Comedy Show Fundraiser July 12: Alex Theatre Glendale Supports Academy

• Pasadena Rosebud Academy, a high-performing charter school in Altadena, was completely destroyed in the January 2025 Eaton Fire — and is still without a permanent home today.
• On Sunday, July 12, 2026, the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale is hosting Stand-Up For Students, a comedy show fundraiser headlined by comedian and actor Chris Spencer, with all proceeds benefiting the academy's rebuilding efforts.
• Tickets start at just $45, and every dollar raised — through ticket sales, donations, and merchandise — goes directly toward getting students back into a permanent school.
• The night includes stand-up comedy, lite bites, exclusive event merchandise, photo opportunities, and real community connection.
• Keep reading to learn what to expect on the night, why this school matters so deeply to its community, and who Chris Spencer is.

When a school burns down, it isn't just a building that's lost. It's the place where kids first learned to read, where teachers poured years of dedication, and where families built a sense of belonging. That's the reality Pasadena Rosebud Academy has been living since January 2025 — and a group of comedians is stepping up to help bring it back.

A Night of Laughs With Real Stakes: Tickets From $45

Some fundraisers feel like an obligation. This one feels like a party with a purpose. Stand-Up For Students is a comedy show fundraiser coming to the Alex Theatre in Glendale on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at 5:30 PM — built around something genuinely worth celebrating: the resilience of a school community that refuses to give up.

Hosted by acclaimed comedian and actor Chris Spencer, the evening brings together talented local comedians and special guests for a night that mixes big laughs with real impact. Attendees can expect lite bites and refreshments, exclusive event merchandise, photo opportunities, and the kind of shared energy that only happens when a community rallies around something that matters.

Tickets range from $45 to $181, and every single one directly supports the effort to rebuild Pasadena Rosebud Academy. Whether the motivation is the comedy, the cause, or simply wanting to be part of something meaningful, this is one evening on the calendar worth protecting.

What the Eaton Fire Took From Altadena

To understand why this fundraiser matters, it helps to understand what the Eaton Fire actually took away — not in abstract terms, but in human ones. In January 2025, fast-moving wildfires swept through the Altadena area east of Pasadena, destroying homes, displacing thousands of families, and leaving entire neighborhoods unrecognizable. For the broader community, the damage was staggering. For Pasadena Rosebud Academy, it was total.

Pasadena Rosebud Academy, a School Tragically Lost Overnight

Pasadena Rosebud Academy was not an ordinary school. Recognized as a high-performing charter school, its mission centered on educating and uplifting students of color while directly addressing the racial achievement gap — a mission that earned it genuine respect from families, educators, and community advocates alike. The school had built something rare: a culture where academic ambition and community identity reinforced each other.

When the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena in January 2025, the school was destroyed overnight. There was no warning that allowed for a graceful transition, no slow wind-down. One day the school existed; the next it didn't. The loss was felt immediately and deeply by the students, teachers, and families whose lives had been shaped by it.

In the aftermath, organizations stepped in where they could. Good360, in collaboration with the BeyGOOD Foundation, distributed over $467,000 in donated goods — including toys and home essentials — to more than 300 households connected to the Rosebud Academy community and the broader Pasadena and Altadena area. The California Charter School Association (CCSA) also provided advocacy and general support to charter schools affected by the Eaton Fire, including Pasadena Rosebud Academy. These contributions offered meaningful relief, but rebuilding a school from the ground up is a long, expensive road.

Still Without a Permanent Home, 18 Months Later

By January 2026 — a full year after the fire — Pasadena Rosebud Academy was still operating out of temporary locations, actively searching for a permanent facility. That's more than 18 months of educators doing their best to maintain continuity for students while dealing with profound instability. It's a situation that demands more than sympathy. It demands action.

That's the context behind Stand-Up For Students. This isn't a feel-good event loosely attached to a worthy cause. It's a direct response to an ongoing crisis — a community deciding that waiting around isn't an option.

