THEATRE + COMEDY

Verizon Wireless Theater presents the Lies Chelsea Handler Told Me Tour (with Heather, Josh & Brad). Support artists: Heather McDonald, Josh Wolf and Brad Wollack.

Wildly successful comedian Chelsea Handler, known for shaking up the television, literary and stand up world with her outrageous brand of comedy is at it again with the announcement of her 2011 comedy tour - LIES THAT CHELSEA HANDLER TOLD ME. The all new tour comes on the heels of her sold out 2010 Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang smash tour which was extended three times, drawing more than 250,000 fans in 44 markets and grossing more than $16 million.

Brad Wollack, Josh Wolf and Heather McDonald, friends and regulars on her hit show Chelsea Lately, will join Handler for the 19 date stand-up tour set to kick off on May 10th in Boston.

Chelsea Handler has one of the most exciting careers in entertainment with a resume that includes bestselling author, talk show host, comedian, and actress to name a few. Chelsea is a permanent fixture in pop culture as she continues to build a multiplatform media empire. In July 2007, Chelsea broke into the world of late-night talk shows with her E! Entertainment series, “Chelsea Lately,” airing weeknights at 11:00 p.m.

Consistently one of the network’s highest-rated programs, “Chelsea Lately” offers a tongue-in-cheek look at entertainment news, celebrity truths and rumors that just won't die, along with other hot topics of the day. Bringing refreshing new energy to and redefining perceptions of the talk show, “Chelsea Lately” is an authentic and hilarious commentary on the celebrity culture around us. Both Handler and the show have also been recognized as pioneers in late night with the show boasting five female writers to account for half of its writing staff. This is unprecedented in the late night arena that has historically been dominated by male hosts and writers.

Capitalizing on the continued success of “Chelsea Lately”, Chelsea Handler now brings audiences a new show, “After Lately”, which premieres March 6th on E! The semi-scripted show will follow the outside lives of the original series’ stars including Chelsea, Chuy Bravo, as well as those who write for and appear regularly on Chelsea’s show. Made to feel like a true reality show, each episode is outlined (a la CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM) and draws upon the entirely ridiculous – yet absolutely real – stories, events and people encompassing the world of “Chelsea Lately”. Going behind the camera on yet another TV project, Chelsea will also be an executive producer on a scripted series currently in development at NBC that will be based on her second bestselling book, Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea.

On September 12, 2010, Handler brought a refreshing new energy to the most important evening in music and pop culture as host of 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. She hit the stage as the first female to take on the role since Rosanne Barr in 1994. Handler’s gender, however, was not the only ground breaking characteristic of her performance—the 2010 VMAs had both the highest rating and viewership since 2002.

For the past two years, Chelsea has ventured back into the primetime arena to host a one hour program, “Chelsea’s Big Interview Special”. Now an annual primetime event on E!, “Chelsea’s Big Interview Special” has included in depth interviews with some of Hollywood’s biggest names including Demi Moore, Robin Wright-Penn, and Bradley Cooper as well as Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Christina Aguilera.

In addition to her wildly successful television series, Chelsea is also one of the leading nonfiction authors in publishing. Publisher’s Weekly recently named Chelsea one of “the clear winners for the year” with both Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea and Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang among the top ten highest-selling nonfiction books of 2010. Her first book, entitled My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands, published by Bloomsbury, was released in the U.S. and over twenty other countries to become a bestseller for several weeks running. Her second book, Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea, published by Simon Spotlight, debuted at #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list in 2008 followed by Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, published by Grand Central Publishing, in March of last year. On March 28th, 2010, Chelsea’s three books held the #1, #2, and #3 spots on the New York Times’ Best Seller lists simultaneously.

In November of last year, Grand Central Publishing signed Chelsea for her own imprint “Borderline Amazing/A Chelsea Handler Book”. Chelsea is currently signed on to pen three books for the imprint, the first of which titled Lies Chelsea Told Me hits book shelves May 10th, 2011. The second title, still in its preliminary stages, will be written through the eyes of Chelsea’s affable dog, Chunk. The third book is undecided at this time.

As one of the nation’s most acclaimed and cutting edge comedians, Chelsea is equally well-known for a unique comedic style that combines fearless honesty, ironic riffs and self-deprecations – with no shortage of material. This past year, Chelsea partnered with Live Nation for her “Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang” comedy tour sponsored by Belvedere Vodka. Due to high demand and several sold out venues, Live Nation extended the tour three times since its launch last March. Chelsea has performed 64 shows in 44 markets across the United States and in Canada. The “Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang” tour sold over 250,000 tickets total to become one of the highest grossing of 2010.

In May, Chelsea will once again hit the road for her second tour with Live Nation – this time with the Comedians of Chelsea Lately in tow – and will be based on her latest collection of riotous stories. The tour currently has shows scheduled in the top 20 markets across the US with tickets going on sale February 18th.