Comedy at the Casino: 4 Nights of Laughter Set for Empire City

There will be a lot to laugh about at Empire City Casino in March.

The racing and wagering venue in Yonkers has four comedy nights scheduled, on Wednesdays March 6, 13, 20, and 27. The March headliners are Joe Matarese (March 6), RC Smith(March 13), Eddie Brill (March 20), and Andy Hendrickson (March 27). 

These funnymen have been seen on such television programs such Chelsea Lately (Matarese), ABC’s The Chew (Smith), FX’s Louie (Brill), and NBC’s 30 Rock (Hendrickson). Hosted in the Good Time Room, the doors open at 7 p.m., and the show gets underway at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 for Empire Club members, $15 for non-members, and Elite members are admitted free. All attendees also receive a free drink ticket.   

The March Wednesday Comedy Night schedule starts up on March 6, headlined by Joe Matarese. The New Rochelle favorite son’s completely autobiographical act pokes fun at his subtly dysfunctional Italian family, his own neuroses, life with a five-year-old, and a baby daughter, and his marriage to a psychologist. 

Matarese has been seen on Chelsea Lately, on which he makes a monthly appearance, The Late Show with David Letterman, and The Howard Stern Show.   

MC Josh Homer, who has performed at Caroline’s Comedy Club and Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, is also on the bill.  The featured performer is Paul Virzi, who has opened up for such comedy legends as Dave Attell, Bill Burr, and Patrice O’Neal.

The laughs keep rolling March 13, headlined by RC Smith.  Known in the television and comedy industry as one of the best warm-up men in the business, Smith can jump-start an audience as he hits the stage.  RC is currently the warm-up comic for ABC’s The Chew and has entertained crowds on such programs as The Colbert Report and The Tony Danza Show.  Smith will be joined by MC William Stephenson, who got his start doing stand up in New York City.  Stephenson has made appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Chris Rock Show, and was also in the film Pootie Tang.  He is now a favorite at the Gotham Comedy Club and The Comic Strip Live.  Two-time Last Comic Left Standing semi-finalist Carmen Lynch will also be featured on the show.  Carmen made her late-night television debut on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2012. 

Funnyman Eddie Brill headlines the March 20 show.  Born and raised in New York, Brill has entertained crowds around the world, working regularly in Australia, Ireland, Canada, France, and China.  He is a three-time MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs) award winner for Best Male Stand-up Comic in NYC and has appeared on such shows  as The Dana Carvey Show, Madigan Men, This Is Your Life, and Saved By The Bell.  Joining Eddie will be MC Jeffrey Baldinger,  who has appeared on the Outsourced and Playboy Comedy Tours and opened for comedy legend Louie Anderson.  Baldinger is also a regular at the World Famous Comedy Store and Hollywood Improv. Long Island native Kenny Zimlinghaus will also appear.  A regular on college campuses across the country, Kenny has been seen on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. 

Headlining the March finale will be Andy Hendrickson on March 27.  This burgeoning powerhouse in the comedy world has been seen on NBC’s 30 Rock and FOX’s Red Eye.  Hendrickson was also a winner at HBO’s U.S. Comedy Arts Festival and a finalist at both The Boston Comedy Festival and The Great American Comedy Festival.  A New York City mainstay, Andy appears regularly at venues such as the world famous Comedy Cellar.  He will be joined by MC Alfonso Ochoa and featured performer Peet Guercio, a Los Angeles favorite.

Empire City Casino is located at 810 Yonkers Ave., Yonkers, featuring 5,300 slot machines, and first opened its doors in 2006 to showcase a $250 million renovation. Its wide variety of slots compliments live harness racing featuring the greatest horses and drivers in the world over Yonkers' historic half-mile oval, three restaurants, a food court, musical entertainment and daily promotions for patrons. Empire City has become known as "The Jackpot Next Door" because of its accessibility to all areas of Westchester County, the five boroughs, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Six figure jackpots, including several in the $250,000 range, have more than enhanced the Empire City Casino experience for lucky patrons.