‘Dry Humor: Stand-Up For Recovery’ Fundraising Comedy Show with Liz Russo at SteelStacks Jan. 11

Liz Russo is a native of Easton, Pa., where she still resides, but is a nationally performing standup comedian who also happens to be a recovering alcoholic. On Wednesday, Jan. 11, 8 p.m. at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, Russo will hold a comedy show fundraiser in celebration of her sober anniversary and to raise much needed funds for addiction treatment.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to The Malvern Institute, a nonprofit organization specializing in the treatment of alcoholism & drug dependency serving Pennsylvania since 1948. Malvern’s mission is to help people live the joy of recovery. Malvern’s CEO, Scott Weisenberger strongly believes, “Recovery is an opportunity for people to trade sorrow, fear, and lack of direction for a life that emphasizes meaning and purpose.”

The Malvern Institute and Liz Russo share a common mission, to sell optimism and hope. Russo notes, “Treatment saved my life. I want to financially contribute while also raising awareness to a growing epidemic and reducing the negative stigma associated with addiction. Humor is an honest and powerful form of communication. We all have struggles in life, and laughter helps heal. If there is anything I know for sure, once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it.”

Last year Russo produced the Dry Humor comedy show for her five-year sober anniversary and the show sold out with over 250 ticket sales. ArtsQuest Programming Director Ryan Hill said he would like to make Dry Humor: Stand-Up for Recovery an annual fundraising event. ArtsQuest is dedicated to presenting artistic experiences and outreach programs that aid in community enrichment.

The comedy show will be hosted by Lehigh Valley’s own Liz Russo, who has been heard on SiriusXM and seen on Fox TV and performs at comedy clubs, casinos, and festivals nationwide. Russo was named by 8,000 voting readers of Lehigh Valley Style Magazine, the Best Comic of the Lehigh Valley 2016. The comedy show will also feature two additional sober comedians. Patrick Holbert is a stand-up comic making great success in his career as a regular in some of the best comedy clubs in New York City and as host of syndicated TV show “The Movie Loft”. Headliner, Rich Williams is a talented comedic performer and has appeared on Comedy Central, Chelsea Lately, The Howard Stern Show, and has been nominated for two Emmy Awards.

The comedy show will be held in the Fowler Blast Furnace Room of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Tickets are $15 and can be bought online in advance at www.steelstacks.org. You may also contribute by donating to the Malvern Institute.