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Comedy Cause returns to help The Care Center in Northampton

Date: 9/5/2023

NORTHAMPTON — A local comedy event is returning for its fifth year to bring laughter to Western Massachusetts and raise money for a good cause.

Comedy as a Weapon; the comedy, entertainment, and promotion company based in Massachusetts, is partnering with Holyoke’s The Care Center for Comedy Cause 5 at the Academy of Music on Sept. 9 from 7-10 p.m.

Timothy Lovett, an East Coast comedian who founded Comedy As a Weapon, said he chose The Care Center as a partner for this event because he wanted to support the center’s vision of helping young mothers and low-income women go to college.

“I ran into a lot of homeless mothers and people separated from their kids, and they were trying to find a better situation,” Lovett told Reminder Publishing. “So, this is why I wanted to help [the Care Center], because of what they do; they help homeless mothers get housing and get their GED.”

Lovett said Comedy Cause started because he wanted to give back to all of the organizations that helped him get out of his own homeless situation. Now, he wants to use the event as a way to help those out of a similar situation.

“I just want to do whatever we can to help people,” Lovett said. “I want to try and help people that needed the same type of help I needed and support the organizations that would help them.”

The Comedy Cause series began in 2017 and included comedy acts like Donnell Rawlins from “The Chapelle Show” and Jessica Kirson — who was featured in movies “The King of Staten Island” and “The Comedian.”

This year’s show is a “Back to School” theme, according to Lovett, which reflects the Care Center’s school-centric mission. Part of the goal is for the comedians performing that night to play along to that theme by tailoring some jokes about going back to school.

“We like theme shows, and we like people playing along to that,” Lovett said. “We just have fun with it and hopefully people come along for the ride in just as much fun. But the one common denominator is you have to be funny.”

The headliner for this event is Kevin Lee, a comedian and magician who has appeared on national television shows such as “Showtime at the Apollo,” HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” and Jamie Foxx’s “Uptown Comedy Club.” He was also voted “Washington D.C.’s Funniest Comedian” by Washingtonian Magazine.

“Kevin’s a backpack full of comedy,” Lovett said. “I just felt like his brand of comedy would be perfect for what we’re trying to do.”

Janet McNamara, a former American Idol contestant, is another performer that night. Lovett commended her for her deadpan humor and said she is a very good at telling her journey through comedy.

The other two performers include Lovett himself and his comedic partner Kim DeShields, who is also part of Comedy as a Weapon. Lovett said DeShields was on “Nick at Nite’s Funniest Moms,” and she was also featured on the “Wendy Williams Show” at one point.

“I want people in Northampton to know that there is a comedy in the area and that we put on quality shows that you don’t have to pay $40 for,” Lovett said of Comedy Cause. “That is the impact of these shows; I want to give back through my way. I’m bringing in big names, but I want to showcase local comics too.”

The event is also in partnership with Arts Equity Group and tickets are $25. Lovett said tickets are also on a sliding scale for those with an EBT.

“I just want to make sure it’s accessible to everybody,” Lovett said.

Readers can learn more about the night by visiting the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/645056330886491.