Mayor to Proclaim a Laffathon Day
12/10/2015 Dr. Rain had another meeting with Mayor Diane Joens of Cottonwood, AZ on October 1st. The Mayor has agreed to declare a Laffathon Proclamation of Happiness and a Laffathon Day in the City of Cottonwood. She has also agreed to adopt a sister-city (as a happiness role model) in Hawaii and change the City calendar from Monday to Funday. After several drafts the proclamation is ready for submission.
Cottonwood, AZ 1/5/16 Mayor Joens and Council-member Terence Pratt present the affixed Laffathon Proclamation (see below) to Laffathon founder and producer Smokey Rain at the City Council meeting.
Help Wanted:
- Experiment Participants
- Laughter Demonstrators
- Super Smile Models
- Laughter (H)Ambassadors
- Scientist, artists and YOU!
contact:
Dr.Smokey Rain
(928) 274-5347
laffathon@gmail.com
Mayor Joens Happy About Laffathon
March 11,2016 Dr. Smokey Rain met with Mayor Diane Joens (Cottonwood, AZ), to discuss enlivening the city with laughter and solving problems. The meeting was a success and ended with a collaboration. Plans are being pursued and more will be revealed soon. In the nicetime, the Mayor is coming to the Laughter Demonstration for the Laffathon kickoff, in front of the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce (1010 S. Main) on April Fools' Day from 4-6pm. You're invited too!
A HAPPY COUNTRY
When we went to Costa Rica to visit and study one of the world's happiest and most peaceful countries we fell in love! The country's motto is PURA VIDA which translates to pure life or simple life, such a good way to live. :)
Dr. Smokey Soaky Rain and Desert Star teacher Julia Kartman.(Photo by Julia Kaetman)
New Cast Member Hams it up for The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Spoiler Alert, "Glad and Glad".
Ellen DeGeneres is a notorious riot of fun, always inciting laughs and promoting kindness and that's why we love her. On November 15th, talented improv artist and cartoonist, Laura Lee Lizak joined comedian, Smokey Rain (Laffathon founder) and the two humorists collaborated to make the entertaining video above filmed by Don Whitcher. This is Lizak's first Laffathon appearance with the Laffathon comedy troupe, known as the Royal Noodles.
Lizak plays the Mad Hatter who is transformed into the Glad Hatter. Rain, plays the glad scientist, Dr. Double Daffy Cakes who catalyzes the metamorphosis through a Laffathon experiment...turning on the Magic Light of Laughter. Just like in real life, as the switch of Laughter is flipped, the magic of laughter saves the day and helps change things for the better by making the Mad Hatter glad.
The hilarious duo submitted the creative and funny video to The Ellen DeGeneres Show promptly to win seats in Ellen's Geico Box during her 12 Days of Giveaways this year while spreading joy and humor.
Cottonwood Journal Extra 3-25-15
http://cjx.stparchive.com/Archive/CJX/CJX03252015P11.php
Seth Rogen & his wife Lauren Miller Rogen- amazing and delightfully funny couple and their Hilarity for Charity team (Alzheimer's Association) are leading the way in educating the public (especially Millennials) and helping families who are dealing with this deadly disease by providing in-home care grants, support groups nationwide, and funding cutting edge research. Kudos to Rogers for making a difference. You can make a diffence too. Click here...I WANT TO DONATE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE NOW!
See above article from the Verde Independent Newspaper on 3-30-16 and photos from Laffathon Day event by Diane Joens, Ginger Lindquist, Don Whitcher and Steve Schutz.
Cottonwood's Official Holiday Causes
A Laughter Riot
(4-1-16) A riot of laughter was had by one and all as banana props (cell phones), red noses, hilarious posters, costumes, stilts, big kids, little kids, a puppet, smiles and guffaws galore were afoot and had Cottonwood rolling on Laffathon Day, April 1st. Laffathon Day is an official city holiday recently proclaimed by Mayor Joens to increase happiness and health in the city.
To celebrate Laffathon volunteers joined me for the 2nd Annual Laughter Demonstration in a regular activist protesting spot and took everyone off-guard with joy. Drivers, passengers and passerbyers burst at
the seams at the sight of the silly gang perched in front of the Chamber of Commerce. Our pro-smile/anti grump position was graciously embraced and the call for public action was immediately fulfilled.
I extend a gigantic thank you to all who participated in this experiment including Mayor Joens, Councilmember Terence Pratt, the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce the two dozen performers, including stilt-walker Deborah Williams, Las Vegas comedian Kevin Perez, local musicians Don Whitcher, Bill Bassett, Dorothy and Ray DeSylvester and all the good citizens of Cottonwood for strutting their stuff and playing along with us.
