New York City to host show honouring Joan Rivers to raise money for gay charity

An extraordinary celebration of comedy and philanthropy is set to take place this November as the comedy world pays tribute to the late Joan Rivers. Dubbed Dead Funny – An All-Star Tribute to Joan Rivers Benefiting God’s Love We Deliver, the event will take place at the iconic Apollo Theater in New York on November 7th. This fundraiser holds significant importance as it marks the official opening night of the 20th annual New York Comedy Festival and aligns with the 10th anniversary of Rivers’ passing on September 4, 2014, at the age of 81.

The star-studded lineup for Dead Funny includes notable comedians such as Michelle Buteau, Rachel Brosnahan, Nikki Glaser, Matteo Lane, and Randy Rainbow, with more names expected to be announced soon. The event is being executive produced by Rivers’ daughter, Melissa Rivers, a frequent collaborator of Joan’s, alongside Erich Bergen, known for his work on both stage and screen.

Reflecting on her mother’s legacy, Melissa Rivers remarked, “My mother always said, ‘Never be afraid to laugh at yourself, after all, you could be missing out on the joke of the century.’ This event will be hilarious, witty, and unapologetic with a little bit of humility. It’s like my mom’s spirit in party form. We’re bringing together some of the funniest people on the planet to celebrate her life and legacy. Remembering her this way, through humour and appreciation, all while supporting a cause that she cared deeply about is truly the only way she would have wanted.”

Joan Rivers was a dedicated advocate for God’s Love We Deliver for over 25 years. Starting her journey with the organisation in 1994, she served on the board and acted as an ambassador, dedicating her time and resources particularly around Thanksgiving. Joan often involved her family, including her daughter Melissa and grandson Cooper, in her commitments to the charity. In honour of her contributions, God’s Love We Deliver named their bakery at the SoHo headquarters The Joan Rivers Bakery.

God’s Love We Deliver is the only nonprofit organisation in New York City that provides medically tailored meals and nutrition counselling to individuals living with severe illnesses. For nearly four decades, they have maintained an impressive record of never having a waiting list. This year alone, they are on track to deliver approximately 5 million meals.

David Ludwigson, president and CEO of God’s Love We Deliver, commented on the upcoming event, “Joan brought love, compassion, and humour to God’s Love We Deliver in every way, whether delivering meals, chopping veggies in our kitchen, or supporting events. She always left us laughing, and we are honoured to celebrate her longtime support with this show. Joan is forever in our hearts.”

Tickets for the event are currently on sale.

Source: Noah Wire Services