1/5/2009
Center Stage will present the finest in live comedy, music and alternative programming, kicking-off with a weekly live comedy program featuring nationally recognized veterans of comedy from The Comedy Zone™.

WARWICK, Rhode Island—January 5, 2009—National Amusements, a world-leader in the motion picture exhibition industry, today announced the launch of Center Stage at Showcase Cinemas Warwick, Rhode Island, a unique live entertainment destination located in a movie-theatre. The Center Stage concept was created to provide guests with the best in alternative programming including live comedy and music, and is one of the many programs National Amusements is developing to transform their theatres into community entertainment destinations.

Center Stage was created by converting one of the existing movie auditoriums into a lively entertainment destination. The venue seats approximately 245 guests, and features a mix of cabaret-style seating with dining tables and comfortable chairs as well as stadium seating, offering guests a full view of center stage in an intimate setting. Before and during the show, guests can also enjoy dining on a wide selection of foods offered on the Center Stage menu, from appetizers, a variety of sandwiches and everyone’s favorite standbys pizza and hamburgers, to decadent desserts and concessions, as well as a selection of specialty cocktails, wines, premium, imported and domestic beers.

“National Amusements is committed to providing our patrons with the best in entertainment,” said Shari Redstone, president of National Amusements. “In addition to a quality movie-going experience, we now also want to offer our guests the best live alternative programming available. We are pleased to launch the first of our Center Stage live entertainment venues with the best in comedy provided by Brian Heffron’s The Comedy Zone™ and look forward to rolling out this concept to other locations.”

Kicking-off the venues performance schedule is The Comedy Zone™ @ Center Stage Warwick, a weekly, live comedy program featuring nationally recognized veterans of comedy, straight from appearances on programs like Jay Leno, Letterman, HBO, and Comedy Central. Talent for the performances is provided by Heffron Talent International’s (HTI) The Comedy Zone™.

HTI is the largest and most respected full service entertainment agency in the country and creators of The Comedy Zone™, the largest comedy club network in America.

“Heffron Talent and The Comedy Zone enthusiastically look forward to partnering with National Amusements on this revolutionary project,” said Brian Heffron, president of HTI/The Comedy Zone.

The ninety-minute show will feature an emcee, a featured comedian and the headliner, and will take place every Friday at 8:00 pm and Saturday nights at 8:00 pm and 10:15 pm beginning January 16th and 17th, 2009 with Dale Jones as the headliner and featuring Paul Hooper. (See attached schedule for dates and performers.) Guests can also look forward to participating in upcoming events like a local comedy contest, when National Amusements will search for Rhode Island’s funniest stand-up and introduce the Clean Comedy Series.

Admission for the performances is $10 and seating is on a first come, first-seated basis. (Note: Persons under 18 years old are not admitted, and note that the program may include adult language and content.)

Tickets for all performances at Showcase Cinemas Warwick can be purchased in advance at the theatre, by phone at telephone number 800-315-4000 or online at www.nationalamusements.com. Customers who purchase their tickets online can also take advantage of the print at-home ticketing option. The auditorium is also available for private events, and with its flexible design can accommodate a variety of corporate events, parties, and conferences. For group sales or more information about the venue, please contact: Kate Leach, kleach@nationalamusements.com, telephone: 401-453-4446 x201.

Providing experiences like The Comedy Zone @ Center Stage is just one of the many ways that National Amusements is transforming the movie-going experience by developing and introducing exciting alternative entertainment experiences. The company is focused on expanding programming making its theatres a community entertainment destination for everyone to enjoy.

About National Amusements, Inc.

National Amusements, Inc., is a world leader in the motion picture exhibition industry operating more than 1,500 screens in the U.S., U.K., Latin America and Russia. National Amusements delivers a superior entertainment experience in theatres around the world under its Showcase, Multiplex, Cinema de Lux, and KinoStar brands. Based in Dedham, Massachusetts, National Amusements is a closely held company operating under the third generation of leadership by the Redstone family. National Amusements is also an equal partner in the online ticketing service, MovieTickets.com, and is the parent company of both Viacom and CBS Corporation.

About Heffron Talent International, Inc.

Heffron Talent International (HTI) is the largest and most respected full service entertainment agency in the country. Specializing in, but not limited to, the promotion of live comedy events HTI has over 35 years of experience in the industry. As one of the pioneers in the entertainment field, HTI establishes customized products for all of its extensive clientele. The most popular product is The Comedy Zone™.

The Comedy Zone has grown from its humble beginnings to become the largest comedy club network in America. In 2007, HTI contracted over 3000 comedians for the 100+ venues that are part of The Comedy Zone Network and the numerous military installations, universities, and corporate clients it represents. From a concept created to help clubs and lounges promote off-nights, The Comedy Zone, has grown to the point where, for many venues, their one or two nights of comedy represent their biggest nights of the week

Media Contacts:

National Amusements

Wanda Whitson

781-461-1600 ext. 336

wwhitson@nationalamusements.com

Heffron Talent International/Comedy Zone:

Brian Heffron

comedyheff@aol.com

Tel: 704-295-4242

The schedule for Comedy Zone at Center Stage Warwick is as follows: (Bios and photos available)

Friday, January 16, 2009 8:00PM

Saturday, January 17, 2009 8:00PM and 10:15PM

Dale Jones

Paul Hooper

Friday, January 23, 2009 8:00PM

Saturday, January 24, 2009 8:00PM and 10:15PM

Shaun Jones

Mike Speanberg

Friday, January 30, 2009 8:00PM

Saturday, January 31, 2009 8:00PM and 10:15PM

TBA

Jon D. Miller

Friday, February 6, 2009 8:00PM

Saturday, February 7, 2009 8:00PM and 10:15PM

Al Ernst

Tim Homayoon

Friday, February 13, 2009 8:00PM

Saturday, February 14, 2009 8:00PM and 10:15PM

Paul Lyons

TBA

Friday, February 20, 2009 8:00PM

Saturday, February 21, 2009 8:00PM and 10:15PM

Mike Siscoe

Averell Carter

Friday, February 27, 2009 8:00PM

Saturday, February 28, 2009 8:00PM and 10:15PM

Mutzie

Ralph Tetta

Friday, March 6, 2009 8:00PM

Saturday, March 7, 2009 8:00PM and 10:15PM

TBA

Drew Thomas

Friday, March 13, 2009 8:00PM

Saturday, March 14, 2009 8:00PM and 10:15PM

Tony Daro

TBA