Chris Roach promotional (2021)
Chris Roach
The show must go on.
So say the organizers of the First Annual Night of Comedy, hosted by the Veterans Business Council. The VBC is a group of 24 veterans with the shared goal of facilitating opportunities for veterans in Saratoga County.
The family-friendly comedy night, scheduled for Thursday, March 25 at 7 p.m., has been in the planning stages for over a year. The council decided to keep the event virtual to avoid COVID complications, health concerns or last-minute event cancellations. The hope is to develop the comedy night into an annual event.
“We’re in uncharted territory with the pandemic,” said Karen Charbonneau, co-organizer of the event. “We know everyone would rather be meeting in person. At the same time, holding the event virtually is a great way for people to do something a little bit different.”
Comedians performing are Chris Monty of “What’s the Worst that Can Happen” and Chris Roach of “Kevin Can Wait.” The national anthem will be sung by Broadway performer and television actress Natalie Toro. Each comedy set will be 15 to 20 minutes long.
While donations are encouraged and the event will act as a fundraiser to help the mission of the group, there is no charge or financial obligation for attending the event.
“The hope and goal is to give everyone a change of pace, so they can do something a little different than what they’ve been doing for the last year. We want people to be able to laugh together,” said Charbonneau.
The event falls on National Medal of Honor Day. A small group will kick off the event with a brief three- to five-minute presentation to tell people what the Medal of Honor is.
“The Medal of Honor means a lot to the veteran community, and it should mean a lot to the general community for someone to have received this important distinction,” said Charbonneau. She is the immediate past chair of the VBC and an Army veteran. She is also the residential real estate broker with the Saratoga Home Team.
Hoffman’s Car Wash is donating a free car wash to anyone donating $20 or more to the organization. Additionally, a silent auction is currently underway, with prizes donated by local businesses. The auction will continue until April 1.
According to the press release, a premiere sponsor for the First Annual Night of Comedy is Bank of America.
Attendees can register for the event at www.veteransbusinesscouncil.com. The silent auction can also be found there.
Additional sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Denise Romeo, Saratoga County Chamber, at (518) 584-3255.