Native comic unearths inspiration and a reason, and a teacher-turned-comic heads again to college

ANOTHER COMEDIAN, ONE WHO HAS THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD ON HIS SHOULDERS. >> DID YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME? >> IT IS OFTEN SAID THERE IS HEALING AND LAUGHTER, BUT THERE IS HOPE AS WELL. IT WAS ON DISPLAY WHEN 11 LOCAL COMICS UNITED TO STAND UP FOR UKRAINE. >> [LAUGHTER] >> THE MONEY IS GOING TO THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM. >> STEPHANIE PETERS ORGANIZED AND HOSTED THE EVENT FOR REASONS THAT COULD >> NOT BE MORE PERSONAL. >>>> DURING COVID, I GOT KIDNEY CANCER. IT WAS A SHOT, BUT I ASKED THE GUY, TELL ME IT WEIGHS 100 POUNDS. HE TOLD ME IT WEIGHS SIX OUNCES. [LAUGHTER] >> PETER’S SURVIVE, AND IT WAS ANOTHER COMEDIAN FROM ACROSS THE WORLD WHO INSPIRED HER TO ACTION. >> I WAS WATCHING ZELENSKYY, WHO IS A COMEDIAN AND FEELING PROUD. >> UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODOMYR ZELENSKYY CAME TO FAME IS A COMEDIAN IN THE SERIES, SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE. PETERS HAD FOUND HER CAUSE. >> IT WAS LIKE, OH MY GOD. THAT IS IT. I HAVE TO DO A SHOW TO RAISE MONEY FOR UKRAINE. >> THINGS CAME TOGETHER QUICKLY AS THE REGIONAL THEATER IN ARLINGTON DONATED USE OF ITS SPACE, AND 10 COMICS ANSWERED THE CALL TO ACTION. >> YOU WILL NEVER SEE A DIVERSER SHOW IN BOSTON, IT IS FIVE WOMEN, FIVE MEN. >> THE DIVERSITY FEELS MORE SIGNIFICANT AT A TIME WHEN THE WORLD IS SO DIVIDED, AND COMICS HAVE LITERALLY COME UNDER ATTACK. >> LET ME TELL YOU, SOMEONE WALK TOWARDS ME AND TRY TO SLAP ME ON THE STAGE, THAT WOULD HAVE GONE DOWN A WHOLE OTHER WAY. >> WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? >> THIS IS AMERICA, FREEDOM OF SPEECH. IN YOUR HEAD, YOU ARE EDITING LIKE, I AM NOT GOING TO DO THAT. I’M GOING TO GO TO MY DOG JOKE. >> INSPIRED BY MY HOST, I TAKE THE STAGE TO SEE IF I’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES. >> STEPHANIE, WHAT WORD STARTS WITH NE — AN E, ENDS WITH AN E, ONLY HAS ONE LETTER IN IT? >> THIS IS MORE OF A RIDDLE. [LAUGHTER] WE ARE GOING TO GO WITH A MOM JOKE. I DO NOT KNOW. >> AN ENVELOPE. NOT EVEN A GIGGLE? >> SHE IS SUCH A NICE PERSON, HOW DO I TELL HER? >> I DIDN’T MAKE THE CUT, BUT COMEDIAN WILL NOONAN WAS THERE TO CUT — PICK UP THE SLACK. >> NEVER SEEN AN ADULT FILM WHERE THE PIZZA DELIVERY GUY RINGS THE DOORBELL AND IS LIKE — [LAUGHTER] >> HE FLEXES HIS ACTING CHOPS WITH ANOTHER LOCAL COMEDIAN, IN THE INDEPENDENT FILM SALESMAN. >> I CAME BY TODAY — >> THE THIRD’S LEAD — THE THIRD LEAD MIGHT HAVE THE MOST UNUSUAL PATH INTO COMEDY. MEET ORLANDO BAXTER, AND ORLANDO NATIVE THAT WENT TO SCHOOL FOR COMEDY, BUT NOT IN THE WAY MIGHT BE THINKING. >> YOU WALKED THESE HALLS, BUT NOT THESE HALLS. >> YES, THIS WAS THE SCHOOL, BUT NOT BE NEW SCHOOL. YEAH, THIS IS WHERE I WAS AT. >> I CAUGHT UP WITH BAXTER AT THE RECENTLY RENOVATED SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL IN WORCESTER. >> IT HAS BEEN PART OF MY LIFE SINCE I WAS 15 YEARS OLD. I WAS A KID THAT WENT FROM A DYSFUNCTIONAL BACKGROUND TO FLOOR SHING IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. >> HIS CHALLENGES ARE SOMETHING EXTRA ADDRESSES HEAD ON IN HIS COMEDY. >> I WAS BORN WITH A CROSS SITE, IT IS NOT CROSSED NOW BECAUSE I HAVE GOT MONEY. >> WE HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON. I, TOO, WAS BORN CROSS SIDE — CROSS EYED. >> WHAT KIND OF TEACHER WERE YOU? >> NOBODY KNEW I WAS A STANDUP COMEDIAN. I WAS AFRAID FOR A LONG TIME. I THINK BEING IN FRONT OF STUDENTS EVERY DAY AND TALKING TO THEM HELPED ME GET OVER THE FEAR OF BEING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE , ESPECIALLY NOT DOING WELL IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. >> EVENTUALLY, IT WAS A STUDENT WHO GAVE BAXTER THE FINAL PUSH HE NEEDED TO PURSUE STAND UP FULL-TIME. BAXTER SHARED THAT EXCHANGE WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL IN EARLY 2022, COMING FULL CIRCLE TO FILM HIS COMEDY SPECIAL, LIVE FROM SOUTH HIGH. >> ONE DAY, THE KIDS ARE LOOKING AT ME AND I AM LOOKING AT THE KIDS. HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE. I DID NOT KNOW HE KNEW THE WORD HYPOCRITE. [LAUGHTER] HE IS ALWAYS TELLING US, YOU HAVE GOT TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS. YOUR PASSIONS, GO AT IT 100{22377624ce51d186a25e6affb44d268990bf1c3186702884c333505e71f176b1}. YOU AIN’T DOING IT HERE AT MAN, SHUT UP. YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. I DO COMEDY ALL THE TIME. HE SAID, ARE YOU DOING IT 100{22377624ce51d186a25e6affb44d268990bf1c3186702884c333505e71f176b1}? IF YOU ARE, YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE. >> YOU ARE AUTHENTIC AND OPEN FOR ANY KIDS WATCHING WHO MIGHT IDENTIFY WITH YOU. WHAT ARE YOU HOPING THEY MIGHT TAKE AWAY FROM THIS? >> I HOPE THEY REALIZE THAT ALTHOUGH THE SITUATION MIGHT BE DIFFICULT, HAVE A GOAL, HAVING DREAMS, HOPEFULLY, GOOD THINGS HAPPEN. >> [APPLAUSE] ANTHONY: BACK TO THAT STAND UP FOR UKRAINE SHOW, IT RAISED NEARLY $10,000. MONEY RAISED WENT TO THE FOOD ASSISTANCE BRANCH TO THE UNITED NATIONS. ALL OF THE COMICS DONATED THEIR TIME.

