Boston Comedy Hall of Fame Celebrates First Inductee on Monday: Steven Wright

On Monday night at 8:00pm, December 15th, you can see comedian Steven Wright receive the honor of being the first inductee of The Boston Comedy Hall of Fame. The event will take place at Showcase Live at Patriot Place in Foxborough, which is technically not in Boston, so we're hoping for some jokes about that.

All proceeds from the evening will be donated to the Boston Comedy Hall of Fame Fund, a charitable organization to assist comics in need founded by City Councilor John Tobin. Wright will be receiving the Thomas Wignell Award, named after Wignell, one of the first known stand-up comedians in America. Born in England in 1753 (died in 1803), Wignell came to colonies in 1774 where he became George Washington's favorite stand-up comedian. Really, we're not making this up even though it seems like it as we type this out (Did you hear the one about the Redcoat at the laundromat? Take my wig, please.... Was there a two grog minimum? Our imagination runs wild).

Other comedians appearing at the benefit are: show host Tony V. (from Showtime’s “Brotherhood”), Don Gavin; Lenny Clarke and Kenny Rogerson from F/X’s “Rescue Me“; Boston’s King of Comedy” Steve Sweeney; Mike Donovan from NESN’s Comedy All-Stars, political humorist Barry Crimmins, Mike McDonald, and Fran Solomita.

Steven Wright has been a nationally known figure in comedy since his appearance on "The Tonight Show" in 1982. He's an Academy Award-winner with multiple Showtime, HBO, and Comedy Central specials, and Grammy nominations to his credit, a treasure and a gem such that Boston is fortunate to claim itself as his hometown.

You can get tickets for the show, as well as additional information at The Boston Comedy Hall of Fame website.

Pic of Steven Wright from his MySpace