The only thing better than a room full of laughter is a room full of laughter for a good cause. On January 26th, 2025, there was a Fundraiser Comedy Show for Joseph’s House & Shelter at Lark St. Tavern in Albany, NY at 7pm. Brad Monkell, a local comedian and musician, was one of the producers of this event. The other producer was another local comedian, Greg Creft.

Lark St. Tavern is the perfect venue for such a special show. The lounge in the back is such an inviting and relaxing atmosphere. Its decorated with big, beautiful rugs and the coziest couches you can imagine. They host many events and they do a really great job at creating a fun spot for the community.

I was happy to see what cause they were supporting with the funds of this show. As stated on their website; ‘Joseph’s House & Shelter provides emergency shelter or support services to an average of 2000 men, women and children yearly. Central to Joseph’s House mission is to provide non-judgmental services to end homelessness. The staff works to build relationships based on each guest’s & tenant’s strengths and capacities. Treating each person with dignity & respect, and promoting self-determination empowers guests and tenants to make healthier choices.’

Unfortunately, Mirth Films was unable to attend the event, but I was able to speak to Brad to get the details. The strong lineup consisted of many funny comedians including; Brad Monkell (host), Dee Bellinger, Alanna Gill, Juan Pantaleon, Kailey Strafford, Greg Creft, and Dan Geurin (headliner). I must say, these are some heavy hitters in the local scene, so I wasn’t surprised when he shared that all of the comedians had solid sets. The crowd of almost 20 was mighty and had a lot of fun.

Overall, it was a successful show. With an added donation from the venue itself, they were able to raise almost $300 for Joseph’s House & Shelter. Brad also said that they plan on doing more fundraiser shows there in the future. How wonderful is it to see the community coming together in such a positive light?

Lark has a few more shows coming up, so make sure you save the dates:

• My Funny Valentine Comedy Showcase – February 15th at 8pm
• Anthony Devito Comedy Show – February 23rd at 7pm
• Carmen Lynch Comedy Show – February 30th at 7pm

They also host weekly Open Mics on Thursdays and Sundays. Sign-ups are at 6:30pm and the shows are at 7pm. Grab a friend and share some laughs as the local talent works the kinks out of their material. If you’re feeling bold- you’re welcome to get on up there yourself!