Kathy Griffin returns to Milwaukee PrideFest

Milwaukee, WI - For PrideFest organizers, once just isn't enough, especially when it comes to the amazingly funny, frequently controversial, and unashamedly self-promoting Kathy Griffin. Apparently she agrees, and has granted PrideFest exclusivity in the Midwest Region as the go-to stop on her spring 2010 tour. The last time Griffin played in this region, she sold out a record four nights at the Chicago Theatre. She returns to PrideFest Milwaukee on June 11, 2010 as the Friday night headliner on the Miller Lite Mainstage.

(ChicagoPride.com Members: Exclusive presale information and code below.)

After first gaining recognition for several appearances on the comedy series, Seinfeld, Chicago native Kathy Griffin moved on to NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan, and followed that up with countless voice-over works, television appearances and film roles before finding her niche as a stand up comedienne with the 1998 HBO One-Hour Special, "A Hot Cup of Talk".

For the last several years, she has produced and starred in the Bravo reality show hit Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List. The first three seasons were each nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Program. Seasons three and four won that prize back-to-back in September of 2007 (just three months after her first PrideFest appearance!) and 2008. She has also worked as a red carpet commentator, not to mention her highly entertaining New Year's Eve special with Anderson Cooper.

Griffin has received Grammy nods for Best Comedy Album in both 2008 and 2009, and became a national best seller for her 2009 autobiography, Official Book Club Selection. And in January of this year, Griffin celebrated the release of her DVD Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch. Next month, she appears on NBC's "Law and Order SVU" as a gay activist who works with detectives after a woman from a lesbian community is found dead. The episode airs March 3 at 10 p.m.

Her style and favorite celebrity topics —like plastic surgery, Scientology, drunkenness, substance abuse, snooty attitudes, eating disorders, and stars' disputed sexual orientations—are rumored to be the root of a number of controversies. Some of these controversies have had her banned from several talk shows. PrideFest, however, isn't afraid.

"When we signed her to headline PrideFest in 2007, we thought we were pretty fortunate," said Entertainment Director David Charpentier. "To have her return and for it to be an exclusive performance is pretty amazing."

Griffin, an outspoken supporter for LGBT rights, including same-sex marriage, protested against Prop 8, and volunteered for the LA Gay and Lesbian Center's "Vote for Equality" campaign. She also has been a long-time supporter of the Aid For AIDS annual fundraiser, Best In Drag Show in Los Angeles, and hosted the opening of the show for more than five years.

For more information on Kathy Griffin, or to check out merchandise and tour dates, visit www.kathygriffin.com.

General Admission and Reserved Seating tickets go on sale March 12 at 10 a.m.

ChicagoPride.com Members have an opportunity to purchase Reserved Seating tickets before the public in an Exclusive Presale Event from Tuesday, March 9 at 10 a.m. (Central) through Thursday, March 11 at 9 p.m. (Central). The exclusive presale password is GOPRIDE. Tickets will be available for presale purchase online (with the GOPRIDE code) at www.pridefest.com beginning Tuesday, March 9 at 10 a.m. (Central).

For more information about PrideFest Milwaukee - June 11-13, or to purchase festival tickets please visit www.pridefest.com.