Center’s Small Comedy Show Set Big Stage for Worcester’s Comedians

Thursday, November 06, 2014

Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester

Nearly six years ago, the Center Bar and Grill made a decision to bring stand-up comedy to Monday nights in Worcester. Appropriately called “The Sexiest Show in Town,” the Center gave three great years to up-and-coming comics in the Worcester area. The proof of which shone brightly just days ago.

In the past week, two of the local comedians that performed regularly at the Center were on prime-time late night television talk shows. Matt Donaher, who performed regularly since the Monday show started in 2009, was on Conan Monday night. Alingon Mitra, a regular from 2011-2012 at the Center, was on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Halloween night.

Shaun Connolly, Worcester former host of the “The Sexiest Show in Town,” said “Matt (Donaher) is one of the funniest comics I know. He is smart. Sometimes he is too smart for any crowd. One of my favorite times seeing him was at the Center where he would take away the attention from Monday Night Football for seven straight minutes.”

Connolly now helps run StageTime Comedy Club at the Canal Restaurant and Bar, and is current host of the “Sort of Late Show” at Lucky Dog Music Hall, both in Worcester.

Marty Caproni, also a regular during the early days of the Center show and who has opened for comedians Tracy Morgan and Dave Attel, said “In comedy, you see people come up and some you see and instantly realize they are going to go places. Matt was one of those guys. It’s not just writing great jokes, but crafting a great set. The guy is talented and funny but has worked his tail off to get on Conan and this is just the beginning for him.”

The Center Packed the House

Originally to get people in the door, the Center offered a $10 Pitcher of Beer and a Pizza Deal. However, in just a few weeks, people were packing the 800 square foot space just to catch the local acts. Then owner of the Center, Angel Rodriguez said, “The comedians were talented and well received. The venue was the perfect size for a show like that.”

“The crazy thing is everyone in Worcester will be able to say, ‘Man, I remember seeing those guys at the Center Bar on free pizza with a pitcher of beer night and now I'm seeing them on TV all the time,’” said Caproni.

Last month, the Center shut its doors after seven successful years in Worcester. The space has recently reopened as The District.

Rich Comedy History in Worcester

Worcester has had it’s fair share of comedy success stories, most notably comedian and actor Denis Leary. Worcester-born Leary will host his twentieth Comics Come Home event on Saturday night.This year, to celebrate the milestone, and to accommodate its huge demand for tickets, the show will be held at the TD Garden in Boston. Performing this year for Comics Come Home are Jimmy Fallon, Bill Burr, Craig Ferguson, Lenny Clark, Jim Gaffigan, and many others.

Caproni said, “You can't say Worcester without saying Denis Leary. A lot of his family still lives there. He has become a megastar but hasn't forgotten his roots. He has done and continues to do a lot for the city. And he and his comedy came from the city. I mean he was just 30 minutes down the pike to the Ding Ho with Lenny (Clark) and all those guys. They basically built the foundation that New England comedy sits on.”

Worcester’s Orlando Baxter On The Rise

One name that is continuously heard from comics in the Worcester area is Orlando Baxter.

Caproni said, “Worcester was where I started. A lot of us did, and Orlando Baxter was like the epicenter of this whole comedy earthquake.”

Baxter, the original headliner at the Center’s Monday night shows, was recently selected as one of two finalists for the USA in the 2014 Montreux Comedy Fest in Switzerland.

“I loved performing at the Center because it was a great intimate place to work out new material. The thing I loved most was it was a real challenge for comics. The audience was great if you were funny, but if you weren't funny they would turn right around and watch the football game,” said Baxter.

Baxter has also toured nationally opening up for comedian Jo Koy. He recently made his second TV appearance on Gotham Live last week.

For Donaher and Mitra, Baxter thinks there is endless potential. “I thought they both had awesome TV sets. Their jokes hit hard and the audience really loved them. As far as their careers go the sky is the limit for these two. They are super talented, likeable, and extremely hardworking, and you can't lose with that combination.”

Worcester Set the Tone

“Living and growing up in Worcester played a big role in my life because it helped me become the man I am today. So its influence on my comedy is tremendous. Most of the characters and stories I talked about on stage are based on the people that live in this city,” said Baxter.

“I love Worcester for performing because it's a real deal American city. Working folks, blue collar people who work hard and just want to laugh. They don't want to blog, they don't want to review, they just want you to make them laugh after a long week of work. It's a city full of great people man,” said Caproni.

When asked if there was any doubt this young group of Worcester comedians were going to make it big, Caproni said, “I firmly believed it would happen back then and it seems like it's happening now. And all the guys who have this success are good guys and deserving of it. They had to be funny enough to compete with free pizza, after all.”