Nick O'Neill fund-raiser to feature medium Roland Comtois

WOONSOCKET - For the second year in a row, spiritualist and author Roland Comtois has been named the featured speaker at the annual Nick O'Neill fund-raising event being held at the Stadium Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m.

All proceeds from the two-hour event will benefit the Nick O'Neill-Encore Repertory Scholarship Fund sponsored by The Stadium Theatre Foundation Inc.

Nick, an aspiring musician and playwright, lost his life in the Station Nightclub fire more than six years ago when he was just 16 years old. The scholarship fund was set up in his memory by his father Dave Kane, a popular radio personality and TV host and author of "41 Signs." Scholarships are awarded to area students who participate in Encore presentations and who pursue theatrical arts as their major in college.

According to a press release, last year more than 750 persons from all over New England attended the event to honor the memories of those whose lives were lost in the fire and to share in the comfort and healing words that Roland Comtois shares at his presentations. This year, thanks to the success of the 2008 event along with the publication of Comtois' new book, "And Then There Was Heaven, A Journey of Hope and Love," the theater expects an even bigger turnout.

A Woonsocket native, Comtois will share the stories behind his career as a spiritual medium, recounting details about his life's journey, when he first realized his calling, how he receives spiritual messages and what he does on a typical day.

For tickets, call the Stadium Theatre at 762-4545 or visit www.stadiumtheatre.com .