A Night of Laughs, A World of Hope: International Myeloma Foundation 9th Annual Comedy Celebration

October 11, 2015 christy oldham Entertainment & Lifestyle 0

(L-R) Actors Alex Meneses, Izzy Diaz, and Jadyn Douglas attend the 9th Annual Comedy Celebration, presented by the International Myeloma Foundation, at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for International Myeloma Foundation)
Actress Lesley Nicol attends the 9th Annual Comedy Celebration, presented by the International Myeloma Foundation, at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for International Myeloma Foundation)
Actress Lesley Nicol attends the 9th Annual Comedy Celebration, presented by the International Myeloma Foundation, at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for International Myeloma Foundation)

By Sandi Margolis, 2:04p.m. October, 11th 2015  @sandimargolis

On Saturday, October 10, 2015 the International Myeloma Foundation presented its 9th Annual Comedy Celebration at the Wilshire Ebell Theater & Club in LA. Hosted by the incomparable Fred Willard, this laugh out loud concert brought out the best in comedy featuring hilarious sets by Jeff Garlin (The Goldbergs,, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Heather McDonald (Chelsea Lately), Tig Notaro (Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted), Andy Kindler (Everybody Loves Raymond) and Tony Award® winning ventriloquist Jay Johnson, who was my personal favorite. The evening concluded with a special musical performance by Late Show with David Letterman’s renowned band leader, Paul Schaffer. He ended his set with the dance hit he co-wrote, “It’s Raining Men,” featuring Fred Willard, Tig Notaro and Heather McDonald as his background singers.

(L-R) Actors Alex Meneses, Izzy Diaz, and Jadyn Douglas attend the 9th Annual Comedy Celebration, presented by the International Myeloma Foundation, at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for International Myeloma Foundation)
(L-R) Actors Alex Meneses, Izzy Diaz, and Jadyn Douglas attend the 9th Annual Comedy Celebration, presented by the International Myeloma Foundation, at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for International Myeloma Foundation)

Attendees included Alex Meneses (Everybody Loves Raymond, NBC’s Hot & Bothered), Maggie Wheeler (Californication, Everybody Loves Raymond), Howard Hesseman (Mike & Molly, Head of the Class), John Glover (The Good Wife), Event Chair Loraine Boyle (Peter’s widow), Jay Huguley (Treme, True Detective), Edie McClurg (Mike & Molly) and many other notable celebrities and distinguished guests.

Actress Shalita Grant attends the 9th Annual Comedy Celebration, presented by the International Myeloma Foundation, at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for International Myeloma Foundation)
Actress Shalita Grant attends the 9th Annual Comedy Celebration, presented by the International Myeloma Foundation, at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for International Myeloma Foundation)

The VIP cocktail reception included a silent and live auction featuring luxury trips, jewelry, dinners, sports memorabilia, art and many other exquisite items to spend your money on.  For you fans of British drama series, Downton Abbey, the live auction included a dinner with Lesley Nicol, best known for her role as no-nonsense cook Mrs. Patmore in the private home of IMF President Susie Novis and Chairman of the Board, Dr. Brian D.M. Durie.

The other two live auction items for those guests with deep pockets included an 8 day Viking River Cruise and two tickets to a taping of NBC’s legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live. There was also a VIP champagne and dessert reception after the comedy show.  Proceeds from the event benefit the Peter Boyle Research Fund and support the Black Swan Research Initiative ™, IMF’s innovative approach to finding a cure for myeloma, the second most common blood cancer. Renowned and beloved actor Peter Boyle (Everybody Loves Raymond, Young Frankenstein) died in 2006 after a 4 year battle with myeloma. The event honored Michael S Katz who was intrinsically involved with IMF and since 2007, the annual Comedy Celebration has raised over $5 million for the Peter Boyle Research Fund.  It was truly a magical evening and a wonderful time was had by all.

For more information and to donate kindly visit www.myeloma.org.

About christy oldham 132 Articles
Christy was educated in Paris at École des hautes études commerciales de Paris (HEC Paris), an international business school in France and studied film and television at LACC (Los Angeles Community College). She is a business owner, published author and a critically acclaimed independent filmmaker. Her 20 year body of cinema work to date includes 2 feature films, 15 short films and one web series. She is a writer, producer, director, cinematographer, actress and editor. Her headlining film credit includes the vigilante feature film "Barracuda" (Released in 2014 by Maverick Entertainment Group) which earned her critical filmmaker acclaim including 3 Best Picture awards at multiple U.S. film festivals. In 2017, she directed 3 episodes of the post-apocalyptic web series "Vape Warz", which she also wrote and produced. It premiered at the 2017 Mediterranean Film festival Cannes in the south of France and received an Honorable Mention for Best Web Series and is now streaming on Amazon. In 2019, she released her first foreign short film "Perdu à France" ("Lost In Provence")- also streaming on Amazon. She lives in Los Angeles.

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