All-star weekend at Wild Horse Pass features Joan Rivers, Sinbad

Emmy Award-winning talk show host Joan Rivers and one of Comedy Central's top 100 stand-up comedians of all time, Sinbad, are coming to Gila River Casinos' Wild Horse Pass this weekend for two nights of laugh-out-loud comedy.

Sinbad will take the stage this Saturday, June 27, and Rivers is performing on Sunday, June 28. Both shows begin at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m.

Gila River Casinos is opening a new Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino in October and entertainment will be a key element in its success.

"Wild Horse Pass Casino strives to offer fresh performers, which positions us as a premier destination for entertainment in the gaming industry," said Melody Wolcott, public relations manager for Gila River Gaming Enterprises.

Sinbad is known for his appearances in hit movies such as Jingle All the Way, Houseguest and Necessary Roughness. He also starred in the TV sitcom, A Different World and his own series, The Sinbad Show. He has gained many of his fans from his HBO comedy specials, and wrote a self-help book called Sinbad's Guide to Life: (Because I Know Everything).

Besides her success as a talk show host, Rivers is a best-selling author, actress, comedienne and, most recently, the winner of the NBC reality TV show The Celebrity Apprentice. In honor of the 75-year-old American icon's appearance in Arizona, Mayor Phil Gordon has declared June 28 "Joan Rivers Day."

Rivers' performance will follow Steve Ansel and the Jackson Street Band and will include original, mature content such as gossip, music and politically incorrect one-liners.

The event will also include silent and live auctions with the opportunity to bid on memorabilia, such as an autographed microphone, jewelry from Rivers' line of Apprentice Jewelry, and the chance to meet Rivers before the show.

The auctions will benefit Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS, a nonprofit agency in the Southwest that provides prevention, education, wellness, research and community alliances.

"We are honored that Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS will be the beneficiary of this event," said Carol Poore, president and CEO of Southwest Center. "Ms. Rivers is passionate about providing support services to individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS."

For more information, visit www.wingilariver.com. To purchase tickets, go to www.ticketforce.com, call (877) 840-0457 or stop by the Wild Horse Pass gift shop at 5550 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd.

Christina O'Haver is interning this summer for the Ahwatukee Foothills News. She is a sophomore at Arizona State University.