During his early years of performing stand-up in the early 2010s, comedian and writer Richie Satori would often experience sorrow offstage more so than laughter.
After battling addiction to drugs on and off since his 20s, Satori — now in his 40s — was not certain how he would overcome his struggles, but he knew that humor would make the process possible.
“There was only one way that I used and that was kind of hard, from the moment I got out of bed to two to three days later when I crashed,” said Satori. “[When] I could be onstage, I could say something confessional about my drug use … and I could follow it up with a punchline and experience the therapeutic value of not being suffocated with secrecy.”
Richie Satori, host and founder of Stand-Up 4 Recovery, poses in a booth at The Atlanta Comedy Theater in Norcross, Georgia, on Jan. 19, 2024. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)
Now, after nearly 10 years of sobriety — which Satori plans to celebrate in February — the entertainer is using his struggles and road to recovery to help encourage those going through similar experiences.
The result is Stand-Up 4 Recovery, a mobile comedy club created for Georgia’s recovery community. Established in 2023, the organization provides recovery-friendly stand-up events for a sober-friendly audience.
The events include a monthly showcase, which highlights performers who are also on their own journeys to recovery from addiction. An upcoming show will be held on Jan. 27 at The Atlanta Comedy Theater in Norcross, a frequent partner of Stand-Up 4 Recovery.
“Getting and staying sober is scary … [but] I can be happy with the person I am. I can like who I am … I can just be free.”
Taylor Neely, Comedian
To encourage the sense of a sober-friendly setting, Satori plans to honor individuals celebrating sober anniversaries onstage with special gifts. He…
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