Comedy for a Cause will be at 7 p.m. March 21 at the Historic Artcraft Theatre. The showcase is a fundraiser for the Central Indiana Police Foundation, which aids the families of injured and fallen officers.
RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL
Audience members will be laughing ‘til it hurts next week.
And with every chuckle, guffaw and belly laugh, they’ll be benefiting the community.
A trio of comedians will descend upon the Historic Artcraft Theatre for an event that’s being billed as Comedy for a Cause. Mike Armstrong, known for his appearances on “The Bob & Tom Show,” as well as specials on HBO, Comedy Central and CMT, will serve as the headliner for the event.
He’ll be joined by host Ryan May and Ray Hensley during the show, which starts at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Artcraft in Franklin.
Proceeds from the fundraiser support the Central Indiana Police Foundation, to aid the families of injured and fallen officers.
“They should expect a great night of laughter and helping out a great cause,” May said. “And people will get to enjoy a rare comedy show in what, in my opinion, is the best theater in Indiana.”
The idea for Comedy for a Cause stems from a previous fundraiser May helped organize in 2023. May, a local comedian and member of the Flash Bang comedy group, had envisioned a showcase performance to support an area nonprofit organization or a good cause.
He connected with the Central Indiana Police Foundation after hearing about the work they do supporting injured officers and their families.
The organization was founded to support the health and well-being of police officers working in the Indianapolis area.
“Our job is to completely support police officers and police departments within central Indiana. We do that through a variety of ways,” said Lisa Rollings, executive director of the Central Indiana Police Foundation.
Their initiatives include the AWARE program, a partnership with the Avon Police Department to help law enforcement and fellow first responders identify situations where they may be engaging with an individual with a cognitive disability or medical impairment.
A program called Invest in Blue helps raise money to provide safety equipment and training for officers that police budgets don’t cover.
Probably their most visible effort is the Code One Fund. The program provides resources and support to officers injured in the line of duty and their families.
After Trafalgar Officer Dustin Moody was injured in 2022 after a crash during a police pursuit, the Central Indiana Police Foundation helped raise funds for a new van and make it wheelchair accessible, in addition to provide monetary support for his family.
“We raised money for him to support his family. Eventually, he may get a payout to support his family, but at the beginning, it’s still kind of rough,” Rollings said.
When May approached Artcraft organizers about doing a show, they happily worked with them on planning the event.
May put together a slate of local comedians, including Hensley, Hoss Ridgeway, Chris Cline and Jan Tatlock.
“I wanted to use comedians that were from here or had ties to Johnson County for this particular show,” May said.
About 100 people attended. Organizers considered that a success for a first-time event. But with more time to plan, May set his sights higher.
“I wanted to see if we could improve upon this,” he said. “I got hold of Lisa again, and mentioned that I had an idea in mind for the next fundraiser.”
Armstrong was a natural fit to be headliner for the show. A former police officer in Kentucky, he was convinced to give comedy a shot by his fellow officers at an open-mic night. His debut performance earned him $300, and he continued to pursue comedy ever since.
With a talent for improvisation, Armstrong became a regular on “The Bob & Tom Show,” where his status as an “ex-cop” made him a fan favorite.
He has appeared on HBO, Comedy Central, Fox and CMT as well as opening for major musical acts such as Michael Buble, Alan Jackson, Tracy Lawrence and David Allan Coe. Armstrong was a consultant and actor on the show, “America’s Dumbest Criminals,” and has made cameo appearances in shows such as “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Vice.”
“He’s ‘Bob & Tom’ famous, so he’s a draw,” May said.
Both May and Hensley have a healthy following on the local stand-up scene, and together with Armstrong, promise a family-friendly night of comedy.
“Mike Armstrong works clean, I work clean, Ray Hensley can work clean as well. They’re both very funny gentlemen, and I’ll be doing hosting as well,” May said.
To have a group of comedians willing to organize an event to support police has been amazing to watch, Rollings said.
“It’s really awesome,” she said. “With everything that’s happened the past few years, the police officers’ morale is down. But I think there are more people out there that support the police, the good ones. That’s what this is showing. It’s a win-win.”
IF YOU GO
Comedy for a Cause
What: A fundraising comedy event starring Mike Armstrong and Ray Hensley, hosted by Ryan May. The benefit will support the Central Indiana Police Foundation.
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: The Historic Artcraft Theatre, 57 N. Main St., Franklin
Cost: $25
More information and tickets: historicartcrafttheatre.org/movie-and-events-schedule
