Published June 1, 2008
The Charlotte Observer
By Jay Edwards
Special Correspondent
Heard the one about the geology teacher who became a stand-up comedian?
It sound likes the start of a good joke, but for Charlotte Latin science teacher and Ultimate Frisbee coach Ed Fox, it's reality.
After spending the school year in the classroom and on the playing field, Fox takes a different act on the road.
Each summer for the past decade, Fox has traveled the East Coast, perfecting his comedy routine on everyone from high school students to nightclub audiences.
"I'm pretty serious in the classroom as a teacher because I have to be, I teach eighth grade," said Fox, who grew up in the school. His father, Edward Fox Jr., was headmaster at Latin from 1976 to 2001.
"I think if my students saw me on stage, they would be very surprised."
His current boss says he was shocked to hear that Fox is a comedian.
"I was taken aback, I didn't believe it, I though it was a joke," Charlotte Latin Headmaster Arch McIntosh said. "Then I saw him do it in person, it was like seeing two different people, like a dual personality."
Fox's job as a stand-up comedian is no joke.
Fox performs at least three times a week in the summer, up to two shows a day, in places like Chapel Hill, Blacksburg, Va., Tallahassee, Fla., and Harrisburg, Pa. Fox, who plays a lot of bars and "Comedy Zones," is usually on stage for about 30 minutes just before headliners like Frank Caliendo, Jeff Dunham and Josh Blue.
"I like to focus on mostly observational humor, things that I see that strike me as ridiculous," Fox said. "I definitely get a lot of stuff from being a teacher and coach."
Fox, 46, has been a teacher and coach at Latin for 23 years. He says being a stand-up comedian is not all fun and laughs. In fact, he says being a comedian is harder than being a teacher.
"Being able to write new material, cut it into short segments and deliver it with the right timing is something (you) never stop working on," he said.
So he practices in front of his daughters, Ashley (fifth grade) and Olivia (third grade). But Fox also says it's become as much of a hobby as a job. He looks forward to each summer on the road.
"I don't make a ton of money doing it," Fox said. "But I get paid to go around and see (different) parts of the country. That's pretty cool."
Fox performed at a nightclub at Virginia Tech last week. Then he was headed to Johnson City, Tenn. He also will perform in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia this summer. In this region, he'll perform at the Comedy Zone in Matthews and Lake Norman.
Then, Fox will return to Charlotte Latin, teaching geology/earth science, and coaching the Ultimate Frisbee team.
"Really it's just a creative outlet for me," Fox said. "But sometimes, it is like I'm two different people. I think (when) I'm on stage, I'm more like I am in real life."
Want to know more?
To learn more about Ed Fox and his upcoming shows, you can go to his Web site, www. foxcomedy.net.
To view this article online, go to www.charlotteobserver.com.