Digital Extra: The Station Fire

01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, August 19, 2004

The Station Family Fund, a charitable organization established to help those affected by The Station nightclub fire, will hold its second benefit comedy show tomorrow at the Providence Performing Arts Center.

Headlining will be Dane Cook, a regular on Comedy Central, who was named "Hot Stand-Up" by Rolling Stone.

Cook is a hyperactive 32-year-old from Boston whose material ranges from his days working at Burger King to the advantages of being a snake. (One word: venom.)

Incidentally, he doesn't much like talking pitchers of Kool-Aid or Speak 'n' Spell games that are possessed by the devil.

He uses a lot of physicality in his act, whether writhing around as the snake, screaming in frustration while waiting in line at the DMV, or playing an aggrieved accident victim.

Also on tomorrow's bill is Bob Levy, winner of Howard Stern's "Meanest Listener" contest, Jessica Kirson from Last Comic Standing, Rich Aronovitch and Shane Kinney.

WHJY-FM morning hosts Paul & Al will be the emcees.

Victoria Potvin, president of the Station Family Fund, said last year's show, with headliner Colin Quinn, raised $26,000 for the organization. She said ticket sales for this year's show are already running ahead of last year's figures.

"When we had the benefit last year, it was six months after the tragedy, and some people thought maybe it was too early," she said. "But at that show was the first time I saw some of these people smile since the fire. That made everything worthwhile."

Potvin said Cook performed at last year's benefit and was a big success, and she immediately thought of him as the headliner for tomorrow's show.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $39.50, $49.50, $59.50. For information call PPAC at (401) 421-2787.

-- ANDY SMITH