SOMMORE, DL HUGHLEY, BRUCE BRUCE, ARNEZ J AND MORE
Labor Day Weekend – August 31 and September 1 at Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ – Back for its fourth year, The Atlantic City Comedy Festival will be featured at Atlantic
City’s Boardwalk Hall.
The festival will take place Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1 in Atlantic City at Boardwalk
Hall. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 17th and are priced at $45, $60 & $80. Tickets will be available at the
Boardwalk Hall box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
2013 will mark the fourth year for The Atlantic City Comedy Festival, and this year’s festival promises to be
better than ever! For two days, fans will experience hilarious, side-splitting humor from some of the nations
most noted, critically acclaimed comedians. The all-star line-up features over ten nationally known comics, with
comedy royalty D.L. Hughley and Sommore, stand up legends Bruce Bruce, Arnez J, comedic film stars
Gary Owen (Think Like a Man), DeRay Davis (Jumping The Broom), Don ‘DC’ Curry (Next Friday) and TV
stars Tony Rock (Apollo Live), Mark Curry (Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper), and radio veterans – Earthquake
(Steve Harvey Morning Show) Dominique (Tom Joyner Morning Show). From sold-out arenas, top grossing
comedy tours, number one films, Showtime comedy specials, ground-breaking TV shows, nationally syndicated
radio shows, these comics have seen and done it all.
The past three years’ festivals have been incredibly successful, with a sold out attendance in 2012 hailing from
New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington DC. “Last year we sold out four
performances at the Tropicana. This year we are glad to be back at Boardwalk Hall where we can better
accommodate our increasing audience demand,” said a festival organizer.
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See additional pages for festival schedule & performer bios
Photos & interviews can be requested by emailing [email protected]
SCHEDULE/LINE-UP
Saturday, August 31
Sommore
Bruce Bruce
Earthquake
Don DC Curry
Mark Curry
Sunday, September 1
DL Hughley
Arnez J
DeRay Davis
Gary Owen
Tony Rock
Dominique
For more information on The Atlantic City Comedy Festival and information on the featured comedians,
Festival schedule, hotels, tickets, etc. please visit:
www.accomedyfestival.com
www.ticketmaster.com
COMEDIAN BIOS
SOMMORE- emerging as one of America’s top comedic performers who consistently deliver sharp sarcasm with an
amazing presence, Sommore fuses funny with an impeccable sense of fashion and flair on stage. The Trenton, New
Jersey native has appeared on various shows including Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam, BET’s Live From LA and
Showtime At The Apollo. Sommore received the prestigious Richard Pryor Award for “Comic Of The Year,” which
quickly positioned her as one of the industry’s premier comedians. Starring in the ground-breaking Queens of Comedy
tour, Sommore also starred in her own Showtime special and now has her own successful DVD special entitled, The
Queen Stands Alone. Sommore’s film appearances have included Soul Plane with Snoop Dogg, A Miami Tail, Friday
After Next with Ice Cube and Something New with Simon Baker. Other noteworthy accomplishments have included
several appearances on the sitcoms The Hughleys, The Parkers, and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. Her latest stand
up special Chandelier Status has been airing on Showtime and is available on DVD. She will be returning to BET this fall
as the host of the re-vamped ComicView.
DL HUGHLEY- One of the most popular and highly recognized standup comedians on the road today has also made
quite an impression in the television, film and radio arenas. D.L. has been heard on the airwaves as a contributor to the
nationally syndicated radio show, The Tom Joyner Morning Show. He has also finished his first book, titled I Want You To
Shut The F*ck Up: How The Audacity Of Dopes Is Ruining America, which was released last year. Known for being
astute and politically savvy in true comedian style, D.L. served as host of his own late night talk show on CNN D.L.
Hughley Breaks the News. Proving he could, indeed break news, D.L. was able to uncover startling, news-making
comments from guests. As the star and producer of his namesake television show that ran on ABC and UPN The
Hughleys, D.L. is also well known as one of the standout comedians on the hit comedy docu-film The Original Kings of
Comedy. He is recently did a comedy special called Reset which aired on Showtime. D.L.’s first love, always has been
been, and always will be, standup comedy. “From the minute I first walked onstage and picked up a microphone,” he says,
“I knew that it was what I was meant to do.”
