
Sheryl Underwood to Host Grand Opening Celebration for The Laff House Atlantic City Comedy Club
PHILADELPHIA’S LEGENDARY THE LAFF HOUSE COMEDY CLUB LAUNCHES A NEW ERA IN ATLANTIC CITY AT CAESARS PIER, FORMERLY THE PLAYGROUND
EMMY AWARD WINNING TALK SHOW HOST AND COMEDIAN SHERYL UNDERWOOD AND COMEDIAN DAVID RAIBON TO HOST COMEDY HOMECOMING CELEBRATION ON APRIL 1, 2025
Powerhouse Comedy Entrepreneur Rod Millwood, Renowned for Launching the Careers of Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, Deon Cole, Michael Blackson and Others Opens First Full-Service Atlantic City Boardwalk Comedy Club
Atlantic City, New Jersey (January 17, 2024) — The legendary Laff House Comedy Club, a groundbreaking entertainment destination, famous for delivering the right blend of iconic and emerging talent, has found a new home in Atlantic City at Caesars Pier (formerly The Playground). A South Philadelphia staple, and one of the only venues in the city dedicated to urban comedy, the club is recognized as the launchpad for Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, Deon Cole and others who had their first shot at stand-up comedy stardom at the Laff House, cementing its place as a cultural cornerstone in stand-up history.
Rod Millwood, CEO and owner of the Laff House brand and founder of the original venue along with his late wife and business partner Mona Wilkerson, has partnered with Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City to bring the first full-service comedy club to the city.
Renamed The Laff House Atlantic City Comedy Club, Powered by Java Monster Coffee & Energy, the venue will celebrate its new location and new era with a grand opening celebration on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, hosted by the acclaimed stand-up comedian and Emmy Award-winning host of The Talk, Sheryl Underwood. Underwood will host the “Comedy Homecoming” festivities on April 1, welcoming to the stage a who’s who of stand-up headliners from Millwood’s past and across the comedy spectrum to join the celebration, christening the new stage for the next phase of this revered venue. More celebration guest names will be announced in the coming months. Comedian and actor David Raibon (Snowfall, Insecure, Ballers) will co-host the festivities with Underwood.
Underwood’s connection to the Laff House goes back to 1997, when Millwood booked the comedian at the original Laff House, building a connection that grew over the years.
“The original Laff House started out as a labor of love for myself and Mona, centered around creating a thriving, independent, Black-owned business in South Philadelphia. And then it became an important cultural touchstone for the community and a platform to introduce the next generation of comedians. Mona wasn’t only my wife, she was my partner, my inspiration. When she passed away, she made me promise to open the club again. Twelve years later, I’m honored and thankful to reopen the club in Atlantic City on Mona’s birthday. With the one and only Sheryl Underwood hosting the fabulous homecoming celebration, it’s going to be a great party,” said Rod Millwood, founder, owner and CEO, The Laff House Atlantic City Comedy Club.
Sheryl Underwood commented, “Rod Millwood is the perfect person to own a comedy club. He cares deeply about supporting comedians and strengthening the stand-up comedy community. I am so thrilled that he is honoring his beloved wife Mona by continuing the legacy of the original Laff House Comedy club in Atlantic City. I’m calling all stand-up comics, family, friends and fans to join me at the party on April 1 so we can kick-off this grand opening right!”
The Laff House Atlantic City Comedy Club is located at ACX1 Studios, the Entertainment Pier at Caesars. The newly built space accommodates up to 300 hundred attendees and is a living museum, filled with a variety of memorabilia from the beloved original venue – photos and promotional cards of the celebrated comedians that graced the stage. An on-site kitchen, led by celebrity Chef Wenford Patrick Simpson offers guests a specially curated menu exclusively for The Laff House that can be ordered via a proprietary app, LAFF EXPRESS, before the comedians start their sets.
The original Laff House opened in 1997 in Philadelphia on South Street, founded and run by Rod and Mona. It grew to become a popular comedy destination that showcased new comedians such as Bill Burr, Eddie Griffin, Don “DC” Curry, Sheryl Underwood, Michael Blackson, Lisa Lampanelli, Gary Owens, Lawrence Killebrew, Mike Epps, and J.B. Smoove, just to name a few.
With Millwood’s eye for talent, it was the Laff House stage that helped develop these now renowned names, along with hundreds of emerging comedians who had an opportunity to make audiences laugh in a top market. A Philadelphia native, Kevin Hart’s first stand-up performance took place at the Laff House in 2006. The Laff House was one of the few venues that democratized stand up and offered a stage where comedians of all types and backgrounds could hone their skills at mom-and-pop and independently owned clubs. Opportunities were given based on talent, unlike more commercial clubs where comedians needed to prove they could draw an audience, which often excluded Black, Asian, Latino and women comedians.
When the club closed in 2013 after Mona’s passing in 2012 from ovarian cancer, it left a void in Philadelphia’s comedy scene. But more tragically, Mona’s death left a permanent hole in Rod’s heart, developing into a deep depression, which was compounded by financial troubles.
Fast forward to 2025 – The comedians who first appeared at the Laff House as relative unknowns are now superstars. Kevin Hart is a global A-list celebrity and entrepreneur, selling out arenas and starring in films opening at #1 at the box office, Bill Burr, Mike Epps, Deon Cole, Eddie Griffin, Lisa Lampanelli and Michael Blackson have very successful stand-up and acting careers. Sheryl Underwood parlayed her successful stand-up career to become a prominent businesswoman, philanthropist and multi-faceted entrepreneur. Most notably, she is the Daytime Emmy Award-winning host of the talk show The Talk, which recently completed its 15-season run.
Twelve years since closing the Laff House, after grieving the loss of his dear wife and dealing with his own health challenges, Millwood is ready to launch his new space as a premiere entertainment venue for Atlantic City and eastern seaboard residents and Caesars global visitors alike, a showcase to discover the next generation of comedians along with current headliners.
For more information on The Laff House, go to www.thelaffhouseatlanticcity.com and follow the club on Instagram