Mission:Change to host LOL Comedy Night

ALBANY — Albany residents will get to enjoy a night of laughs for a good cause when renowned comedian Henry Cho returns to the Good Life City to headline this year’s LOL Comedy Night in support of Mission:Change.

Now in its second year, LOL Comedy Night, which is scheduled Thursday at the State Theatre in downtown Albany, helps to draw attention to and raise support for several of the local organization’s programs, including it’s Monthly Missions and The Village, Mission:Change’s after-school program for area youths.

“I personally ask everyone to go out and get tickets for this show because not only are you getting a great night of entertainment, you are supporting a worthy cause right here in our backyard — Mission:Change,” said LaDonna Urick, who founded Mission:Change with her husband, Todd Urick. “The organization has been able to serve hundreds of people though housing, meals, supplies, volunteering with our after-school experience, The Village, and simply serving those in need in our community each month through Monthly Missions.”

Urick added that she is thrilled to have her good friend Cho return to Albany after the success of last year’s LOL Comedy Night.

“We are so excited about having Henry Cho come back to Albany to be part of Mission:Change in a unique way,” said Urick. “Mission:Change is blessed to be part of a great circle of folks who love to serve their community and want to give back in some way, and Henry’s way is by sharing his talent through making people laugh. It’s a blessing to call him friend and to have his support.”

Cho said offering his support to the organization is a “no-brainer” after having seen first-hand the impact the organization has had not only on the Albany community, but on other communities as well.

Cho said he first heard about Mission:Change through his church in Nashville, Tenn., then learned more about the organization through his oldest son Jackson — who has gone on three summer mission trips with the organization — before finally meeting the Uricks in person.

“On his last trip to Albany, circumstances occurred so I needed to pick him up at Mission:Change instead of him riding the church bus back with our youth group,” said Cho. “That was my first encounter with LaDonna and her family and Mission:Change. It was brief, but I was impressed by their work and commitment, plus my son was passionate about the place and the people.”

That impression was so strong that Cho offered his help to the organization, and the Uricks took him up on that offer by putting together the LOL Comedy Night idea.

“I told LaDonna to let me know if I could help out in any way, and a couple years later she brainstormed the idea of doing a comedy show to help raise awareness and money,” Cho said.

The comedian said he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to fit the night into his schedule at first, as he remains busy with his various professional engagements, which include comedy shows around the country, appearances on Sirius XM and Blue Collar Radio, and regular performances at the Grand Ole Opry.

Additionally, Cho stays busy with film and television work, including making guest appearances on several network sitcoms and performing a one-hour comedy special on Comedy Central called “What’s That Clickin Noise.”

“As y’all know, Albany isn’t the easiest place to get to unless you live in Parrott, so logistics had to fall into place for it to work,” said Cho. “It’s a good thing God has a hand in these things as everything fell into place to the surprise of no one involved. It was a God thing.

“The folks at Mission:Change contacted me again to see if I was interested in doing it again this year. I was humbled, flattered and honored to be asked back so I instantly said yes, and once again He worked out the details.”

The comedy show, which will feature a pre-show musical performance from Anthony Johnson, is set to start at 6 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale at www.missionchange.com and at the Mission:Change office at 308 Flint Ave.

Advance tickets are available for a $25 donation or $30 at the door the night of the show. Tables for eight are also available for $400. All proceeds will go to promote Mission Change.

“On (Thursday) I will journey back to south Georgia with the hopes of raising money and awareness for a worthy cause,” said Cho. “I can’t think of a better way to start off the month of December, the month where we all think about giving presents to our loved ones. It’s a better feeling to give to those we don’t know who really will benefit from our generosity.”