Native comic unearths inspiration and a reason, and a teacher-turned-comic heads again to college

Stephanie Peters and different comedians elevate price range for Ukraine, whilst Orlando Baxter heads house to Worcester

Up to date: 8:10 PM EDT Jul 22, 2022

“Stand Up for Ukraine” used to be a comedy display fundraiser held at Arlington’s Regent Theatre in Would possibly 2022 to strengthen the United International locations Global Meals Program. The display used to be arranged via native comic Stephanie Peters and featured Corey Manning, Carolyn Plummer, Bobby Niles, Coleen Galvin, Tony V., Chris Tabb, Amy Tee, Will Noonan, Jess Miller and Harrison Stebbins. All performers donated their time and ability.Former South Top Neighborhood College instructor Orlando Baxter is now a full-time comic who returned to his faculty in Worcester to movie a comedy particular, “Reside From South Top,” in keeping with his lifestyles.

“Stand Up for Ukraine” used to be a comedy display fundraiser held at Arlington’s Regent Theatre in Would possibly 2022 to strengthen the United International locations Global Meals Program. The display used to be arranged via native comic Stephanie Peters and featured Corey Manning, Carolyn Plummer, Bobby Niles, Coleen Galvin, Tony V., Chris Tabb, Amy Tee, Will Noonan, Jess Miller and Harrison Stebbins. All performers donated their time and ability.

Former South Top Neighborhood College instructor Orlando Baxter is now a full-time comic who returned to his faculty in Worcester to movie a comedy particular, “Reside From South Top,” in keeping with his lifestyles.