Laughter and nearly 100 University students filled the Union Theater on Thursday night as five local stand-up comedians raised money for Dance Marathon.

“Stand Up Comedy for the Kids,” the philanthropy’s first comedy benefit, featured University alum Dustin Meadows and University students Brandon Schneider, Matt Allard, Jared Miller and Sam Killermann. All competed in the Last Comic Standing event hosted at the Union last spring.

“You can’t pick a more random group of guys, and that was my goal,” said Killermann, who coordinated the event with Dance Marathon. “It was a great show, for a great cause, with a great group of comedians.”

Joke topics included Facebook, Star Wars, swearing and even Taco Bell’s “fourthmeal.” The show concluded with men’s a-capella choir Ten40, formerly known as the HeeBeeBGs, assisting Killermann with a comedic seduction of University freshman Jen Digangi for Valentine’s Day.

“They’re really good singers, but they said the song they sang was the No. 1 suicide song in the U.S., so I wasn’t exactly seduced,” Digangi said. “It was kind of mortifying. But the show was still good. I’m glad I showed up.”

Digangi’s friend, freshman Kaitlyn Pukansky, volunteered her to participate in the show from the audience.

“She’s really pretty, so I knew they would pick her as a single to seduce,” Pukansky said. “I think this was a really good way to spend a Thursday night. They were really funny.”

The performance was significant for Killermann in many ways. His sister Haley traveled from Chicago to watch him perform for the first time and it was also the first time he included music in his act.

“It’s always been one of my dreams to incorporate music into my stand-up comedy,” Killermann said. “I could have used a CD, but I decided why not have nine guys stand behind me and sing for me?”

Nonetheless, the main focus was not himself, but the kids, he said.

“I’m not what’s most important,” Killermann said. “I care about Dance Marathon and supporting them. But once everyone’s inside, the money’s already raised. I want to make sure everyone laughs and has a good time, too.”

The group raised $130 in ticket and merchandise sales, Dance Marathon Director Chrissy Daniel said.

“The money will go toward Mercy Children’s Hospital in Toledo, and we’ll announce the final total of all our fundraisers at Dance Marathon April 2,” she said. “I’d say it was pretty successful for a first try.”