Donna East

Stand-Up, Interactive Improv and Message

Not many comedians can claim they've made people all over the world laugh, but Donna East can!

From Iceland and Norway to Puerto Rico and Honduras, (this past year) Donna brought laughter to our troops in 11 countries. Three tours for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines brought the house down and left thousand of troops holding their bellies at her comedy. Also, Donna's appearance on the national television show "Bananas," aired Dec. 5–11th and again in March 2006!

Straight from her hometown of Detroit, this crazy girl hit the comedy clubs in New York City big! From Caroline's to Stand-Up NY to Gotham, Donna cracked them up. She's even performed with the best of the best. Comedians like Bob Nelson (HBO), Al Lubel (Letterman, The Tonight Show), Horace H. B. Sanders (Sinbad tour, Star Search) and Chonda Pierce (the nation's #1 Christian comedienne!).

Donna's material is original and straight from her wacky life-strange experiences, staying healthy, being a newlywed, her crazy family and life's funky stuff. "Toys have really had an influence on my life, I mean, I'd be playing with my Barbie and think I should be beautiful and skinny, but then my Easy Bake Oven would scream from the corner "Hey! Make a chocolate cake!"

Donna shares her act by weaving in some wacky characters, including her most popular character Norma from K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) School of Driving. This instructor teaches one audience member how to drive an invisible car in simulated elements. "Uh oh, folks, it looks here like we got ourselves some rain. You better roll up your window buddy or you gonna get the shower you need!"

Sometimes the characters even like to take over the act, like her children's talk show host, "You see, kids, sugar is like little people's coffee. It perks you up and keeps you awake long into the night. And that's why my show's on at 2am!"

Labeled by a local paper "NYC's Queen of Clean," Donna's comedy is busting all over the place, including comedy clubs, corporate events, churches, conventions, banquets, theatres, coffeehouses, bookstores, soup kitchens, rehab centers, weddings, birthday parties, blah, blah, blah. (Okay, so the birthdays and weddings are filler, but still a girl's gotta do what she's gotta do. You should see her when she rehearses in front of her beanie babies. Now that's some funny stuff!)

Donna produced the first-ever clean comedy night at Stand-Up NY debuting the fall of 2001 with top national comedians. She has also created a comedy workshop with Martha Bolton (Bob Hope's first female staff writer) called "A Time to Laugh." The workshop has made it's stops in New York and Houston. Donna is a contributing writer to Bolton's book, "Living It Down By Laughing It Up: Life's Most Embarrassing Moments," "Saying Goodbye Even When You Don't Want To," and "Scriptwriting." She has also opened for Sandi Patti and written for and toured with Chonda Pierce.

Donna has also co-hosted a morning show in New York City and Detroit. She has also written comedy segments, commercials and performed numerous voice-overs in radio.

Oh, and by the way Donna's an accomplished playwright ("She's Made From Man, But All Of Woman"-Lamb's Theatre, Times Square) and successful actress (NBC, Lifetime).

STRANGE BUT (MOSTLY) TRUE FACTS ABOUT DONNA!

- Donna’s favorite color: Green... because all the 

  other little girls in kindergarden said pink and so

  Donna said green, just had be different.

- Donna’s favorite food: Nachos... My mother said I

  should’ve been born in Mexico.

- Donna’s favorite TV channel: The Food Network.

  She claims she can gain 30 pounds in thirty

  minutes just by watching Rachael Ray. Now that’s

  talent!

- Donna’s favorite holiday: Thanksgiving... due to

  Grandma’s famous cranberry jello with nuts. “The

  nuts are eating nuts! Sometimes we wonder which

  is the family and which is the nuts.”

- Donna’s favorite flower: Sunflowers… just a couple

  can look like a whole bouquet. She’s cheap!

