LaughFest
at the GRPM
Join us at the GRPM on March 5 + 8 for two seriously funny evenings, hosted in partnership with the 15th Annual Gilda’s LaughFest.
On March 5, the GRPM opens the festival with LaughFest: Night at the Museum featuring comedians Adam Degi and Bob Smiley. Then, on March 8, the GRPM presents LaughFest: Silent Film & Organ Concert featuring Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, accompanied by organist Dave Calendine on the GRPM’s Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ.
About Gilda's LaughFest
The nation’s first-ever community-wide festival of laughter, Gilda’s LaughFest, will return to Grand Rapids, March 5-9, 2025. In its 15th year, LaughFest celebrates laughter for the health of it and raises awareness for the cancer and grief emotional health support program offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Proceeds from the festival benefit Gilda’s Club, which helps ensure no one has to face cancer or grief alone.
LaughFest: Night at the Museum
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2024
Time: 6 p.m. doors open, 7 p.m. showtime
Cost: $25 general admission, $20 for Museum members
*Cash bar available
In partnership with LaughFest, join the GRPM for LaughFest: Night at the Museum on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Participants will enjoy two seriously funny acts by comedians Adam Degi and Bob Smiley.
Meet the Performers
Adam Degi
Adam is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after two-time cancer-surviving, bald, white comedians with a Hungarian last name in the world. You can add fatherhood, well-crafted jokes, and improvisation to his repertoire. He’s been a guest on most of the comedy-based podcasts you’ve never heard of, and he has a real knack for making your dad laugh. By the time you read this, he’ll have a few more followers on TikTok and a few less on Instagram. The only thing that can stop him is getting cancer a third time. What if I told you it happened…AGAIN. He’s on his way to another victory, the only way he knows how: saying things he shouldn’t in front of strangers.
Bob Smiley
Comedian Bob Smiley has been touring for over 25 years. He’s written four books for Focus on the Family under the series he created called “The Adventures of Average Boy.” The award-winning “Adventures of Average Boy” humor column appears monthly in Focus on the Family Clubhouse magazine. The books, column as well as the NRB award-winning “Official Average Boy Podcast” are aimed at making kids (and their parents) laugh while encouraging them to be the best God created them to be. Bob is the feature comedian in three “Dry Bar Comedy” specials and landed the role of Lowell the snowman in the new claymation Christmas movie ‘Steal the Naughty List’. Bob is also very good at mowing and has a massive hotel shampoo collection.
LaughFest: Silent Film & Organ Concert
In partnership with LaughFest, join the GRPM for the LaughFest Silent Film Comedy Night & Organ Concert on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Participants will enjoy Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, accompanied by organist Dave Calendine on the GRPM’s Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ.
Date: March 8
Time: 1:30 p.m. theater doors open, 2 p.m. showtime
Cost: $25 general admission, $20 for Museum members
About the Film
In this classic silent comedy, the Little Tramp (Charles Chaplin) heads north to join in the Klondike gold rush. Trapped in a small cabin by a blizzard, the Tramp is forced to share close quarters with a successful prospector (Mack Swain) and a fugitive (Tom Murray). Eventually able to leave the cabin, he falls for a lovely barmaid (Georgia Hale), trying valiantly to win her affections. When the prospector needs help locating his claim, it appears the Tramp’s fortunes may change.
Meet the Organist
Dave Calendine, a Warren, Ohio, native, started his musical career with the player piano at the age of 3. At age 16, Dave was hired as one of the house organists at the 2,678-seat Akron Civic Theatre. The youngest person to ever hold the position, he entertained audiences there for over 3 years.
Dave has also played several theatre pipe organs throughout the United States and Canada, and currently holds the position of House Organist for Detroit’s fabulous Fox Theatre, holding that position for 29 years now. He has also played for nine years for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, featuring the world-famous Rockettes.
Dave is the organist for the Detroit Tigers MLB team at Comerica Park. He is also one of two organists for the Detroit Red Wings NHL team at Little Caesars Arena.
Dave has served on the Board of Directors for the American Theatre Organ Society. He has also been on the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Detroit Theatre Organ Society, as well as a former President of the Flint Theatre Organ Club, an auxiliary support group for the Flint Institute of Music.
His work with mechanical instruments has garnered him awards, including being honored by the Governor of the State of Montana for his work on the Bovey Collection of Mechanical Instruments. His achievements there were also recognized in an Achievement Award by President George W. Bush.