DELRAY BEACH – The Applause Planner loves great comedy shows.
When those shows also benefit a good cause? The Applause Planner is all over it.
Thursday’s Stand Up For Hope show at the Palm Beach Improv is just such a show.
Local comic Mike Panzeca is producing and co-headlining this show. Al Romero, who teams with Panzeca on the Stand Up Radio Guy podcast is the other headliner. Money raised from the show – Panzeca says that through sponsorships they are quickly approaching $20,000 – will benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The show begins at 8 p.m.
A conversation Panzeca had with Alan Mednick and Miranda Kahn sparked the idea for this show. Both Mednick and Kahn, co-hosts of the RealConvo television show and podcast, lost close family members to suicide and were looking to create a fundraising show that would benefit AFSP.
“I was like, why don’t we do a comedy show at the Improv?” said Penzeca, who is also a mental health counselor.
The Improv provided the facility. Mednick and Kahn helped find sponsors. And Panzeca says all money generated by ticket sales ($35 general admission, $55 VIP, $16 via Zoom) will be donated to the AFSP.
As funny as Panzeca and Romero figure to be, the most interesting comic of the night might be Alan Craig. After losing his daughter in the Parkland High School shooting, Craig enrolled in a comedy class taught by Panzeca as a means of beating depression.
“He came on the RealConvo show with me and shared his personal experience and I thought, Wouldn’t it be great if he performed on the show?” Panzeca said.
Craig is expected to perform for 10 minutes. Perry Sak serves as show host.
“Perry’s a local guy,” Panzeca said. “Everyone loves Perry.”
Applause Planner – Plan On It
House Party Comedy Show – Monday, May 24, The Whistle Stop
Matt Bellak launched this who one week prior. On May 24 it’s back with an even stronger lineup that includes John Loveless, Jackie Sanchez, Riley Edward, Kolin Bohannon and Charly Esturihlo. Admission is free. This could become a solid destination on the first and third Mondays of each month.
Dean Napolitano – Wednesday May 26, Palm Beach Improv
This is the second of three Palm Beach County shows for Napolitano in the span of three weeks. Napolitano was his usual killer self at the Sadman Speakeasy in last week’s Applause Planner Pick of the Week. There’s no reason to expect him to be anything other than awesome this week.
Joe Bartnick – Thursday, May 27, The Biergarten
Bartnick isn’t yet a household name, but with a touring gig opening for Bill Burr he may soon be. James Comacho is also slated to perform on this show, with David Sadman hosting. As always, expect a special guest or two…
MurphChuck Comedy Show – Friday, May 28, Pompano Beach Brewing Company
Charly Esturihlo has grown this show into a nice way to spend – or kick off – a Friday night. New York-based comic James Comacho headlines this show, with Rob Smiles and Chris Robinson featuring. Eli Rodriguez and Raul Perez are also scheduled to perform, as is Esturihlo himself. For those looking to imbibe, the milk stout is deliciously light.
Greg Hahn – Friday May 28, Lake Park Black Box
Once a high schooler in Boca Raton, Hahn is back in South Florida for two shows this weekend. The Friday night show is in Lake Park. Saturday he’s at the Boca Black Box. There’s a reason no comic wants to follow Hahn on stage. He’s full of energy and hilarity.
