GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Gilda's LaughFest is returning to Grand Rapids for its 14th year and events are starting next week, including three shows with stand-up comedian Tammy Pescatelli.
13 ON YOUR SIDE Senior Digital Producer Steven Bohner spoke with Pescatelli about her history as a comedian and her upcoming Gilad's LaughFest shows at Gun Lake Casino and the First Congregational UCC of Lowell.
Gilda's LaughFest supports Gilda's Club Grand Rapids, an organization that "provides free emotional healthcare to children, adults, families and friends on any kind of cancer journey or those grieving the death of someone in their life due to any cause."
Gilda's Club was founded in the honor of Gilda Radner, a Michigan-born comedian and Saturday Night Live star who died of ovarian cancer in 1989.
"I've always been a fan of Gilda, but having nothing to do with her struggle, but because she was a girl who I could see on TV that related to me. She wasn't the perfect-looking girl. She was funny. She was one of the guys and I so related to her," Pescatelli said.
In 2011, Pescatelli was diagnosed with ovarian cancer but was able to have it removed completely.
"It's just an anomaly that I also had ovarian, but I can't claim it the way some of these other people who have struggled with cancer have went through it. I was very, very lucky. I found out I had ovarian cancer. I was stage one, they were able to remove it and it was gone. I didn't even have to do any follow up. So compared to the struggle and the hardship that so many others go through, I was very lucky. But yes, I love that this raises money that gives such a it's a free place and treatment and just healthy laughter for people who are going through these things," Pescatelli expressed.
Pescatelli is no stranger to Michigan. She says that she has driven all over the mitten doing shows when she first started her comedy career.
"I'm just excited to be part of this festival. I think it's always great to work with fellow comics, you know, and just really feed off that energy, you see better shows at festivals, because we're just already hype. And sometimes we're even doing the show for the comics in the back of the room. So it's, it's a lot of fun. I'm excited," Pescatelli said.
The comedian said she is also excited about her upcoming film "Nonnas" starring Vince Vaughn, due out later this year.
Pescatelli will be at Gun Lake Casino on Thursday, March 7 for two shows at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. She will also be at First Congregational UCC of Lowell on Friday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m.
You can purchase tickets to Pescatelli's LaughFest shows at Laughfest.org.
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