Once called the “Franz Kafka of modern day comedy” by Mel Brooks, Richard Lewis has built a comedy career on his hilarious neuroses. Currently on his “Misery Loves Company Stand-Up Tour,” Lewis uses his lifelong therapy as fodder for a hysterical, compelling show. Comparable to a jazz musician, his wild riffs of comedic thought seem to eventually fall into a brilliant rhythm, and the results will have the audience howling with laughter. 

Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, Lewis worked as a copywriter after graduating from Ohio State University. By night, he began performing stand-up comedy in the 1970s and eventually became a familiar face with numerous appearances on Late Night with David Letterman. By the 1980s, people began to recognize Lewis’ comedic talent and he gained popularity with several television specials on HBO.

Often compared to the late Lenny Bruce, Richard Lewis has been ranked as one of the top 50 stand-up comedians of all time by Comedy Central. His 1977 “Diary of a Young Comic” mockumentary, which he starred in and co-wrote, is still considered a cult classic. Lewis’ comedy has even become a part of our language, as many believe Lewis is the originator of the expression “the ____ from hell,” as in “the date from hell” or “the nanny from hell.”

A successful actor, Lewis has been featured on six seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm and continues to redefine himself as a dramatic actor. He took on his first dramatic role in the theatrical release Drunks, in which he received raved reviews for playing struggling addict Jimmy Epstein. He’s also made scores of guest acting appearances in TVs and films as well, with roles in shows such as 2 ½ Men, The Dead Zone, Alias, and Seventh Heaven. The most close to his heart, however, was four-year run in the ABC series Anything But Love co-starring Jamie Lee Curtis. Lewis may even hold the title to most late night appearances, having chalked up more than 100 with Dave, Jay, Conan, Jon, and Maher.

Also appearing on The Venetian stage is Susie Essman, who’s most well-known for playing the venomous Susie Greene on all five seasons of the critically acclaimed HBO series, Curb Your Enthusiasm. As the no-nonsense wife of Jeff Greene, Essman unleashes hilarious bouts of withering sarcasm and uninhibited insults, which have made her one of the most popular characters on the show.

However, Manhattan-based Essman is also a veteran stand-up comic who’s even appeared in her own half-hour HBO comedy special. Essman also hosted the American Comedy Awards and has performed on Comedy Central’s The Friar’s Roast of Jerry Stiller, Politically Incorrect, and The Tonight Show. As an actress, Essman has made appearances on Law and Order, The King of Queens, and Baby Boom, while also appearing in films such as The Man, Keeping the Faith, The Siege, and more.

Essman’s unique voice and audacity made her a natural for the role of Helen Higgins in the puppet series Crank Yankers on Comedy Central; she also lent her voice to the cat Mittens in the Disney film Bolt. A frequent performer at Caroline’s in New York, Essman will make you laugh endlessly with her hilarious insights.