WESTFIELD-An entertaining evening of comedy awaits patrons as the bands at Westfield High School sponsor a Valentine’s Day Dinner and Show on Feb. 11.
Titled, “A Funny Raising Comedy Show,” the event at the Elks Club on Franklin Street features performances by comedians Darren Rivera, aka “The Rice and Bean Joker,” and headliner Kelly MacFarland, with Kristine Blinn as the host.
Lisa Stawasz, fundraising coordinator for the Westfield High School Band and Orchestra Parents, encourages area residents to attend the event which begins at 6:30 p.m. with a preview of raffle baskets and a 50/50 raffle. Businesses wishing to donate a raffle prize may contact Stawasz for more details. Assisting Stawasz with logistics is Kim Jarrett, treasurer of the Band and Orchestra Parents group.
Kelly MacFarland is the headliner for “A Funny Raising Comedy Show.”
“Funds raised from this event will benefit the 70 students who are traveling to Florida in May to participate in the Music USA Festival at Universal in Orlando,” said Stawasz.
Students involved in the trip represent the concert band, a smaller wind ensemble and the jazz band. Stawasz noted that the band has not traveled to Florida since 1978.
Elks Club members will be preparing the menu which includes chicken and pasta with either an alfredo or red sauce, accompanied by salad, rolls and dessert. Dinner will be served promptly at 7 p.m. with the show slated from 8 to approximately 10 p.m.
Rivera has been entertaining audiences for more than a decade with his brand of humor that is sarcastic, witty, and real to his life experiences. He is originally from the Bronx, spent his adolescent years in Bucks County, Penn., and started his comedy career in Hartford, Conn.
MacFarland is an experienced stand-up comedian with an extensive resume including comedy clubs, theaters, colleges and several television appearances including Comedy Central’s Premium Blend. She has worked extensively with comedian Loretta LaRoche and has been a featured keynote speaker for the American Heart Association’s GO Red for Women campaign. MacFarland shares her life experiences in a refreshing yet playful point of view.
Tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple, and can be purchased by contacting Stawasz at (413) 977-2932.
“Our band students do a lot for the city, ranging from performing in parades on St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day, to participating in the mayor’s inauguration,” said Stawasz. “We hope the community will turn out for this important event which will help supplement our traveling budget.”