Inside the Stand-Up For Students Fundraiser

The event is proudly presented by Pasadena Rosebud Academy and hosted at one of the region's most storied venues. Here's what to know before buying tickets.

Date, Time & Venue Details

The details are straightforward:

• Date: Sunday, July 12, 2026
• Time: 5:30 PM
• Venue: Alex Theatre, 216 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203

The Alex Theatre is a landmark venue with roots going back to 1925, celebrated for its Classical Revival and Moderne exterior and neo-classic Greek and Egyptian interior elements. Managed by The Evnsong (formerly SAS Entertainment Partners) since late 2021, the theatre has built a reputation as a genuine community hub — hosting everything from concerts and theatrical productions to film screenings and civic gatherings. It's a fitting home for an event that's as much about community as it is about comedy.

What to Expect on the Night

The evening is designed to be genuinely enjoyable from start to finish, not just meaningful. Here's a breakdown of what the night includes:

• Stand-up comedy hosted by Chris Spencer, joined by a lineup of talented local comedians and special guests
• Lite bites and refreshments to keep the energy up throughout the show
• Exclusive event merchandise — a tangible way to carry the night's mission forward
• Photo opportunities with performers and fellow attendees
• Meaningful community connection with neighbors, educators, parents, and supporters united around a shared cause

The format keeps things accessible and fun, so whether attending solo, with a partner, or in a group, there's plenty to engage with beyond the stage. It's a social night that happens to change lives.

Who Is Chris Spencer?

Chris Spencer is an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer with a career built over more than three decades in entertainment. His stand-up pedigree runs deep — he's performed on The Chris Rock Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and HBO's Def Comedy Jam, earning a reputation as a sharp, high-energy performer who connects genuinely with live audiences.

Beyond the stage, Spencer has a demonstrated history of using his platform for community good. His involvement with Stand-Up For Students fits a recognizable pattern: a comedian who takes his community responsibilities seriously, showing up when it counts.

Pairing a performer of Spencer's caliber with a cause as urgent as Rosebud Academy's rebuilding effort makes for exactly the kind of event that gives people a real reason to be in the room — and to bring friends along.

Every Ticket, Donation & Item Sold Helps Rebuild the School

The fundraising model here is refreshingly direct. Every ticket purchased, every donation made, and every item of merchandise sold goes toward rebuilding Pasadena Rosebud Academy and restoring the permanent learning environment that students deserve.

There are no complicated tiers of impact to decode. Buying a $45 ticket contributes. Purchasing event merchandise contributes. Making an additional donation on top of the ticket price contributes. The cumulative effect of a sold-out theatre — hundreds of community members each making that choice — adds up to something genuinely transformative for a school that has been operating in limbo for a year and a half.

For families who lost children's schools in the Eaton Fire, for educators who have been piecing together a curriculum from temporary spaces, and for students who deserve stability and a real sense of place, this event represents a tangible step forward. The math is simple: more attendees equals more resources equals a faster path back to a permanent home.

Get Your Tickets and Help Rebuild a School

Stand-Up For Students takes place on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at 5:30 PM at the Alex Theatre, 216 N Brand Blvd, Glendale, CA 91203. Tickets start at $45 and go up to $181, with options available to fit different budgets.

This is the kind of night that checks every box: great live comedy, a welcoming community atmosphere, and the knowledge that the ticket in hand is doing real work for real kids. Pasadena Rosebud Academy's students have been waiting long enough for a permanent place to call school. This is one concrete way to help make that happen sooner.

Secure tickets for Stand-Up For Students here — and help bring Pasadena Rosebud Academy home.

For a full look at upcoming community events and performances, visit The Alex Theatre, Glendale's historic performing arts venue and cultural hub.

The Alex Theatre
City: Glendale
Address: 216 N Brand Blvd
Website: https://www.thealex.com/
Phone: +1 818 254 8458
Email: letsconnect@thealex.com