New Show Tackles Racial Divide With Humor, Dialogue In Hamptons

BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY — In a world ripped apart by racism and hate crimes, the only way to bridge the gap is by bringing people together through humor and sharing honest and meaningful conversation about what can be done to work together toward solutions —and hope.

Those words define the premise of a new comedy show, "United We Laugh," presented by Soul Joel Productions, that's been touring the East End in recent months, and the dialogue sparked has been life-changing, according to audience members who open up honestly to share their most painful truths with an eye toward stamping out racism and intolerance forever.

Created by comedian Richie Byrne, hosted by the Southampton Anti-Bias Task Force, and moderated by ABTF chair James "Dr. Love" Banks, the next "United We Laugh" event unfolds on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork, located at 977 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike in Bridgehampton. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the show cost $20; to purchase, click here or call 908-414-7097.

A portion of proceeds will benefit the Unitarian Universalist Church's new Little Free Pantry, to help those struggling with hunger in the Hamptons. In addition, guests are asked to bring a canned food donation to help stock the Little Free Pantry.

Wednesday's show features hilarious A-list comics including host and creator Byrne, Vic Henley, Melissa Diaz, and Wali Collins.

In a nation fiercely divided, with headlines about heated cases sparking racial tensions and hate crimes an escalating concern, the hilarious show was designed to help heal the angry chasm through hope and lead through laughter.

Conceived by Byrne, a comedian who wows with his warm-up on "The Dr. Oz Show", sold-out shows nationwide, and TV and film appearances, the show focuses on giving audiences the chance to share their unique perspectives — to listen and discuss explosive issues in a safe, non-confrontational space, where laughter has eased tensions.

"A major part of this dilemma is our inability to see the alternate perspective. We need to hear another's point of view in a way that's more relatable and less volatile," Byrne said. "The only way to accomplish this, one that's been overlooked, is through humor. Off-the-cuff honesty in humor has been compromised by a spike in sensitivity on all sides to the fear of offending. Humor is the most important tool in American society, and yet, the one component that seems to be lacking when it comes to race relations."

With an eye toward real change, the cutting-edge new comedy show seeks to tackle bigotry by bringing together comics who will stand up to break through and bridge the racial divide with laughter and conversation.

"United We Laugh" is a multi-entertainment, multi-cultural tour, podcast, Facebook Live program and television show designed to heal through hope and lead through laughter.

The diverse mix of well-known comedians represents all sides of the heated racial debate. During the first act, the comedians perform, infusing the evening with hilarity and intelligence as they spotlight thought-provoking racial issues.

After a 15-minute intermission, Act II unfolds with all four comics onstage discussing a "hot button topic" about racism in America. The evolving discussions will focus on an array of possible talking points, including current headlines, statistics about hate crimes nationwide, and input from experts on the cry for change.

(Comedian Richie Byrne / Photo by Lisa Finn)

Audience members are encouraged, but not expected, to ask questions and give their opinions; in a groundbreaking new format, the audience will become a critical component in the show's diverse canvas.

"America has become too rigid, too serious," Byrne said. "This attitude has made our country dangerous. We need to open up and explore our feelings. Comedy is a unique way to do this. 'United We Laugh' seeks to offer understanding and insight into another person's racial point of view. By shifting the focus toward 'funny' these issues may not seem as dangerously divisive."

The kick-off "United We Laugh" show, held at the Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant in East Marion recently, followed by another thought-provoking and insightful event at the Hampton Bays Senior Center in September, were both successes, drawing an engaged crowd who spoke for more than an hour both times on critical issues.

"This is tremendous," said Lucius Banks, of the Long Island Chapter of the NAACP, after the Hampton Bays show.

"It's so needed," said another woman who shared her experiences at the event. During the show, not only the comedians and moderator Banks but also the audience opened up about how their lives had been touched and in some cases, deeply torn, by the racial divide.

Institutionalized racism, said comedian Sara Contreras, affects all, and filters into every aspect of the society. Some people feel they don't have to talk about race, saying, "It's not my problem," she said. "But everyone is affected by racism."

One audience member added: "If you examine what's within, you might not really like what you see there."

Another woman said it's critical to realize that festering racism exists everywhere, even in the Hamptons, where the KKK have distributed flyers.

Banks spoke about reparations. "People think that means we have to give them some money. Maybe when we talk about reparations, we need to think about it from the perspective about what things that were taken away — opportunities for housing, being stopped economically — rather than by what we want to give."

(James Banks / Lisa Finn)

But the first step, Banks said, comes when a community joins together in a room to face the issues together with honesty. "We need to do what's happening here tonight," Banks said. "Let's get down to business."

He asked the audience, "How many people here have had people who are different in your home, for dinner? " But when many raised their hands, Banks said one challenge is that often at events organized to tackle racism, he sees a like-minded crowd who share the same beliefs. All too frequently, he said, "The people who need to be here are not here," he said.

"That's what I'm trying to change," Byrne said, adding that every voice needs to be heard if any concrete change is going to be realized.

Byrne thanked Soul Joel Productions and said he was thrilled that the first audiences have opened up as much as they did.

"At some points it even got heated but to watch people come together and try to make a difference was really interesting and amazing," he said. Byrne said he was also happy with the wide range of topics and the passion and hunger for discussion that was brought by the audience.

So many were visibly moved that they lined up to speak to Byrne after the Hampton Bays show, expressing the need to bring the dialogue to their own communities.

"It's pretty obvious that people want to talk about this, want to open up," Byrne said. "And, there was a level of civility that was important and needed as we move forward."

The comics, too, opened up and shared their unique journeys, something that Byrne was impressed by.

After attending an event on racism at Guild Hall in East Hampton a few weeks after the first United We Laugh and hearing feedback from many who had attended the UWL show, Byrne said he expects the dialogue to continue at future performances. "We have an engaged public eager to join the discourse," he said. "There's so much happening in the world today. We need to have a safe place to discuss the issues."

The comedy was critical, Byrne added. "It made people a little more comfortable. During the audience participation portion, it wasn't as volatile as it could have been because the consensus was, 'Let's get going and fight back against bias.' There was an element of community when the comedians were all performing."

Byrne's premise has long been that in an atmosphere of friendship, it's always easier to discuss issues including racism without rancor, due to the level of trust and respect. That environment is one he hopes to foster in the "United We Laugh" shows, where the mood is reminiscent of a group of friends sharing conversation over dinner. "When you go to a party, you sit, you laugh, and you debate — and that's what happened," Byrne said.

The show, he added, is important now more than ever. "Comedy can help defuse the anger and leave it at the door — making the show a safe place to discuss the issues. At this juncture in society, this show is necessary," he said. "The goal is to make people laugh and discuss bias without boundaries."