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Since September, we’ve ventured out after 18 months of enforced inactivity to entertain brave people (some would no doubt call them foolish) willing to attend our live shows.

We’ve drawn decent sized audiences to venues operated by skeleton crews of dedicated employees. We’ve kept promotion subdued so as not to arouse official concern about our gatherings.

Yes, it’s been about having to make a living, having to pay the bills. But it’s been something more.

One night at the the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa, I realized there’s a higher purpose to what we’re doing. I was sitting in the audience of mask clad patrons behind a married couple.

The husband was not happy about the circumstances. He was obviously uncomfortable, looking around in an irritated fashion. His wife tried to reassure him but I could tell he was about at his wit’s end.

And then the lights went down and Kabir Singh came on stage to present ten bright, youthful talents giving their all in the hope of advancing to the finals of the Comedy Competition. It was fantastic to watch.

At the end, when the house lights went up, the couple in front of me were so happy! They continued to laugh. They hugged. They embraced!

I sat there thinking to myself, “I did this. I brought real joy to these people. This is what I’m meant to do no matter what a lot of critics might think. This is important. The show MUST go on.”

And so it has. Despite security guards roaming one theater checking to make sure all masks were up. Despite one health department in its wisdom decreeing comedians would have to wear masks while they performed.

Night after night, audiences have left our shows with a new lease on life. Laughter truly is the best medicine.

So when the Comedy Competition came to an end, I knew there could be no stopping.

To be continued. . .

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