All - Star Comedy Lineup led by Rick Shapiro & Artie Lange
ALL-STAR COMEDY LINEUP, LED BY RICK SHAPIRO & ARTIE LANGE, ‘CRAWLS’ ACROSS MANHATTAN TO BENEFIT
LIGHT OF DAY FOUNDATION DURING WINTERFEST 2015
New York City’s Role Significantly Increases in Light of Day’s
Global Battle Against Parkinson’s Disease as Live Comedy
adds Laughs while 150+ Music Acts Converge on NJ & NYC
for 11-Day Festival’s 15th Anniversary Celebration, starting Jan. 9.
STAND UP NY, NEW YORK COMEDY CLUB, AND COMEDY CELLAR @ VILLAGE UNDERGROUND
TO HOST NYC COMEDY CLUB CRAWL FUNDRAISER – TUE., JAN. 13
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
“Let’s do it, people.” – ArtistDirect.com
NEW YORK (Jan. 5, 2014) – New York City’s role in the Light of Day Foundation’s global battle against Parkinson’s Disease is expanding significantly for the 15th anniversary LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015 with the addition of the NYC COMEDY CLUB CRAWL FUNDRAISER, led by the first comedian to publicly state he is fighting and beating Parkinson’s disease, RICK SHAPIRO, and very special guest ARTIE LANGE, Tuesday, Jan. 13 at three of Manhattan’s top comedy venues.
The NYC COMEDY CLUB CRAWL FUNDRAISER - starting uptown at Stand Up NY (7 p.m.), moving to Midtown at New York Comedy Club (9 p.m.) and wrapping downtown at the Comedy Cellar at The Village Underground (11pm). – is the second Manhattan event to be announced for the New Jersey-based LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015. Manhattan also is home to LIGHT OF DAY NEW YORK CITY, Wednesday, Jan. 14 at the Cutting Room, starring Suzanne Vega, Joe D’Urso & 
Stone Caravan, John Eddie, Dramarama’s John Easdale, and Greg Trooper.
The NYC COMEDY CLUB CRAWL FUNDRAISER is bringing together an all-volunteer, all-star lineup of some of�New York’s funniest comics for the six-hour cross-town standup comedy event. Joining Shapiro and Lange will be Jim Gaffigan, Rich Vos, Robert Kelly, Todd Barry, Big Jay Oakerson, Greer Barnes, Mike Bocchetti, Kurt Metzger, Bonnie McFarlane, Godfrey, Mike Vecchione, Shang Forbes, and host�Joey Gay. More comedians continue to sign on and will be announced soon.
Tickets are all reserved seating and on sale NOW for LIGHTOF DAY WINTERFEST 2015: NEW YORK CITY COMEDY CRAWL FUNDRAISER, at $30 per venue. Tickets for Stand Up NY, 236 W. 78th St. (betw. Broadway & Amsterdam), are available at www.standupny.com, or call 212.595.0850. Showtime is 7 p.m. (with mandatory 6:30 arrival). Tickets for New York Comedy Club, 241 E. 24th St. (between 2nd & 3rd), are available at www.newyorkcomedyclub.com, or call 212.696.5233.Tickets for the Comedy Cellar at The Village Underground. 130 W. 3rd St. (betw. 6th & Macdougal) are available at www.comedycellar.com/the-village-underground, or call 212.254.3480.
Shapiro, one of comedy’s most innovative and surreal artists, has maintained a multi-faceted career since his 2013 Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and refuses to slow down. He’s an extraordinary example of determination, strength and perseverance, and an inspiration to all in overcoming stereotypes and assumptions about Parkinson’s.
“It’s a new life force, a new way of choice,” says Shapiro. “The physical hand I’ve been dealt forces me not only to play my hand, but to realize I HAVE hands. It’s unbelievable. Parkinson’s can be laughed at, and I’ve found it to be a damn joke. It’s a riot.”
The evening is being organized by Shapiro and his wife and manager, Tracy DeMarzo. Shapiro is a 30-year comedy stage veteran and master of long-form comedy and improv who, aside from stand-up, can be seen currently on the hit show MARON on IFC. An actor, comedian, author, poet, and painter, Shapiro is known for playing Louis C.K.’s brother-in-law, Jerry, on HBO’s Lucky Louie and�appeared in Louis CK’s movie Pootie Tang, plus the film Project X, and both TV series’ 2 BROKE GIRLS and The League.
The benefit fundraiser has been set up to make it easy for fans and supporters to attend as many of the shows as they want. Shapiro, Lange and the evening’s host, Joey Gay, will be performing AT ALL THREE VENUES.
All proceeds benefit the Light of Day Foundation, which uses the power of music – and now comedy – to raise money and awareness in its continuing battle to defeat Parkinson’s disease and related illnesses.
***
LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015: NYC COMEDY CLUB CRAWL FUNDRAISER
TUESDAY, JAN. 13
STOP # 1: Stand Up NY - 236 W. 78th St. (betw. Broadway & Amsterdam)
Starring Rick Shapiro & Artie Lange
Host: Joey Gay
Also Appearing: Shang Forbes, Kurt Metzger, Mike Vecchione, Godfrey
Showtime: 7 p.m. (mandatory 6:30 p.m. arrival)
Tickets: $30 at www.standupny.com, or call 212.595.0850.
