May 7–If laughter is the best medicine, Paul Anthony may have just the prescription for Long Island families and a local charity.
For the second year, he’s bringing Kids ‘n Comedy to the Long Island Comedy Festival in a benefit for the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, which provides services for families of hospitalized children. The best part about the festival, Anthony said, is that it’s produced by “kid” comedians for kids. After selling out last year’s single show, the Massapequa producer has scheduled three shows for this year. On May 30, the stand-up comedians, who are 13 to 17 years old, will perform three shows: at noon and 1:30 p.m. at the Long Island Children’s Museum in East Garden City, and at 4:30 p.m. at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson. “A lot of kids are sitting at home lately listening to mom and dad complain about how bad things are. Yes, they’re bad, but sometimes you’ve just got to go out and have some fun. This is the mission this year, to show you still gotta have a sense of humor — and it’s good for you,” Anthony said. He said he chose the Ronald McDonald House because of friends who used its services a few years ago. Children will especially appreciate this kid-centered event, Anthony said. “Yeah this is a fundraiser, and we’re promoting Kids ‘n Comedy,” he said, “but the whole point is to empower kids to feel good about themselves . . they get to talk to comedians, take pictures after the show. These comedians are joking about things kids can relate to, and it’s absolutely hilarious.” One of the comedians is Andrew Vatier, 14, of Douglaston, a ninth-grader at St. Mary’s College Preparatory High School in Manhasset. His routine, Vatier said, includes a lot of “parent” jokes. “One joke I’ve been using for a couple years is that my mom has multiple personalities: There’s [a] person you see in public, and there’s the personality that only I see. Everyone can relate to a mom a lot of people will say, ‘My mom does the same thing.’ ” There will be three other acts this year: Matt Bond, 17, of Short Hills, N.J. Ryan Drum, 14, of Montvale, N.J. and Rachel Kaly, 13, of Forest Hills. The comedians are all students at Kids ‘n Comedy, a troupe based at the Gotham Comedy Club in Manhattan that uses professional comedians to teach kids ages 8 to 16. And for kids in the audience who won’t sit for stand-up, a portion of each show will allow a few children to try out a joke on the crowd.
Anthony said Kids ‘n Comedy raised $2,000 last year for the Ronald McDonald House, and this year it hopes to raise $10,000. Tickets for the benefit are $15 a person, and discounts coupons are available at area McDonald’s locations. For more information, visit LIcomedyFest .com or call the Long Island Children’s Museum, 516-224-5868, or Theatre Three, 631-928-9100.