Join tonight’s NYC Comedy Club Crawl and raise money to fight Parkinson’s

Rick Shapiro has left an indelible mark in even the briefest of appearances on Louis CK’s past two series, HBO’s Lucky Louie and FX’s Louie. In the former, Shapiro proudly went buck naked.

That was then.


Shapiro has been battling Parkinson’s disease for the past couple of years. Tonight, several of his famously funny friends will be joining him for a three-show, three-club NYC Comedy Club Crawl Fundraiser — Artie Lange is making the full trek with Shapiro, as is Joey Gay to host all three shows. Other stand-ups lending a hand and their performances include Jim Gaffigan, Judah Friedlander, Rich Vos, Robert Kelly, Todd Barry, Big Jay Oakerson, Greer Barnes, Mike Bocchetti, Kurt Metzger, Bonnie McFarlane, Godfrey, Mike Vecchione and Shang Forbes.

The crawl begins at 6:30 tonight at Stand Up NY on the Upper West Side, moving to Midtown at New York Comedy Club (9 p.m.) and wrapping downtown at the Comedy Cellar at The Village Underground (11 p.m.). Tickets: $30 per show. Funds benefit Light of Day Foundation’s global battle against Parkinson’s disease.

Shapiro hasn’t let his Parkinson’s diagnosis slow him down over the past two years.

“It’s a new life force, a new way of choice,” Shapiro said. “The physical hand I’ve been dealt forces me not only to play my hand, but to realize I HAVE hands. It’s unbelievable. Parkinson’s can be laughed at, and I’ve found it to be a damn joke. It’s a riot.”

He joked about it in this set he uploaded last summer:

Shapiro and his wife/manager, Tracy DeMarzo, organized tonight’s club crawl fundraiser.

Here are the details…

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LIGHT OF DAY WINTERFEST 2015: NYC COMEDY CLUB CRAWL FUNDRAISER

TUESDAY, JAN. 13

STOP # 1: Stand Up NY – 236 W. 78th St. (betw. Broadway & Amsterdam)

Starring Rick Shapiro & Artie Lange

Host: Joey Gay

Also Appearing: Shang Forbes, Kurt Metzger, Mike Vecchione, Godfrey, Judah Friedlander

Showtime: 7 p.m. (mandatory 6:30 p.m. arrival)

Tickets: $30 at www.standupny.com, or call 212.595.0850.

STOP #2: New York Comedy Club – 241 E. 24th St. (between 2nd & 3rd)

Starring Rick Shapiro & Artie Lange

Host: Joey Gay

Also Appearing: Jim Gaffigan, Rich Vos, Bonnie McFarlane, Greer Barnes, Big Jay Oakerson, Mike Bocchetti

Tickets: $30 at www.newyorkcomedyclub.com, or call 212.696.5233.

STOP #3: Comedy Cellar at The Village Underground. 130 W. 3rd St. (betw. 6th & Macdougal)

Starring Rick Shapiro & Artie Lange

Host: Joey Gay

Also Appearing: Robert Kelly, Todd Barry, and surprise guests

Tickets $30 at www.comedycellar.com/the-village-underground, or call 212.254.3480.

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Shapiro told fans and friends Monday night: “I am so honored by everyone sharing their huge talent and support. I hate Parkinson’s. Looking foreard to seeing all of the audience leaders. CANT WAIT!!!”

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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