From left, Nick Lavallee, Carl Yard (Courtesy photos)
ROCHESTER -- The Rochester Opera House will present a night of comedy at the new downtown Performance & Arts Center on Saturday, March 17. The show will feature headliner Carl Yard and opening act Nick Lavallee. The Performance & Arts Center is located at 32 North Main Street, in downtown Rochester.
Comedian Carl Yard was born on the tiny Caribbean Island of Barbados. After immigrating to Boston in the summer of 1984, Carl was immediately drawn to the thriving Boston comedy scene. After attending a few open mics just to observe, Carl finally decided to put his name on the open mic signup sheet. "I've always wanted to be a performer. Growing up in Barbados, I would watch people act on TV and I would think to myself, 'I can do that, I want to do that.' I never set out to be a comedian, but I always knew I loved performing.
"My first time on stage at Stitches Comedy Club was absolutely terrifying, but I had so much nervous energy, the crowd thought it was part of my act, and I got a standing ovation. The second time I was thinking, "Comedy is easy," and I walked on stage with an attitude... Two minutes into my act, it was total silence followed by several boos. That was definitely, a serious ego check."
Within two years on the Boston Comedy scene, Carl began headlining at all the major clubs and colleges in the New England area. His high energy and edgy style of comedy placed him in high demand with the industry's top entertainers. In 1992, Aretha Franklin selected him to be the opening act for the New England leg of her tour.
Carl continued performing in big arenas and theaters in Boston, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. He was also the opening act for R&B superstar Keith Sweat. He has shared the stage with comedy superstars such as Chris Rock, Patrice O'Neal, Dave Chappelle, Steven Wright, Wanda Sykes, Bill Bellamy, and many more.
Opening for Carl is New Hampshire comedian Nick Lavallee. Lavallee's latest album, "The Other Dude", consists of stand up and musical comedy. Lavallee has appeared alongside Sally Struthers in "I Love You, Sally Struthers." Lavaallee was voted "Best Comedian" six times between from 2010-2017 by readers of New Hampshire's Hippo Press. He has also charted numerous times on the iTunes Comedy list.
Nick's online content has been featured on the front page's of Funny or Die, Rooftop Comedy, and the Boston Comedy Examiner. Lavallee has performed opening spots for such national headliners as Comedy Central's Bo Burnham and Maine's King of Comedy, Bob Marley. In 2012, Lavallee solidified himself as a national act by appearing at the Laugh Factory in Las Vegas and Hollywood upon personal request from the club's owner, Jamie Masada.
PARTICULARS: The show starts at 8pm (doors open at 7pm) on Saturday, March 17th. Cash bar available. Tickets start at $15. Reserve tickets online or call the box office (603) 335-1992, M/W/F from 10-5pm. The Rochester Opera House is sponsored by TD Bank North, Eastern Propane, Shaheen & Gordon P.A., and Norm Vetter Foundations. Visit www.RochesterOperaHouse.com for more information.
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