Live comedy is coming to the Rio Theatre in Helper on Saturday, May 1 at 8:00 pm. Castle Country Radio was able to speak over the telephone with Comedian Andy Gold about the upcoming show.
“I got started into comedy right after I got out of rehab. I had a really troubled past with substance abuse, years I spent as a heroin addict, now I’m a recovering heroin addict and didn’t have a lot going for me. I wanted something fun to do, that was interesting and exciting, that wasn’t going to kill myself, that wasn’t drugs. I was always the funny guy and I started doing comedy and I started talking a lot about being in recovery,” stated Gold. This led him to find his niche and he began to host shows for other recovering addicts. Gold now has 11 years of sobriety under his belt and states its due to his success in the comedy world.
There is a uniqueness to how Gold can take a serious subject and bring in some laughter. “There’s a great disarming effect with laughter, you can really strip something of its power if you are able to laugh at it, I think. Addiction is really, really, powerful thing but being able to actually laugh about it, and make a joke about it, especially when you are in recovery, I think it does strip its power a little bit,” said Gold. The comedy show is a one night only event taking place inside the newly renovated Rio Theatre.
Gold will be co-headlining with Alex Velluto who is a comedian on the rise. Velluto was a finalist in the prestigious Boston Comedy Festival, was named “Best of Fest” at the Golden Spike Comedy Festival and is the winner of the Finger Lakes Comedy Festival in Ithaca, NY. He has performed at other top festivals across the country including the Big Sky Comedy Festival, and the Seattle International Comedy Competition.
Tickets for the performance at the Rio Theatre can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite.com. “I would suggest try to get them beforehand because I think, like we were talking about, I really sense that people are eager to get out and have a good time so I think tickets are going to go pretty fast for this one. I would suggest not waiting the day of but they will be available at the door if there is any left,” explained Gold. Ticket prices for the comedy show are $15.00 per adult.