Laughter As Medicine 2025
Vail Daily Coverage of the Event | Full Photo Gallery by Mark Masters
Thursday, July 10, 2025 — Riverwalk Theater, Edwards, CO
SpeakUp ReachOut and Vail Comedy Show came together for Laughter as Medicine, a bilingual comedy night designed to bring joy, connection, and conversation about mental health to our community because we know sharing experiences promotes healing. This free event featured comedians Sunee Dhaliwal (English) and Carlos Santos (Spanish), offering attendees a choice of performances in their preferred language. While adults enjoyed the show, children were treated to a movie in an adjacent theater—making the evening welcoming for families.
The Riverwalk Theater was transformed into two pop-up comedy clubs, buzzing with energy and laughter. This event reminded us how humor can help people feel connected, ease emotional weight, and create space for conversations that can otherwise feel hard to have.
“Laughter has lots of medicinal benefits—I’ve given talks around the country about studies from Stanford and Harvard about the benefits of laughing—and a good laugh can certainly improve mental health. So the SpeakUp ReachOut event was a terrific confluence of some of my passions doing good in the community. Headliners Sunee Dhaliwal and Carlos Santos were incredible on stage and off, getting big laughs and hanging out with attendees after the shows. Combining great comedians, a wonderful community, and a terrific partner (SpeakUp ReachOut) was a dream come true, and I can’t wait to do it again!”
— Mark Masters, Vail Comedy
Audience members shared how powerful the night felt:
“Sharing laughter with others can really brighten your mood and distract you from other things. I was having an annoying day dealing with work. I completely forgot about it in the moment and left that comedy show with a smile and a really good mood.”
“I think that approaching such a taboo subject through comedic expression made it very comfortable to discuss. The English-speaking comedian was so vulnerable and intimate — I really enjoyed it.”
“Although I hoped the comedy act did not go ‘dark,’ it was helpful what Sunee spoke about — including mental health in the conversation. It affects us all!”
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Vail Comedy, Riverwalk Theater, our performers, volunteers, and every attendee who made this night possible. Your laughter and presence remind us that healing can take many forms — and sometimes, it starts with a good joke.