Ceres comedian Dane Madden enjoys splitting sides but it's an added pleasure to be doing so on April 27 to help raise funds for a local cancer patient.

On Saturday, April 27, Madden will share the stage at St. Clair Theater, 417 7th Street, Modesto, with four other comics, two of whom are Los Angeles comedians Alfred Robles and Nick Guerra who have been featured on Comedy Central. Shows are offered at 7 p.m. and at 9:30 p.m. Tickets to the Cancer Fundraiser Comedy Show, sponsored by Zerx Entertainment, are $15 per person with proceeds going to help Christina "Tita" Robinson, a 33-year-old mother of two sons who has been battling osteosarcoma bone cancer for the past six years. Christina has unfortunately already lost her leg to cancer. She is currently working on her third remission and is undergoing an expensive treatment that her medical plan does not fully cover.

Madden, 25, said he grew up watching a lot of comedians while attending Sam Vaughn Elementary School, Blaker Kinser Junior High and both Don Pedro and Ceres high schools. While a student at Don Pedro High School in Tuolumne County he was voted "most comedic" by his peers. The stepson of a comedy promoter, Dane got into comedy about four years ago, first appearing at the Double Tree in Modesto.

His 10-minute routine tries centers on "everyday things that people can relate to."

"I talk about my family life, I like to make fun of myself and the funny things that kids do. I'm the father of two."

He tries to keep his material generic like his big ears ("You know when you've got big a--- ears when you can stand out in the rain for an hour and your shoulders are dry") but has been known to take jabs at the community he performs in, such as the crime rate of Stockton or the mention of Crows Landing to Modesto audiences.

The grandson of Joel Hidahl (for whom a Ceres school was named) feels his career is starting to take off.

"It's turning into a full time job," said Madden, who does landscape maintenance and operates a forklift.
The Ceres comic just booked a June 21 comic gig at the world famous Comedy Store in Hollywood.

Madden has performed with comedic actor Eddie Griffin, who appeared on the Shaq O'Neal Comedy Jam. Dane also performed with Aries Spears of Mad TV. He also opened for the Classic R&B group "New Edition" in front of 8,000 people last year at Fresno's Save Mart Center.

"This year I'm starting off with cancer fundraisers to give back to my fans and my community who I've found can be helped through my talents," said Madden.

Following the cancer fundraiser show, Madden will be performing at Stockton's Empire Theater with Darren Carter who has been featured on HBO, Comedy Central, Showtime and Jay Leno.

"I am very blessed to have the love and support that I have from my hometown," said Madden.

A similar cancer fundraiser show held last month netted approximately $2,400 to help cancer patient Mikey Maes who is battling testicular cancer.

Others performing in the cancer fundraiser show are Big Al Gonzales and Monique Flores.

For tickets call 390-7735 or visit www.zerxentertainment.com.

Donations for Robinson may be made through www.gofundme.com/2fegwo.