mack Dryden will entertain along with five notable Louisvillians who have volunteered to perform five-minute standup comedy sets in the annual "Night of a Thousand Laughs" to benefit the local Gilda's Club, which offers its cancer support services free of charge to any individual or family enduring a battle with cancer. Dryden was chosen not only because he's a Louisville-based professional comedian, but because he's "The Funniest Two-Time Cancer Survivor in the Country," and performs at dozens of cancer survival celebrations across the U.S. every year. Two years ago he volunteered to do a show at Gilda's Club on Bardstown Road, but attendance was so overwhelming that the club was forced to add two additional shows. Every seat was taken for all three shows, and people stood along the back wall to watch Dryden's unique style of comedy. "I'm fortunate enough to have survived cancer twice," said Dryden, "so if Gilda's Club asks me to help them out, my response is three words: When and Where?" He said he's "humbled and honored" to be asked to headline this year's event, and that he predicts "an explosive, slightly naughty, and totally hilarious night" of standup, improvisation, and audience participation. "I think people will be thrilled that they laughed themselves hoarse raising money for such a good cause," he said. Comedians-for-a-night include restauranteur/Emcee Dean Corbett, Miss Kentucky U.S.A. Katie George (a U of L volleyball standout), and Louisville's own Howard Natalie, Stephanie Parrot, Patty Browning and Eugene Carner. Dryden has been a standup comedian for more than 30 years, has appeared in several movies and hundreds of TV shows, including 125 episodes of the syndicated show "Comedy Break with Mack & Jamie" which he co-hosted with his former comedy partner. He travels the country and the world--he performed in Macau, China, in January--performing primarily at conventions, inspiring audiences with his motivational speech and earning standing ovations with his standup comedy. Gilda's Club was founded by actor Gene Wilder to honor his wife, the late Saturday Night Live comedienne Gilda Radner, who died of ovarian cancer in 1989. There are now more than 50 affiliate clubs across the U.S. Tickets for "NOATL" range from $40 to $150, and can be purchased online at http://www.gildasclublouisville.org/night-of-a-thousand-laughs.html. The Bomhard Theatre is located in The Kentucky Center at 501 West Main Street in Louisville.