The creators of the Happy Givemore Comedy Series are taking the adage “laughter is the best medicine” seriously.
Charity meets comedy in this collection of monthly shows that brings in up-and-coming performers from throughout the country to the swanky W Scottsdale Hotel. The idea was dreamed up by Happy Givemore founders Gary Gietz, his wife, Camille, son Dallen and Heather Williams of HG Productions. Gietz put on a celebrity golf classic, naming it after the Adam Sandler film “Happy Gilmore.” After speaking to friends, he wanted to take it one step further and add a comedy show. “As far as I know, something like this doesn’t exist in the Valley, and I don’t even know if it does across the United States,” Gietz said. “The idea of golf is a great thing, so it’s so separate because people play in a group of four or five. For this event, hundreds of people are together in a room, laughing together and doing something good.” Gietz connected with Williams, the former manager of the Tempe Improv. “I had been at the Tempe Improv since 1996 … and was always interested in working with charity,” Williams said. “Before my mom passed away, she had been telling me to go out, do things I want, really want to do, so I resigned after that. I was asked by a friend of mine to be on the committee for the comedy show and develop the concept for it, and thought it was such an amazing idea.” Dallen joined Williams and the two became business partners. With Williams’ connections to the comedy world and Dallen’s vision for the ballroom space, they quickly started plans for the first event.
Deciding which comedians to add to the bill was an important process for Williams.