BRUCE BRUCE- Although Bruce Bruce is known for his unapologetic adult centered comedy, he prides himself on not
using vulgarity to win a laugh or win over audiences. For two seasons, Bruce hosted BET’s Comic View and headlined
the 2008 “Just for Laughs Comedy Festival” in Montreal. He made a cameo appearance in the HBO Film, Idlewild and
appeared in Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector. In the early 90s, Bruce jumped on the scene and made his first
appearance on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam. Numerous appearances on the hugely popular show, Showtime at the Apollo,
would soon follow. After receiving the highest ratings ever as the Host of BET’s 10th Anniversary Comic View for two
seasons, Bruce returned to the BET family as the two-time host of Coming to the Stage. After huge success in several
mediums, Bruce would go on to star in his own “Comedy Central Presents” special which he followed with the release of
his one-hour comedy special. On the big screen, Bruce has appeared in Hair Show starring Academy Award winner Mo
‘Nique, and The Wash with Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre. He released his latest DVD special, Bruce Bruce: Losin’ It-Live
From Boston. Most recently, Bruce was featured in the 2012 film Think Like A Man, from the best–selling novel by Steve
Harvey.
DERAY DAVIS- Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, comedian-turned-actor DeRay Davis can most recently
be seen and heard in the blockbuster mega hit 21 Jump Street, Jumping the Broom and his wildly successful Showtime
special, DeRay Davis: Power Play. He lends his voice and writing talent to countless characters on the BoonDocks and
currently on Adult Swim’s Black Dynamite. Davis achieved his career breakthrough at the Laffapalooza Festival in
Atlanta, GA, then scored a triple whammy by winning the Comedy Central Laugh Riots Competition and landing
covetable spots in the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and the Cedric the Entertainer Festival. The transition from
behind-the-mike spots to movie roles represented a relatively short jump, for most of Davis' early film assignments
emphasized the same subject matter as his routines; for example, he played the "Hustle Guy" in Barbershop (2002) and its
sequel, Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004), rapper Mario "Fa Real" Greene in the Martin Short comedy Jiminy Glick
in La La Wood (2004), and a Jamaican stoner in Johnson Family Vacation (2004). Davis expanded his genre focus with
roles in Rupert Wainwright's supernatural horror outing The Fog (2005), and Todd Phillips' comedy remake School for
Scoundrels (2006). Subsequent feature assignments include License to Wed and Semi Pro. Davis also appeared on
television series including Entourage and Reno 911!, and televised comedy revues such as Comedy Central's Premium
Blend and was a Stand-out MVP on Shaq's All Star Comedy Jam Tour and is now making the rounds on the tour circuit
preparing for his next one-hour comedy special: Home, Street Home: The Hood Hero Returns.
EARTHQUAKE- Without a doubt, he stands as one of the funniest forces in comedy today and is known to fans across
the world as Earthquake. His outrageous, outspoken and opinionated manner has put him front and center on many shows,
including VH1's The List and HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, where he became the first performer in the show's history
to receive a standing ovation. Earthquake also performed a half-hour HBO special as part of the series One Night Stand, a
one-hour special on BET and Comedy Central's Premium Blend, which ultimately led to his own special on Comedy
Central. However, it would be Earthquake’s TV and movie roles that would help further expose him to broader bases and
mainstream masses. He has graced the screen in Kevin Smith's film Clerks II, Ice Cube’s film, The Longshots and as
Root the Rooster in the CGI film, Barnyard. He can be seen appearing on the Comics Unleashed talk show and heard on
the Steve Harvey Morning Show.
GARY OWEN- Actor/comedian Gary stars in tru TV’s funny video/sketch show series “Upload” which he co-hosts with
Shaquille O’Neal. He is one of the stars of the blockbuster film Think Like A Man and just finished filming the Universal
comedy Ride Along with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. His recent hit Showtime comedy special “True Story” is now
available on DVD. Gary got his start in stand-up comedy when he was stationed in San Diego - He served in the Navy for
six years and was named "Funniest Serviceman in America.” Over the years, he has been embraced by African-American
audiences with his take on being in a biracial marriage and as the father of three kids. In fact, Ebony magazine recently
proclaimed Gary “Black America’s Favorite White Comedian.” Gary’s credits include a recurring role as “Zach” the
barber on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and he co-starred in the films Daddy Day Care, Rebound and Little Man. He has
appeared on CNN, Wendy Williams, ESPN First Take, 106 & Park, and Craig Ferguson, among other shows.
ARNEZ J Rapidly becoming one of the most talked about comedians, Arnez J’s charisma and physical agility are
unforgettable. Arnez can currently be seen in his own One-Hour comedy special for BET, and due to the success of the
special, has recently landed the plum role as host of BET’s signature standup comedy series Comicview. Arnez made his
first television appearance on Showtime’s Comedy Club Network. Numerous television appearances soon followed,
including appearances on The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show, Louie Anderson’s Comedy Showcase, Comedy Central’s Make
Me Laugh, NBC’s Friday Night Videos, Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam, his own BET Comic View Grandstand Half
Hour Special, and many others. He hasn’t stopped since then. Currently, Arnez is going to be filming a new live stand up
special for release soon after.
