Dry Humor: Standup for Recovery

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Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 7:30 pm

This annual comedy show, now in its fourth year, celebrates the sobriety of recovering alcoholic and Lehigh Valley-residing comedian Liz Russo. Created by Russo in her 5th year of recovery, she hosts the show annually and shares the stage with other standups in recovery from addiction. A portion of the proceeds is donated to a local addiction recovery non-profit, this year’s being the Stepping Stones Recovery Foundation.

Host: Liz Russo
Inspiring and self-deprecating in turn, comedian Liz Russo shares her life’s struggles and triumphs in her act. She is the reigning three-time winner of Best Comic of the Lehigh Valley named by Lehigh Valley Style Magazine. Her personable and wry delivery has made her a hit at comedy clubs and festivals across the country, scoring opening slots for celebs like Colin Quinn, Gilbert Gottfried, Jim Norton, and Lisa Lampanelli. Liz has been featured on SIriusXM and the YKWD Podcast, as well as appearances on FOX TV, CBS, and Amazon. Russo is a recovering alcoholic and has spent time in jail, on parole, and in rehab institutions. She is now celebrating 8 years of sobriety and continues to regularly give back to the recovery community.

Feature: Patrick Holbert
Patrick has been making his living in NYC since 2003. A scene regular, you can find him in the city’s hottest comedy rooms every night. He has performed on Sirius XM and hosts the internationally syndicated TV show “The Movie Loft.” He has appeared on TruTV’s “Hack My Life” and “Mysteries at the Museum” on the Travel Channel. Patrick is often asked to emcee comedy shows because of his playful wit and affability. The NY Times recently called him the “charming M.C.” of the children’s variety show he performs in weekly. You can also catch him online co-hosting “The Comic’s Table” podcast. Holbert is strong in his recovery, however he still loves junk food. He says, “I may be sober from booze 8 years, but I still try to get tipsy on Zebra Cakes.”

Headliner: Dave Landau
Cutting his comedic teeth as a teenager in Detroit in the Second City’s Conservatory, Dave Landau has risen to become one of the most in-demand headliners working today. He’s appeared on Comedy Central’s “Live At Gotham” and “Gotham Comedy Live” on AXS TV three times. Landau was a finalist on season 8 of “Last Comic Standing.” He’s become a regular on the nationally-syndicated “Bob & Tom” radio show, and was honored as one of the top 21 club comics of today at HBO’s Las Vegas Comedy Festival. He replaced Artie Lange as the current co-host of the Anthony Cumia Show on Compound Media. Landau is open about his past drug abuse. His father died of brain cancer when he was young, and “to cope I discovered drugs and alcohol” and became a “rebellious teen alcoholic”. He was arrested 13 times between the ages of 15 and 19, and spent time in rehab and institutions. Having abused drugs and alcohol in the past, he has since become clean and sober for multiple years.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Stepping Stones Recovery Foundation.
Located in the Lehigh Valley and started in 2015, Stepping Stones Recovery Foundation is a non profit organization serving those seeking treatment from substance abuse disorders. The mission of Stepping Stones Recovery Foundation is to address substance use disorders within our communities. They strive to alter the views toward individuals who suffer from substance use disorders which leads to the stigma, prejudice, and shame that prevents many of these individuals and their families from seeking treatment. They accomplish their mission through free family and community education programs that provide hard scientific evidence about substance use disorders as a “Brain Disease”. The organization also assists in the development of recovery residences that emphasize the importance of a family home recovery environment as a key component of recovery using Family Systems Theory in the structure of the recovery residence. Stepping Stones Recovery Foundation strives to provide the solid knowledge and support necessary to understand the need for people seeking recovery to receive professional treatment and community based support in their effort to make a full recovery from substance use disorders possible.

This show will contain adult language and/or situations. Seating will be assigned by ArtsQuest staff upon arrival into the showroom. Anyone coming in between the ages of 13 and 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No child 12 or under will be admitted.