LAKEPORT — Local resident Marc Yaffee, a rising stand up comedy star, is organizing a fund-raiser for Kelseyville High School (KHS)”s Sober Grad Committee, 8 p.m. March 1, at the Lake County Fairground”s Fritch Hall.
Yaffee has entertained audiences in 28 states and three continents. How did our local Kelseyville resident come to be performing all over the world? Two words; “traffic school.” In 1998 Yaffee realized “Comedy Traffic School” was catching on like wildfire in the Bay Area. Yaffee felt that by offering comedy traffic school here in northern California he could better serve local clients. He took a comedy class in Sacramento and began integrating comedy into his traffic school presentations. He soon learned that he had a flair for getting big laughs and began trying his material out in small clubs.
One event led to another and now, nine years later, he is booked from Las Vegas to Japan and has appeared on the TV shows “Comics Unleashed” and “Funny is Funny” as well as the nationally-syndicated Bob and Tom radio program. In addition to his solo performances, Yaffee created and now tours with the Pow Wow Comedy Jam, an All-Native standup tour.
Focusing on his Native American heritage, he and the other Native American comedians have more than 50 appearances together and have a cable TV special in development.
Yaffee”s comedy career has not precluded his involvement in our community. He has volunteered his talents and skills for several church and service group fundraisers including the KHS Sober Grad Committee fundraiser on March 1 (His daughter is a senior at KHS).
The fundraiser will feature Yaffee and two of his friends, comedians, Ron Kenney and Rick D”Elia. Kenney is a 25-year veteran of the Comedy Store, and a favorite at Las Vegas Riviera and comedy clubs all across the nation. Kenney has been seen on Evening at the Improv, VH1, MTV and Comedy On The Road. “The Comics Open” is his first novel about comedians in a golf event.
D”Elia is a Boston comic moved west and a regular sketch performer on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” His keen observational humor & quick wit lead him to the finals in the 2000 San Francisco Comedy Competition. D”Elia has appeared on other shows such as “Stand-up Stand-up,” “America”s Talking” and “Inside the Extra”s Studio.” He has also performed at prestigious comedy venues including the Laugh Factory, Catch A Rising Star and the Hollywood Improv. D”Elia recently formed the comedy music duo, Hits and Giggles. He will be playing some of the duo”s hilarious musical parodies.
As an added bonus, the show will feature, a special guest performanceby the local a cappella quartet, EarReverence.
Tickets for the general public are available, but selling fast. They can be purchased from any Sober Grad Committee parent. Tickets are also available at Polestar Computers, Serenity Day Spa or Dr. Andrus medical office in Kelseyville and Pat Lambert Farmers Insurance in Lakeport.