DON ‘DC’ CURRY- Don ‘DC’ Curry’s talents are far more than meets the eye at a single glance. At second glance
you’ll see him co-starring in major studio pictures. Look again and you’ll see him touring the country as the lead in a hit
stage play or serving as the front man of his own R&B and Blues band. Take yet another glimpse (or listen) and you’ll
hear him shining as a skilled on-air talent on morning radio or working as a voice-over artist. Bottom line, DC Curry is a
very versatile, and extremely funny man. Hosting Comic View on BET garnered the attention of industry executives and
earned him a spot as series regular role on ABC's Grace Under Fire. He’s the outrageous Uncle Elroy in Next Friday, and
the hilarious holiday ‘three-quel’ Friday After Next. Curry has also appeared on several of his own stand-up specials, as
well as numerous Gospel musicals. For nearly a decade, DC has been expanding his audience and his range on both sides
of the camera. Adding another feather to his entrepreneurial hat, in October of 2007 D.C. opened up “STAR,” his own
jazz and blues nightclub in the heart of Atlanta.
MARK CURRY- Many people have stated that Oakland native Mark Curry is possibly comedy’s best kept secret and
undoubtedly one of the funniest comedians in the World. Emerging from the Bay to becoming a very successful modern
day comedian to landing his own hugely successful TV show, Mark Curry started making his mark of the entertainment
industry in a way most rarely do. Curry’s first role was in the film Talkin' Dirty After Dark, alongside Martin Lawrence.
He would eventually land his own television series Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, where he played the lead role of Mark
Cooper, an NBA player-turned-substitute teacher/gym coach. Millions around the country tuned into him for years as the
tried and true Mr. Cooper. However, Curry’s tango with TV wouldn’t stop there. He appeared in The Jamie Foxx Show
as well as Living Single and Martin and in a recurring role on The Drew Carey Show. In recent years, Curry would get
back to his roots—doing stand-up comedy. He would go on to host Comedy Central specials, and can also currently be
seen hosting his own room in Vegas doing comedy at the Las Vegas Hilton on weekends and hosting the hugely
successful Conga Room in Los Angeles as host of “Foxxhole LIVE,” which airs weekly on Jamie Foxx’s satellite radio
network. He can currently be seen alongside Scott Baio on the TV comedy See Dad Run.
TONY ROCK Being the brother of an established entertainer, Tony was able to successfully elude the shadows of his
older sibling and step into his own limelight. After more than a decade of experience, Tony has proven himself as a
skillful comedian, actor, and executive producer. When in New York, he's a regular at the famous Comic Strip,
Caroline's and Stand-Up New York. When in Los Angeles, he's performed at The Improv, The Comedy Store, The
Comedy Union, and he hosts Chocolate Sundays at The Laugh Factory in Hollywood. Tony has found comfort on the big
screen; playing roles in movies such as Three Can Play That Game, alongside Vivica A. Fox, and Life Support, with
veteran entertainer Queen Latifah. Tony stepped into the role of executive producer on projects such as The Funny Spot in
2008 and The Tony Rock Project, both of which he also hosts. His Comedy Central Presents special aired in 2010, and
Tony continues to tour comedy clubs and arenas around the country. He will appear in the next season of BET’s Reed
Between The Lines, and as the host of the new Showtime At The Apollo.
DOMINIQUE- Dominique began honing her skills unprofessionally as a civil servant on the nightshift as a postal worker
at the now infamous Brentwood Postal facility in her native Washington D.C. Boredom with the job and fear of going
postal gave way to open mic nights at local clubs at the behest of friends and co-workers. Her strong presence and a
bravado rarely seen in female comics quickly gained the attention of the producers of HBO's Russell Simmons's Def
Comedy Jam. On a chance Wednesday night at a small club on the lower eastside she met SNL's Tracy Morgan who made
Dominique his opening act for his run at Caroline's on Broadway. A run on the highly successful Def Comedy Jam Tour
and numerous television apperences including the fresh new Comic Groove (Comedy Central), the legendary Showtime at
the Apollo and Comic View (BET) prompted a move to LA. She has become a club staple and continues to tour clubs and
colleges around the country. She has participated in Urban Internationals Comedy Arts Festival better known as
"Laffapalooza" as well as the Bay Area Comedy Competition in Oakland. After two years of study, she added acting to
her resume when she landed a part in the critically acclaimed indie Thirty Years To Life. Her voice can currently be heard
on the Tom Joyner Morning Show.