My life began with struggles…

At six months old I had a seizure. At 12 months old, the doctors put braces on my legs to straighten the one turned backward. I didn’t walk until almost two. At four years old, I had a lazy eye that turned into my head and I couldn’t see to walk so the doctors gave me thick, bi-focal glasses. At five years old, I stared school chubby with glasses, freckles, stringy hair and hand-me-down clothes. I discovered that I wasn’t the most popular either and certainly not the teacher’s pet. By age seven, I found out just how cruel kids can be. I found out I didn’t fit in. I felt different. I felt Lonely. I felt like an outcast. (Romans 8:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”)

BUT, at eight years old, I attended a children’s church service and went to the alter to give my heart to Jesus! In that moment, I felt my burden’s lift – even at eight! I was free. I felt fresh. My feet were so light, that I wanted to fly to heaven to be with Jesus! I was so happy! And, even as a young girl, I heard God say to me, “I love you. You are special and I have a plan or your life.” (Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”) So at a very young age, I found real hope. I knew Jesus was my true and only source of healing and happiness.

This heart knowledge proved true even years later. After a traumatic experience on 9-11 in New York City, I suffered two grand mal seizures. (Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”)

With stitches in my tongue, memory loss, depression and an epilepsy diagnosis, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make people laugh again. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to laugh again. But God with his incredible love and power, spoke to me again, “Search My Word!” he gave me scripture about His joy, laughter and gladness. He showed me once again through His Word that He is hope, healing and happiness. (Jeremiah 17:14 “Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.”)

There is nothing I treasure more than sitting in the presence of the almighty Lord. (Romans 8:39 “Neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”) Two years seizure-free, I am confident more now than ever that every day is a gift from god. I thank Him for his love and mercy.

"Donna East is a consummate pro and a very funny person. She is a delight to work with."

- Steve Arons, New York Comedy Club

"Donna East makes me laugh right out loud! Her comedy brings forth the reality that laughter is healing medicine for the soul. It's evident she's committed."

- John Calhoun, former Director Lamb's Theatre, Times Square, New York City

"She's one of the club's most popular comics. Time and time again, at Stand-Up NY we recommended her comedy to callers booking comedians."

- Richard Brooks, Club Manager

"Donna East made me laugh so hard, I actually peed my pants!"

- June Allison

"We just wanted to pass an e-mail along to you to let you know how much we enjoyed your comedy show.  We have not laughed that hard in a long time, it felt good. It is nice to sit for an hour and forget about all your worries and cares and just really have a good time.  Pat and I were also both very touched with your testimony.  We both really felt so much more connected to God after we heard it and I really felt the presence of the Lord in the room.  I just wanted to pass on to you how much you touched us and how it really got us back on track in our walk with God.  Thank you!!!!"

- Julie and Pat McKenney, CareNet Banquet

"Just thinking about Donna's jokes kept me up all night!"

- Sealy Posturepedic

"As her #1 fan, I am happy to be the butt of her jokes. My Donna is the funniest, most talented, prettiest and creative granddaughter, I mean, comedienne there ever was! It's an honor to be related."

- Maternal Grandmother, Detroit, Michigan

"Donna made me chuckle so much, my teeth came out!"

- Poly Grip

"Got Donna?"

- Milk

"This year I laughed so much I cried"

- Baby New Year

"Even though I was laughing on the inside, I almost spilled my tea. We are amused."

- Queen of England

"I enjoy watching Donna every chance I get."

- God, all the way from Cloud Nine

"I love Donna!"

- Jesus Christ (By the way, Donna and Jesus are registered at ww.BedBathandBeyond.com. Make the happy couple even happier! Give generously.)

- Pax's Bananas Comedy Show (National)

- 3 Military Tours (Honduras, Cuba, Puerto Rico,

  England, Iceland, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands,
  Germany)

- Caroline's Comedy Club, NYC

- Standup New York, NYC

- The New York Comedy Club, NYC

- The Lamb's Theatre, NYC

- NBC, Lifetime Television (National)

- Toured with Chonda Pierce (National)

- Opened for Sandy Patti (Salvation Army Theater,

  NYC)

- Numerous churches, retreats, benefits, corporate

  and clubs... and nobody knows what direction East

  will head next!

Performer: Donna East

Travels from: New York City

Performance Fee: Call for quote

Travel Requirements: Airfare and Hotel for (1)