Comedy Café. Laughter & Chains: Is Russia Funny?
May 4, 2011, 6:00 pm
Carolines on Broadway
1626 Broadway & 49th Street, New York, NY 10019
The Comedy Café Benefit "Laughter and Tears: Is Russia Funny?" was held on May 4, 2011, at Caroline's on Broadway. Seated at tables with friends, everyone shared in the laughter as we enjoyed a seamless pairing of comedy and a thoughtful discussion of issues facing Russian journalism today.
The brilliant John Hockenberry from NPR served as our master of ceremonies for the evening, introducing the talented panelists. We were also treated to the work of surprise guest Michael Alan, who created line drawings on the walls in reaction to the atmosphere in the room. We are deeply grateful to the gifted cast who lent their time and talent to make the night such a wild success.
200 people joined in the night's hilarity, and we received generous donations from those attending and not attending. Thank you to everyone who supported our celebration of Russian journalism and the humor of the Russian people. We hope you will take a moment to enjoy photos and a video of the Comedy Café, courtesy of NBC production and please consider a donation to support the Fund's Fellowship Program. (click here to give)
Master of Ceremonies
John Hockenberry
Host, "The Takeaway," NPR
Featuring
Aasif Mandvi
Actor, Comedian, Correspondent for The Daily Show
Jeff Kreisler
Author & Comedian
Joe Garden
Editor, The Onion
Katya Kronhaus
Deputy Editor, Bolshoi Gorod, Moscow,
Paul Klebnikov Russian Civil Society Fellow
Allison Silverman
former head writer, The Colbert Report
and Surprise Guest!
Honorary Chairs
Greg Daniels, Writer, The Office
Rob Kutner, Writer, Conan O’Brien Show
David Remnick, Editor, The New Yorker
Patrons
Blavatnik Family Foundation
Musa Klebnikov
Natasha Lebedeva, Producer, NBC
Cassie & John Pouschine
Irina Tolstoy & John Gans
Francie & John Train
Suzy & Sadek Wahba
Committee
Elizabeth Beier & Michael Hirschorn
Ariadne & Mario Calvo-Platero
Camilla Campbell & Oliver Platt
Michelle Clark
Betsy Davidson & John Pickering
Karen Dukess & Steve Liesman
Peter Klebnikov
Andrew Meier
Judith Rivkin & George Davison
Irina Silaeva
Carolyn & Ignat Solzhenitsyn
Katya Fischer Yoffe
Supporters
Anna Evan
The JM Kaplan Fund
Judy Rivkin & George Davison
Joumana Rizk
Irina Tolstoy & John Gans
Francie & John Train
Suzy & Sadek Wahba
Special Thanks to:
Richard Behar
Karen Dukess
Timothy M. Frye, Director, Harriman Institute, Columbia University
Natasha Lebedeva, NBC
Elizabeth McKeon, Ford Foundation
Jan van Eck
Moscow 57 Restaurant
Dan Fehlig, The Upper Crust
Proceeds will support the Paul Klebnikov Fund.
We are deeply grateful to the gifted cast who has given so generously of their time and talent. We hope you will join us in supporting the cause of Russian journalism and celebrating the humor of the Russian people.
The event will be recorded for internet broadcast, courtesy of NBC production.
