Natasha Leggero's bio reads like this: For those of you who don't know, Natasha is a glamorous comedian who used to answer phones in a brothel. She was born to a used car dealer and a belly dancer. She sassed her way out of her parents' house and into foster care where she drove a bus to pay for her French kissing lessons.
And she then traveled east where she married her first wife, Lisa. Her comedic bio goes on to say that her life changed when a tourist showed her a clip from the "Maury Povich" show and she realized she could get rich by making fun of poor people. Leggero wandered to Hollywood where she became a comedian. And she is now available for parties. If that doesn't grab your attention, I don't know what will.
But Leggero and fellow comedian Tammy Pescatelli will be bringing their brand of comedy to Atlantis this weekend. And Pescatelli is apparently the kind of woman you wish was your sister or your best friend because like a good sister, it's said she's always ready with a good joke or lively quip, having grown up in a large Italian household. Pescatelli will take to the stage tonight in the Atlantis Theatre, at 9:30 p.m. Leggero takes to the stage on Saturday night.
The comedian's performances are a part of a huge three-day affair at the Atlantis this weekend known as "Pink It In Paradise," a charity event to bring awareness and raise funds to benefit breast cancer initiatives in The Bahamas. The weekend, which kicks off today, will also include a zumbathon with the creator of Zumba, Bob Perez and celebrity Zumba instructor, Heidy Torres. The duo will lead an hour-and-a-half long zumbathon on Saturday, October 6 at 6 p.m. The event is complimentary for hotel guests. A special rate of $25 is being offered to local residents, which can be reduced to $15 with the purchase of a ticket to the comedy shows.
"Pink It In Paradise" closes out on Sunday with a "Blush Brunch" from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Coral Towers pool that will be turned pink for the day. With a pink champagne fountain flowing, deejays sporting pink hair and pink and white beach balls everywhere, it will be a totally pinked out affair to end the weekend. Tickets for the brunch are $49, inclusive of gratuity. "I was tasked to come up with a charity event that [Atlantis] as a company we could do to benefit The Bahamas.
In doing research we found out that The Bahamas has the highest incidence of inherited breast cancer in the world because there is a certain gene that is more rampant in Bahamian people; so that said, we thought that's what we should champion. We contacted Susan G. Komen and pitched an idea that instead of just doing a one-off activity or a run, to promote a healthy lifestyle, we came up with 'Pink It In Paradise' -- you can walk it, create it and rock it," said Pam Petcash, senior director of special events guest activities at Atlantis.
In an extra spin to the weekend, people can also opt to walk it, create it and rock it for $30 -- $10 from the total goes to Susan G. Komen which donates the money to a Bahamian charity. Participants receive an activity bag, with a T-shirt, and a pedometer to count your steps, which comprises the walk it portion of the affair. They also receive kirigami paper craft that they can put together, which comprises the creative part. The rock it part entails climbing Climber's Rush, with a special pink token given to the people that complete the climb. "In putting this altogether we started talking with special events and they said this is phenomenal, so Komen ended up coming and doing training for the Atlantean team, so that the people hosting the activities, know how to handle the situation.
That said, it started snowballing and special events said we needed to do a launch, bring in two female comedians, and 15 percent of ticket sales would go to Komen... then food and beverage wanted to get involved," she said. Through the weekend's activities, Petcash said they want people to be educated and made more aware and to change the mindset of people and help them realize that breast cancer does not mean death. "If you start with early screenings and if it [breast cancer] is detected early enough, you don't even necessarily need a mastectomy. You don't need to die," she said.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
