The Count Basie Center for the Arts will host “The Roast of New Jersey,” Feb. 28.
This may be a first. Comedy roasts have traditionally been directed at a single person. But a Feb. 28 event at The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank will poke fun at an entire state.
“The Roast of New Jersey” will be hosted by “Roastmaster General” (and New Jersey native) Jeff Ross and also feature Joey “Coco” Diaz, Brian “Q” Quinn (of “Impractical Jokers), former New York Giant and current WFAN host Tiki Barber, Rich Vos, Chris Gethard, Bonnie McFarlane, Donnell Rawlings, Natalie Cuomo, Joe Gorga, Vinnie Brand and others.
According to a press release, “A mystery guest will end the night in defense of our great state, offering a rebuttal and perhaps revenge towards anyone who dares to ridicule our rest stops, industrial lands, the Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham debate, etc.”
Could the mystery guest be Stevie Van Zandt? Joe Piscopo? Gov. Mikie Sherrill? We’ll find out on Feb. 28.
Tickets will go on sale Dec. 12 at 10 a.m., with pre-sales beginning Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. Visit ticketmaster.com.
The roast is part of the Centennial Celebration of the Basie Center, which was launched on Nov. 11, 1926 as the Reade’s Carlton theater.
For a list of Centennial events, visit thebasie.org/centennial.
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