Comedian Bobby Collins Coming to Ocean State Theatre, 8/17

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit professional theatre company, currently celebrating its second summer season in Warwick, is proud to partner with the legendary comedy club, Catch A Rising Star to bring comedian Bobby Collins to Ocean State Theatre for one performance only on Sunday, August 17 at 7:30pm.

"When Catch A Rising Star's lease expired at Twin River back in January, we entered into discussions with the principals regarding the possibility of their utilizing Ocean State Theatre for some special events," said Amiee Turner, Producing Artistic Director of Ocean State Theatre Company. "We are very happy this worked out and we've been able to share this terrific venue with so many different organizations for various community events and fundraisers. When there is no scheduling conflict with one of OSTC's productions, we love it when others take advantage of utilizing this great space."

As one of today's leading and most sought-after comedic talents, Bobby Collins' heartfelt humor engages audiences with a clever blend of characterizations and hilarious observations, to which everyone can relate. He takes the funny business very seriously - from starring in his own Showtime Special and being Rosie O'Donnell's predecessor pick to host VH1's "Stand-up Spotlight," to opening for such names as Cher, Dolly Parton, Julio Inglesias and Tony Bennett, to name a few. Topping Collins' first comedy CD "On The Inside," which showcased his wide-ranging observational material, his second "Out Of Bounds," earned a Grammy nomination. While live stage performances in New York, Las Vegas, and Atlantic City are forever expanding his list of faithful followers, he has also appeared in five feature films and numerous television shows.

Breaking into the comedy circuit came when, after chatting up the bartender at Manhattan's premiere comedy club, Collins found himself on stage at Catch A Rising Star. He continued to hone his skills until finally arriving on the Las Vegas scene. He gave up his "day job" to realize his passion as a comedian, and it's been a riot ever since. "Making someone laugh for a few minutes of their day is a very gratifying experience," Collins says. "They may be going through a difficult time in their life and may not have laughed for quite awhile. I appreciate those moments when I help make a difference by connecting in a positive way." With reverence to his favorite entertainment icons, he describes his comedic style as a combination of the physical movement of Jerry Lewis, the sleek, good looks of Dean Martin, and the heart of George Burns.

Collins hopes to continue doing what he loves -- performing. Whether its clubs or corporate gatherings, it's non-stop laughter. He says, "Laughing can be a stress reliever. And when I interact with the audience, they see new things about their everyday world that make them smile. It's a release."

Plans for a network sitcom are in the process, but for now Collins gets pleasure from spreading laughter and being a dedicated family man residing in California with his wife and two young children.

Bobby Collins will be at Ocean State Theatre on Sunday, August 17 at 7:30 pm. The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. A limited number of VIP tickets, which include a post show meet and greet with Bobby Collins, are available for $40. All other tickets are $25 and are on sale at the box office Monday through Friday from 12 noon - 6:00 pm and Saturdays from 12 noon - 4:00 pm. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800.