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Stand Up Boston Comedy Challenge to Crown Boston’s Best Amateur Corporate Comedian

Local companies vie for top comedian spot to benefit Boston non-profit, Community Call

Colette Greenstein
Colette Greenstein has been a contributing arts & entertainment writer for the Banner since 2009. VIEW BIO
Stand Up Boston Comedy Challenge to Crown Boston’s Best Amateur Corporate Comedian
Felix G. Arroyo

Boston, MA (September 24, 2014) – Community Call has kicked off its Stand-Up Boston Comedy Challenge, the first of its kind event that invites local companies to enter their employees into a competition for Boston’s funniest, amateur corporate stand-up comedian.

The aspiring comedians will hit the Laugh Boston stage, located in Boston’s bustling Seaport District, on Tuesday, October 21 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh will serve as the event’s Honorary Chairperson. All proceeds will benefit Community Call, an organization that utilizes community event planning as a teaching method for opportunity and at-risk Boston public high school students.

One employee comedian from various companies around Greater Boston, including Pegasystems, Facebook, TripAdvisor, HubSpot and Google, will compete for the title of “funniest stand-up comedian”. Each amateur comedian will prepare a five minute set with coaching from professional comics Steve Macone, Will Noonan, and Dave Rattigan, before taking the stage in front of co-workers, guests, and celebrity judges.

Celebrity judges Felix G. Arroyo (Boston Chief of Health and Human Services); Chase Garbarino (founder and CEO of BostInno); Scott Kirsner (Innovation columnist for the Boston Globe); and John Tobin (comedy producer and owner, Theater District Productions), will select the evening’s funniest comedian based on material and delivery.

In addition to the stand-up performances, the evening will begin with a networking reception and will culminate with a presentation of the Community Call 2014 Young Leader Award presented by Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim and Pegasystems Founder and CEO, Alan Trefler. This annual award is presented to an outstanding young leader in Greater Boston nominated by members of the community and chosen by a peer group of students and young leaders from the Mayor’s Youth Council and Community Call students.

“Our event sponsor, Pegasystems, and others in the technology and business community have really stepped up for Stand-Up Boston,” said Carolyn Edwards, Executive Director of Community Call and the Stand-Up Boston organizer. “All proceeds from this fun and engaging evening will provide programming funds for our student-produced Boston community events on issues important to Boston youth ranging from themes of gang violence prevention to youth homelessness.”

“We are delighted to be sponsoring the Stand-Up Boston Comedy Challenge, and more importantly, Community Call and the great work they do in assisting Boston youth,” said Alan Trefler, Founder and CEO of Pegasystems. “Pega strives to be a responsible neighbor and active contributor in the communities where our employees, partners, and customers live and work. We help build stronger communities by supporting our colleagues in their charitable endeavors and by contributing to a variety of philanthropic organizations, with a special focus on helping underprivileged women and children.”

For tickets, sponsorship, and more information on the Stand-Up Boston Comedy Challenge, visit www.communitycall.org