STOP #2: New York Comedy Club - 241 E. 24th St. (between 2nd & 3rd)
Starring Rick Shapiro & Artie Lange
Host: Joey Gay
Also Appearing: Jim Gaffigan, Rich Vos, Bonnie McFarlane, Greer Barnes, Big Jay Oakerson, Mike Bocchetti
Tickets: $30 at www.newyorkcomedyclub.com, or call 212.696.5233.
STOP #3: Comedy Cellar at The Village Underground. 130 W. 3rd St. (betw. 6th & Macdougal)
Starring Rick Shapiro & Artie Lange
Host: Joey Gay
Also Appearing: Robert Kelly, Todd Barry, and surprise guests
Tickets $30 at www.comedycellar.com/the-village-underground, or call 212.254.3480.
***
With a goal of bringing in a record half million dollars for its 15th anniversary edition, LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST, raised a record $425,000 to combat Parkinson’s disease last year alone, by far the most of any previous year. In honor of this 15thanniversary, the push is on to exceed a half million dollars, bringing the 15-year total above $3 million.
Bob Benjamin, an artist manager and music industry veteran, has been living with Parkinson’s since 1996, two years before he co-founded Light of Day with concert promoter Tony Pallagrosi and musician Joe D’Urso. Benjamin put together the first fundraiser show on his 40th birthday at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank, NJ, and raised $2,000. From that small event, the LIGHT OF DAY Foundation was born in 2000. Benjamin named the Foundation after the Springsteen anthem.
LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST has gained international acclaim for surprise performances by Bruce Springsteen in 10 of the previous 14 years, including last year’s event, and always at the Paramount since “The Main Event” was added to the festivities.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR THESE LIGHT OF DAY EVENTS, TOO!
Tickets are on sale NOW for LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST NYC 2015, starring Suzanne Vega with Dramarama’s John Easdale, John Eddie and His Dirty Ol’ Band, Joe D’Urso and Stone Caravan, and more to be announced, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015 at the Cutting Room, 44 E. 32nd St., NYC. Tickets are $45 for General Admission Seats; $75 for Limited VIP Upfront Table Seats. Doors 6 p.m.; Show time 7 p.m. For info and tickets, call (212) 691-1900 or go to www.thecuttingroomnyc.com.
In Asbury Park, tickets are on sale NOW for the Asbury Park portion of LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015, where the bulk of the action will occur, being held Jan. 11-19, 2015 at such fabled rock venues as the Stone Pony and the Wonder Bar, among others. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com), Ticketmaster charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and all Ticketmaster outlets (including select Walmart stores). A wide variety of combination ticket packages – as well as single tickets to each show – are available.
Tickets are on sale NOW for LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015 – NORTH JERSEY, and LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015 – SOUTH JERSEY. Light of Day WinterFest 2015 – South Jersey, starring Dramarama’s John Easdale, Joe D’Urso & Stone Caravan, Stone Baby, Ben Arnold, Soraia, and NYTROUS, hosted by radio legend Michael Tearson (Sirius XM), will be held Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 at Hebe Music Lounge at Big Shots Bar and Grill, 835 Route 130 South, Burlington, NJ. Tickets are $10 in advance; $14 day of show at Brown Paper tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com. More info at www.hebemusic.com. Light of Day WinterFest 2015 – North Jersey, a Songwriter’s Circle starring Willie Nile (just added!), Garland Jeffreys, James Maddock, Steve Conte (New York Dolls guitarist), and Joe D’Urso, will be held Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 at Outpost in the Burbs @ Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 67 Church St., Montclair, NJ. Tickets are $35 in advance; $40 at the door; $75 VIP at Outpost Ticketleap, www.outpost.ticketleap.com, and all other Outpost in the Burbs ticket outlets. More info at www.outpostintheburbs.org.
ABOUT THE LIGHT OF DAY FOUNDATION
The Light of Day Foundation, Inc., utilizes the power of music to raise money and awareness in its continuing battle to defeat Parkinson’s disease and related illnesses such as PSP and ALS within our lifetime. The Foundation’s mission is to fund research into possible cures, improved treatments and support for patients who suffer from those illnesses, their families and their caregivers to help improve their quality of life. Gifts to the Light of Day Foundation, Inc. are tax-deductible to the full extent of the Internal Revenue Code. The Light of Day Foundation, Inc. is designated by the IRS as a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization. The Light of Day Foundation, Inc.'s Federal ID # is 20-1560386. Light of Day - the concerts and the organization - grew from a birthday party and fund-raiser held in 1998 at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank to celebrate the 40th birthday of artist manager and music industry veteran Bob Benjamin, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1996.
More information on Light of Day Foundation at www.lightofday.org
More on Rick Shapiro at www.rickshapiro.tv
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Light of Day would like to thank all of the performers who have dedicated their talents for supporting our fight against Parkinson's.
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