BLACK HAWK — "Comedy can be a cathartic way to deal with personal trauma." – Robin Williams
On Friday, November 28, Congressman Joe Neguse kicked off the “Stand-Up for Nederland: A Comedy Benefit for Relief and Recovery” show.
The show, held at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, raised money for victims of the fire that ravaged the Caribou Village shopping center on October 9, burning 21 businesses to the ground. Neguse has been involved in the process of helping the community move forward from the tragedy.
Topics of humor for comedians ranged from growing up in Boulder, living in Boulder, visiting Boulder, prairie dogs, Colorado Subaru drivers, funny interactions with people in Boulder, and more. Each also shared memories of time in Nederland and how their lives have been impacted by the fire or other tragedies.
The show was organized by Vinnie Montez, a nationally touring comedian, who also happens to be a public information office with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.
Montez said a special thanks to the Dairy Arts Center for the space, and to the Community Foundation of Boulder County, who will distribute the funds; to Tebo Properties and Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. All comedians performed for free to help out the community members of Nederland affected by the fire.
The comedians’ information was provided to us from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and is included below.
Vinnie Montez
Born and raised in Boulder, Vinnie Montez is a national touring headliner and Comedy Works regular known for his high energy, deeply relatable standup that draws from over 20 years in law enforcement and his Mexican-American roots.
His comedy blends real life stories, cultural identity, and quick wit into a style that’s equal parts heartfelt and hilarious. Vinnie’s work has been featured on Dry Bar Comedy (Armed & Hilarious and Funny Moments), Amazon Prime Video (Vinnie-isms: The Story of the Cop Comedian), and the Heroes Off Duty Comedy Tour. He has performed for U.S. troops overseas through the Gary Sinise Foundation.
Find out more about Vinnie Montez here vinniemontez.com.
Nancy Norton
Nancy Norton, RN CHP, delivers uplifting and interactive performances infused with insight from her years as a comedian and registered nurse.
She is the first woman to win the Boston Comedy Festival and the Seattle International Comedy Competition, and has been recognized as “Best of the Fest” alongside Jay Leno at the Burbank Comedy Festival.
Nancy has entertained U.S. and international audiences, including multiple USO tours for troops in Europe, Asia, Iceland, and the Pacific. In 2024, she became a Certified Humor Professional through the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor, and now hosts the Tromedy podcast—helping people transform life’s pain into laughter.
Find out more about Nancy Norton here: nancynorton.tv.
John Novosad
John Novosad is a stand-up comedian and Boulder native who has been performing for over three decades across the country.
A regular at Comedy Works in Denver, John has appeared on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (twice) and Comedy.TV with Byron Allen. He has released a hit Dry Bar Comedy special with more than 2 million views.
His 2022 album, Jokes I Can Only Tell Here, has been viewed over 1.7 million times across YouTube platforms. With his signature calm delivery and sharp humor, John brings a mix of warmth and wit that connects effortlessly with audiences everywhere.
Find out more about John Novosad here: johnnovosadcomedy.com.
The money raised will be combined with the funds from the Tebo fundraiser in Nederland last month. Funds will be distributed through the Boulder County Community Foundation. Currently, close to $30,000 has been raised through the Tebo fundraisers.
