25th Annual Comedy for a Cure

The 25th Annual Comedy for A Cure® will be held Sunday, April 19, 2026 at the iconic Irvine Improv at Irvine Spectrum Center.

The event begins with a VIP reception from 4 pm with blue carpet arrivals, cocktails, dinner, fun activities, recognition of our awardees and a brief live auction. At 6 pm, we move into the theatre for an all-star comedy lineup and an entertaining experiential auction with a few celebrity surprises! Honorary chairs for the evening are Christy Hobart and Henry Shapiro, two of the event's founders.

Comedians

Legendary comedian Rita Rudner, known for her one-liners and understated delivery, is also an actress, screenwriter, and author. She was a regular guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman. Her may HBO specials include One Night Stand, Born to Be Mild, and Married Without Children. She was named Las Vegas’s Comedian of the Year multiple times, has written screenplays with her husband Martin Bergman, and has written best sellers including Naked Beneath My Clothes, Rita Rudner’s Guide to Men, and My Life in Dog Years. She currently performs across the U.S. 

Rita will be joined by Comedian Committee Members Mo Collins, Wendy Liebman and Craig Shoemaker, along with Priya Mehta.

Mo Collins is best known for her iconic characters on MADtv, Parks & Recreation and Fear of the Walking Dead. Wendy Liebman was the recipient of the American Comedy Award for Best Female Stand-up Comedian and has performed the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon and the Late Show with David Letterman. Craig Shoemaker is best known for his iconic character, the Love Master, is the recipient of the American Comedy Award for Best Male Stand-up Comedian and has appeared on every major network and streaming platform. Priya Mehta has produced and hosted some of the most dynamic multicultural comedy and entertainment shows in LA, selling out venues like Laugh Factory, HaHa Comedy Club, the Bourbon Room and Kookaburra Lounge.

We are also grateful to our Comedian Committee members—Jim O'Heir (Chair), Alonzo Bodden, Shane Brady, Gary Cannon, Mo Collins, Greg Grunberg, Wendy Liebman, Melissa Peterman and Craig Shoemaker—who each volunteer their time year after year to ensure we present a great show.

As a part of the evening's program, we are thrilled to honor The Briones Family, Raj Rajaraman, MD, MS, and Anna Todd, all of whom exemplify unwavering dedication to the TSC community and the TSC Alliance mission.

Honorees

The Briones Family, Courage and Leadership Award

Frances and Shawn Briones entered the TSC community 12 years ago when their daughter Rosy was diagnosed with TSC. Rosy was just four months of age. Rosy loves music, dancing and her four siblings. Frances has been involved with the TSC Alliance since 2015. She has been a leader in the Southern California walks, and an active participant in the TSC Summit, Regional Conferences, and World Conferences. Frances has also been offering support to local families at the Epilepsy Expo at Disneyland. She has attended the 50th Anniversary Gala and Comedy for a Cure and currently serves on the Board of Directors. Frances has advocated for Rosy and for TSC research and says, "Research is hope, and hope is everything".

Raj Rajaraman, MD, MS, TSC Champion Award

Dr. Rajaraman is a well-known and admired Associate Professor of Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, where he also serves as Clinic Director of the UCLA Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) Center of Excellence. He completed his Pediatric Neurology residency, Clinical Neurophysiology fellowship, and Epilepsy fellowship training at UCLA.

A native of New Jersey, Dr. Rajaraman completed his pediatrics residency at the Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center. During his pediatric residency, his exposure to children with seizures-- and the profound effects epilepsy has on patients and their families-- led him to pursue a career in pediatric epileptology at UCLA.

Dr. Rajaraman's clinical and research interests encompass all aspects of genetic epilepsies, with particular emphasis on TSC, CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder, and infantile spasms. He is the principal investigator of over a dozen pharmaceutical-sponsored and investigator-initiated clinical trials and studies, and he is the recipient of a 2024 Department of Defense grant investigating whether EEG biomarkers can predict seizure onset in individuals with TSC.

Dr. Rajaraman has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications focused on genetic epilepsies and antiseizure medications. In addition to his clinical and research work, he is an active member of the American Epilepsy Society (AES) and an annual participant in the TSC Step Forward for a Cure® walks. He will also serve as a speaker and presenter at the 2026 TSC World Conference in Aurora, Colorado.

Anna Todd, Spotlight Award

Anna Todd is a TSC mom with a 14-year-old son, Asher, who was diagnosed as an infant. Her entrance into the world of TSC was dramatic when her son started having seizures days after he was born. As a young mom she had to not only adjust to caring for an infant but also had to learn how to navigate the challenges of a rare disease. Anna began writing as an outlet and found her voice in this medium. She became a best-selling, world renown author of romance novels with publications in multiple languages. Anna has most recently used this platform to write a new book, The Last Sunrise, which follows the story of a young adult with TSC and will be released as a feature film in the Summer of 2026!