Local comedians compete in second annual scholarship fundraiser

Paul D'Angelo worked as a prosecutor, then as a criminal defense attorney before taking the stage full time as a comedian.

But this Saturday at North Shore's Last Comic Standing, D'Angelo will be the closest he has ever come to serving as a judge.

Nine comedians will take turns onstage at the Salem/Beverly Elks Club while D'Angelo, local radio personality Kevin "Mugs" McGonagle, and Beverly police Chief John LeLacheur vote on their routines.

"I'll be looking to evaluate them on their stage presence, the quality of their writing, how original they are, and their presentation," D'Angelo said.

In addition to judging the event, D'Angelo will provide a closing act that draws on decades of experience headlining at major clubs and performing on television.

"I moved to LA and lived there for six years and after that never looked back," he said. 

This is the second year that North Shore's Last Comic Standing, which raises money for scholarships administered by the Beverly/Salem Elks, has been held. The event will feature several raffles, in addition to the entertainment. 

"We have last year's winner, Kaman Raye, a Beverly resident," said Mark Wood, who organizes the event. "He's also a member of the Elks, and the audience loved him."

Wood works as an audiovisual technician at the Peabody Essex Museum and also has experience in radio, in addition to reviewing local theater and music online. He and his wife, Nicole, worked together to produce the event, and they are both members of the Elks. 

Wood said he put out a casting call on Facebook for this year's lineup, and got 35 responses before narrowing those acts down.

While he included a few entry-level comedians in last year's event, which raised $1,700, everyone in this year's group has experience.

The competitors include Joe Kozlowsky, Detroit native Carrie Ross, former ironworker Robert Glancy, and Beverly's Will Martin, who performs all over Boston.

Swampscott's Joe Medoff, who has appeared at the Gotham Comedy Club and Comix at Foxwoods, will also compete, along with Chris Timoney, who has been entertaining in New England for seven years.

Other members of the lineup include "Deadair" Dennis Maler, who worked in radio for 17 years, and Brett Johnson, who recently appeared at the Crossroads Comedy Festival in Indianapolis.

Lynn native and Peabody High School graduate Denise Morin, who has performed at The Comedy Studio, Boston Comedy Chicks and Improv Boston, will be making her first appearance in a competition at Saturday's event.

"Last year we had 10 comics, and we cut it down one, because it went on too long," Wood said. "We're also cutting down the first round from five to three minutes."

To get the audience members more involved in this year's event, their votes will help determine the outcome of the contest.

"Whoever gets the most Twitter votes will get five bonus opints, and that could help them come from third to first place," Wood said.  

When D'Angelo was starting out, he appeared in his own share of comedy competitions, including the 1989 Johnny Walker Comedy Contest.

"It was a national contest, and all the finalists went to LA, to the Improv," he said. 

The experience and exposure for young comedians is invaluable, D'Angelo said, and he is planning to offer feedback to the contestants.

"The thing is, with contests, you've got to do the best you can and not worry about it," he said. "Often the judging is subjective."

IF YOU GO

What: North Shore's Last Comic Standing

When: Saturday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Beverly/Salem Elks Lodge, 39 Bow St., Beverly

Tickets: $15, available at the lodge, at Chrispy's Liquors, 335 Rantoul St., or online at NSLastComic.Weebly.com.

Information: For ages 18 and older. A full cash bar is available. The lodge is not handicapped-accessible. To learn more about the scholarship, visit www.elks.org/lodges/home.cfm?LodgeNumber=1309.

Source: Local comedians compete in second annual scholarship fundraiser