Super special thanks to Taryn Quenzer and her third graders at Cottonwood Elementary for making and donating our funny signs. And, to our other sign artists Steve Schutz and Bonnie Jones as well as Candace Schoonover who donated clown noses. There is more fun to come, believe it or snot.
---Dr. Smokey Soaky Rain
Costa Rica Sunset by S. Rain
DANCERS AND NON-DANCERS WANTED FOR VIDEO SHOOT:
"Laffathon 365 Happy Dance-a-thon"
April 1st is an official holiday in Cottonwood, AZ - it's Laffathon Day! Beginning April 1st, 2024, we are going to celebrate this year's special holiday with a Laffathon 365 Happy Dance-a-thon and we're inviting everyone around the world to happy dance with us, each and every day for an entire year.
Video and pic submissions are welcome for a documentary, a special promo video and also for posting on the Laffathon website (and social media).
Please submit video and pics of you're dancing and non-dancing for the video. send submissions to: smokeyrainbows@gmail.com
Playshops with Purpose
Cornville, AZ 5/20/16 Laffathon's Royal Noodle comedy/music troupe did a playshop at the Desert Star Academy on their state testing day to help them cope with the pressure of the tests. Dr. Rain did a Laffathon Day performance on March 30th for Cottonwood Elementary. Like last year, on Jan. 29th, the Laffathon comedy troupe, the Royal Noodles, did a playshop to help Cottonwood Elementary decompress from test stress and anxiety.
Taking a Leap of Faith: Church of Blues Introduces Unique Music Series
Clarkdale, AZ - February 14, 2024: In a momentous collaboration, Laffathon's esteemed Chief Gelotologist, Smokey Rain, has embraced a new role as Associate Pastor and Associate Producer at the Church of Blues, a nonprofit dedicated to the celebration of music. The offer, extended by Deacon Manuel Carrasco, Pastor of the Church of Blues, marks a significant milestone for both Rain and the organization.
Expressing her gratitude, Rain stated, "I am deeply honored to embark on this journey alongside Manuel and the Church of Blues. Our shared vision for a vibrant music program presents an unparalleled opportunity for our community, and the best part is, it's entirely free of charge!"
At the heart of their initiatives lies the groundbreaking "COMPOSING THE BLUES" music series, designed to nurture the talents of aspiring musicians. Led by seasoned professionals including Lee Zimmer, Don Whitcher, and Tommy Anderson, this series promises a transformative experience in the art of Writing and Performing from the Heart & Soul.
Spanning a comprehensive 20-week curriculum, participants have the flexibility to tailor their involvement, whether attending individual sessions or committing to the entire program. Sessions will convene every Sunday from 10:30 to 11:30 am, commencing on February 18, 2024, and concluding on June 30, 2024. The venue for this enriching journey is none other than the Historic Downtown Cottonwood, housed within the Old Town Center for the Arts in Studio B (633 N. 5th St.).
Acknowledging the invaluable support behind this endeavor, it's worth noting that this initiative was made possible through the collaborative efforts of nonprofit organizations such as the Church of Blues and the Veterans Assistance Angels, supplemented by a generous grant from the Arizona Commission of the Arts. This grant, funded by both the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts, stands as a testament to the enduring commitment towards fostering artistic expression and community enrichment.
As the curtains rise on this innovative music series, the Church of Blues extends a warm invitation to all enthusiasts, beckoning them to embark on a journey of creativity, camaraderie, and profound musical exploration.
For more information please contact: https://churchofblues.org/
Church of Blues Deacon Manuel Carrasco (left), Associate Pastor Smokey Rain (right)
Seth Rogen tells us about Hilarity for Charityon The Ellen DeGeneres Show and plays the Pitch Please game with Ellen. Check out Ellen's sweet surprise for Seth!
(Photo by: J.p. Lunazul)
Laffathon Playshop is a Smash Hit!
Cottonwood, AZ-29-16 Laffathon participant Taryn Quenzer, third grade teacher at Cottonwood Elementary School, invited Laffathon back to her school this year. Laffathon accepted the invitation to once again help students decompress from stressful state testing anxiety. Members of Laffathon's comedy and music troupe, The Royal Noodles, including Smokey Rain, Taryn Quenzer, Kevin Perez and Steven Schutz had a delightful time entertaining and educating the students. Assistant Superintendent, Steve King, also attended to share in the laughs featuring an original rap song, Laughter Yoga and Animal Races. Laffathon extends a special "thank you" to Taryn for the invitation and also to Royal Noodle member Julia Kartman who could not attend the performance yet provided assistance and enthusiasm during rehearsals.
Did you know that Alzheimer's can potentially effect 1 out of 3 people?
Click this link: Donate Now to make a tax-deductible donation to the Alzheimer's Association'sHilarity for Charity campaign...thanks! The Laffathon Experiment is an official Hilarity for Charity team member.