Robin Williams (Getty Images)

The New York Comedy Festival began last night with Ricky Gervais at Town Hall, but those who aren’t quite ready to laugh might be swayed by a good cause. We’ll be headed to the Stand Up for Heroes performance tonight at the Beacon Theatre, where comedians including Mr. Gervais, Jon Stewart, Robin Williams and Patton Oswalt will perform to benefit the Bob Woodruff Foundation, an organization put together by former ABC World News Tonight co-anchor Mr. Woodruff to benefit injured U.S. service members. If all that isn’t enough inducement, New Jersey patron saint Bruce Springsteen is promised too.

The Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway, 8pm, tickets available via Ticketmaster.