Benefit features comedian Gallagher

Gallagher

Regenerate, the nonprofit teen safety organization which mentors teenagers to produce their own public service programming, will join forces with videogame publisher THQ to present a benefit performance of comedian Gallagher at 7:30 p.m. Sun., April 17 at Westlake High School, 100 N. Lakeview Canyon Road, Westlake Village. A silent auction will precede the event and a VIP invitation-only party will follow.

The evening, dubbed "Gallagher: Back to High School," will be open to the public and will take place in the school’s gymnasium. In addition to Regenerate, proceeds will also benefit the high school and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions).

Comedian Vic Dunlop will host the event and 19-year-old actor and stand-up comedian Gabriel Sunday will open for the comedy superstar. Gallagher, with his signature "Sledge-O-Matic" hammer, is known for smashing everything from fruit and baked goods to hamburgers and cottage cheese on stage, often drenching the audience with chunks of food and mush.

But his show is about more than the simple destruction of perishables. The comedian is versatile and his renowned act will include plenty of social and political commentary, in addition to the splattering.

"This is a participatory show," said Gallagher. "There will be people on stage throughout much of the show and based on how people react, I’ll be making a lot of things up as we go."

The funds raised by "Gallagher: Back to High School" will be used by Regenerate to continue its key work on such teen issues as driving safety and suicide.

Said incoming Executive Director Steve Rubin, "We’re working on a number of issues including suicide, substance abuse and violence in the schools, but driving safety has become our number one mandate. We’ve discovered that the teens actually listen and watch the programming produced by their peers.

"We’re happy to support Regenerate and its ongoing efforts to reach teenagers throughout the region," said Brian Farrell, President and CEO of THQ. "Giving teenagers the ability to influence their peers by designing their own public service programming is a fresh approach that deserves the community’s support"

Additional sponsors and those interested in purchasing tickets, should call the organization at (310) 471-8585, or e-mail Rubin at steve@ regenerate.org.