After months of passing brightly colored smiles all over the city, Gilda's Club of Grand Rapids' new comedy event, LaughFest, is finally here.
If you've picked up a schedule or visited the
LaughFest website, then you know already this event has far exceeded everyone's expectations, long before the first acts hit one of the many stages around town.
Those who might question why a non-profit known for cancer support would tackle comedy don't understand the message of Gilda Radner, much less heard of the too-many-to-list medical reports concerning the positive impact of laughter on our well being.
Gilda Radner burst on the scene in the '70s as one of the original cast members of the iconic late night comedy show, Saturday Night Live. The program featured the Not Ready For Prime Time Players performing in skits that often covered topics also not ready for prime time.
As a young boy, I clearly remember my parents' orders not to watch the show, but just like the cookie in the jar on the counter, it took only a few minutes after they were asleep before I would sneak downstairs to watch the 90-minute program.
In hindsight, I'm not sure I would call it watching since in order to avoid getting caught, I would press one ear to the Television speaker as my eyes tried to focus on the then mammoth 19-inch screen only inches away from my face. I am quite sure part of the reason I wear glasses today is because of my late night SNL viewing habits.
But looking back, I would say living that life was worth it because the characters on the screen made us laugh each week as they waltzed with uncommon ease through a variety of antics, including uncomfortable topics.
Of course, for many, we tuned in to see what Gilda would do that week. She was famous for playing characters like the hard-of-hearing (and topically-challenged) Emily Latella, the nerdish teen-in-love Lisa Loopner, too-funny-for-words portrayals of media personalities like Baba Wawa (Barbara Walters) and everyone's favorite broadcaster, Roseanne Roseannadanna.
The people behind LaughFest have kept in mind Gilda's range of characters by booking a diverse group of talented comedic performers to tickle your funny bone. But it doesn't stop there. LaughFest is inviting members of our community to be more than just passive viewers of great comedians at work. They have created a wonderful collection of interactive events utilizing community talent showcases, a laughing yoga event and a dog look-alike contest hosted by Jimmy Le.
Gilda became one of the most celebrated people of comedy, starring on Broadway and making many movies with her husband, Gene Wilder, until her physical time with us would be cut short due to ovarian cancer.
And this is where the story could have ended. But it didn't, as it doesn't for so many who made sure while they were alive that they lived as a part of their community, sharing their life spirit freely with those around them.
Gilda's legacy is more than just the laughter she gave us. Friends and family members close to Gilda would eventually open Gilda's Club -- a place where people with cancer or family and friends dealing with the impact of this disease could receive free support from a community. There are 22 Gilda's Clubs across the country now, with seven more in development.
The comedians on stage during LaughFest will no doubt share their stories and, in doing so, we will have a good laugh. This is not to say all is rosy in their lives. Even on our dark days, and theirs, we can find the space between what was and what is and let the absurdities of it all wash over us.
It is often during hard times that we can find our comic voice and the will to laugh again.
Comedic math is truly a simple equation of tragedy plus time yielding laughter.
The trick is not to give up on seeking that laughter in our lives, not to stop sharing our stories no matter how painful.
I can tell you from personal experience that while in the hospital after my accident, the sight of a gloved nurse saying to me "it either comes out, or I go in," was tragic at the time as I strained to submit, but now I laugh until my seams burst at the thought of almost becoming her finger puppet.
LaughFest will not only lift your spirit, but if medical research holds up, it might just be the cheapest preventative medical treatment around.
"While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die -- whether it is our spirit, our creativity or our glorious uniqueness." -- Gilda Radner
There will be many chances to catch members of Rapid Growth's team out in the city during these next two weeks (including my introduction of Margaret Cho on March 12 at 8:00 p.m.), but our entire staff is especially proud of our Managing Photographer Brian Kelly, whose new comical series of LaughFest portraits is on display at the Fifth Third Bank lobby. See
LaughFestGr.org for all the details.
The Future Needs All of Us (to laugh for the health of it).
Tommy Allen, Lifestyle Editor
Email:
[email protected]Click here to continue to this week's G-Sync events. Photo of Tommy Allen provided by Brian Kelly of
Brian Kelly Photography. Brian's LaughFest Portraits will be on display at the downtown lobby of the Fifth Third Bank throughout the festival.
Press Releases for upcoming events in the West Michigan area should be sent to
[email protected]. Please include high res jpg images that are at least 500 pixels wide.