Comedian and Rancho Santa Fe native ready for ‘An Evening of Stand-Up Comedy’ at Conner’s Cause gala
By Rob LeDonne
Conner’s Cause, “the only non-profit organization in the San Diego region that offers direct family assistance for out-of-pocket expenses relating to any and all life-threatening illnesses associated with children,” is hosting a gala fundraising event on Oct. 19. “Stand-Up for Conner’s Cause, An Evening of Stand-Up Comedy” will be held at the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club.
The charity, which is currently celebrating its 20th year, hosts the gala as an annual centerpiece, and the evening offers cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, dinner, and an evening of stand-up comedy featuring professional comics from the Southern California area.
“It’s such a great cause,” said Daniel Storrow, a Los Angeles-based comedian who grew up in Rancho Santa Fe and is one of the comedians performing at the event. Storrow has been busy recently in the Southern California club scene and jumped at the chance to help out the charity.
“A friend of mine got in touch with me about performing, and I was happy to,” he said.
Storrow, who attended freshmen and sophomore years of college at UC San Diego, got his start in comedy in 2007 at Mira Mesa’s Comedy Co-op.
“My first time on stage lasted 6 minutes and it was horrible,” he said. “Before then, I was just writing down material for a few months and figured I’d try an open mic. You have to be a little bit crazy to do stand-up comedy because nobody is good at first.”
Storrow eventually found his footing and has embraced the comedic process as well as the connection he makes with audiences.
“After my first few times I knew what I needed to fix and worked a few things through,” he remembers of his humble beginnings. “That’s how it was for a long time.”
Storrow says his best audiences are the ones that are excited to be seeing comedy, which at the Conner’s Cause gala should be no issue. “The biggest part of it is whether the audience is happy to be there and hearing a comedian. At places like bars and restaurants, you have to fight to get their attention.”
Storrow has had plenty of nightmare gigs, but through it all has honed his craft and grown as a comedian.
“One of my best shows ever was the other week at a German restaurant,” Storrow said of the odd location. “The audience was loving it, and it was a packed house; I felt like I was in a zone.”
Odds are Storrow will find that zone again at the gala. A recent recipient of financial help through Conner’s Cause includes a local 9-year-old girl with Rhett’s Syndrome, a severe form of autism. The charity took care of her family’s utility and water bills, and also provided financial support to purchase medical supplies and clothes.
Tickets to the gala are $115 per person, Early bird tickets, $100, before Sept. 30. Auction donations and sponsorship opportunities are also available.
For more information, contact Karen Gliner (619) 540-1650 or visit