Chris Rocks

By Jeff Shmase

Laughs, awareness and fundraising were on the menu on May 9 at the Comic Strip Live, but a surprise appearance from a superstar stole the show.

During “Laughs, Love and Lucien: A Night of Comedy to Benefit the Scleroderma Foundation,” comedian/actor Chris Rock performed a hilarious, impromptu stand-up to the delight of a good crowd at the club.

Rock was very friendly with Lucien Hold, the man in whose honor the event was being held. Hold built the Second Avenue club, and served as its artistic director for a quarter of century before succumbing to scleroderma in 2004.

Rock is also close friends with Adam Sandler—the two starred on "Saturday Night Live" before transitioning into motion pictures—and at Sandler’s wedding he invited only two celebrity types: Rock and Hold.

During his routine, Rock talked about his experiences working at Red Lobster, dropping out of high school and earning his GED, Wal-Mart, relationships, and current events. Some of the material was geared toward a mature audience, but all of it was very funny.

Rock has won Emmy and Grammy awards for writing and performing and in 2005 he hosted the Academy Awards.

I unfortunately had the unenviable task of following Rock to the stage to talk about Lucien, and the Scleroderma Foundation. It was akin to Sanjaya singing a song after Pavarotti performed.

All in all, it was a great night. The roster of comedians included Gary Gulman (from my hometown of Peabody, Mass.), Pete Correale, Joe Bolster, Vanessa Hollingshead, Tom Cotter, Vic Henley, Rob Magnotti, Ross Bennett, and Kerri Louise, and they were all sensational.

Thanks also to Foundation board members Cos Mallozzi, Tony Collelouri and Jeff Mace, each of whom attended.

Jeff Shmase is the communications manager of the Scleroderma Foundation.