"Comedy is something that offers us the opportunity to shake the seriousness of life.”
- Nicolas Mezzanatto, Founder of Comedy & A Cause
A new monthly comedy event with a twist has found a home at Open Space Event Studios. Comedy and a Cause Comedy Competition is the brainchild of Nicolas Mezzanatto and Cody Parr, who have brought the likes of the late Bob Saget, Matt Braunger, and Pablo Francisco through Bend. Comedy and a Cause Comedy Competition is about creating connection in the comedic community and will give local and regional comics a chance to hone their craft with monthly competitions that include audience participation, a raffle, themed events, and a headliner.
Comedy and a Cause is an official partner of Save A Warrior (SAW), a non-profit that supports active duty military, veterans, and other first responders living with and healing from PTSD. At each event, there will be a raffle benefiting SAW. PTSD hits close to home for Mezzanatto, an Iraq war combat vet who fought with the 101st Airborne's 502nd Infantry and deployed to the "Triangle of Death," a particularly violent region. After returning home, he found himself fighting an entirely new battle inside his own mind, as the horrific memories of active duty combat spiraled him into depression and suicidal ideation. That’s when he found comedy. Comedy and performance art allowed him to create new purpose within himself, connect him to a wider community, and shake the seriousness of day to day life.
Cody Parr is a renaissance man of many talents. When he was attending Oregon State University, he was presented with his first opportunity to pursue his childhood dream of acting. With nearly nothing to his name, he packed his bag and headed to Los Angeles. Within his first two months of living there having never acted a day in his life, he landed his first audition for the lead role as ‘Anthony’ in the feature film “Cruisin’.” When he’s not gracing the big screen or the stage, Parr also finds time to pursue a career in songwriting and as a professional recording artist in hip hop, rap, and RnB.
Comedy & A Cause debuted with an 80’s-themed night of hilarity. Four comics battled it out in the competition portion of the evening, and the audience helped the judges decide on two finalists. While the judges deliberated a winner, nationally-recognized headliner, Amanda Arnold, laid it on heavy with the laughs in her original vintage L.A. Gears with pink and white laces. Sharif Mohni was the proclaimed winner of the Comedy Competition, taking home the grand prize, Comedy Gold, and bragging rights. We’ll see him back in December to go toe-to-toe with the other winners determined over the next months to see who has what it takes to be crowned the champion of 2022.
Our next event will be on March 3rd. Come dressed in your best St. Paddy’s Day get up because our theme is Saint ‘Pasi’ Day in honor of our featured headliner, Adam Pasi. Prizes will be awarded to the best two outfits, so come dressed to impress for a chance to win! Adam was the winner of the Portland's Funniest Person in 2019 and due to the pandemic canceling last year's tournament he's been insisting that he's 2020's funniest as well (by default) He's silly, loud, is afraid of dolls and loves his mom.
Doors at 7:30 PM | Show at 8 PM
$20 | FIND TICKETS HERE