You’re invited to
HAPPY HOUR
A Stand-up Comedy Fundraiser for the

Empire Arts Center

Get ready for another night of laughter at the 2nd Annual Happy Hour, a standup comedy fundraiser featuring some of the region's most talented comedians!
Each comedian brings their own unique style and perspective to the stage, delivering a diverse range of comedy that will have everyone laughing.
Not only will you enjoy an evening of great entertainment, but your ticket purchase supports the Empire Arts Center, helping to sustain and grow the arts in our community.

General Admission
Cash bar available
Recommended age: 18+

Join us for a night of comedy for a cause—because laughter is always better when it supports the arts!

SEE YOU AT HAPPY HOUR

SEE YOU AT HAPPY HOUR

MEET THE COMEDIANS

CARL MERRICK

Carl Merrick is a sharp-witted storyteller with a dry, self-deprecating style that keeps audiences laughing. He has performed at renowned venues such as Second City Chicago, Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, Laugh Factory Chicago, Detroit House of Comedy, and The Comedy Project in Grand Rapids, among many others. A finalist in both the 2024 Ridleys Detroit to LA Competition and the Kingpin of Comedy Competition, Carl has also showcased his talent at festivals like Jersey City Comedy Festival, Gilda’s LaughFest, Maumee Comedy Festival, Upper Peninsula Comedy Festival, and the Finger Lakes Comedy Festival. He has opened or featured for notable comedians, including Andy Beningo, Rocky LaPorte, and Mary Santora, and has headlined corporate events, Comedy in the Creek (Battle Creek), Muskegon Yacht Club, and Corridor Comedy at Ugly Bros. Carl recently auditioned at The Comedy Chalet in Los Angeles and is set to perform there in April 2025. A cancer survivor, he jokes that his favorite activity is breathing—but comedy comes in at a close second.

RICHARD Z

A staple of North Dakota comedy, Richard Z is a regular at The Cellar in Fargo and can be found at mics all over the state. He has performed throughout the Midwest, and was a finalist in Acme’s Funniest Person in the Twin Cities contest in 2023. As a student of the craft, Richard has studied comedy and theatre at The Guthrie, HUGE Improv Theater, and The Second City.

NELLIE PIEKARSKI

Nellie Piekarski is one of Greater Grand Forks’ newest comedians. Clocking in at just under one year of experience, Piekarski has taken the area comedy scene by storm. From being a regular at open mic nights in the region to opening for Paint the Town in the packed basement venue of Half Brothers, Nellie brings her audience into her life. With each performance, Nellie gives audiences a raw look into her world through her engaging, no-filter storytelling style. 

BETHANY ABELN

Bethany Abeln is a stand-up comedian based in Fargo, North Dakota, known for their sharp observational style and dark, raunchy sense of humor. Drawing from real-life experiences and personal misadventures, Bethany finds the funny in life’s more uncomfortable moments—with just the right mix of honesty, attitude, and charm. A regular at The Cellar and Boss’s Comedy Club in Fargo, Bethany has performed at clubs and venues across North Dakota and Minnesota, and recently opened for Nikki Glaser. Whether on a big stage or a small-town bar, their laid-back delivery and fearless perspective keep audiences laughing—and occasionally rethinking their life choices.

MEET THE HOST

TERRY DULLUM

Terry Dullum has appeared on stage with comedy legends Martin Short, John C. Reilly, and Bob Zany. He has performed in Arsenic and Old Lace and Guys on Ice at the Fire Hall Theatre, and in The Wizard of Oz at Burtness Theatre. He and his wife Ginny live in Grand Forks with their cat Desi Arnaz.