Donna East brought laughter to our troops in 11 countries this year. 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. 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 and more.
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 (Late Night with David Letterman and The Tonight Show), Horace H. B. Sanders (Sinbad tour, Star Search) and Chonda Pierce (the nation's number one Christian comedienne).
Donna's material is original and straight from her wacky life. Topics include strange experiences, staying healthy, being a newlywed, her crazy family and life's “funky stuff.” 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. Sometimes the characters even like to take over the act.
Donna produced the first-ever clean comedy night at Stand-Up NY, debuting fall 2001 with top national comedians. She also created a comedy workshop with Martha Bolton (Bob Hope's first female staff writer) called "A Time to Laugh," which toured 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 co-hosted a morning show in New York City and Detroit, and she has written plays, comedy segments, commercials and performed numerous voice-overs in radio.
"Donna was an excellent entertainer for our annual Comedy Night. She had everyone laughing from the time she began speaking. The audience became participants before they realized it, which made the evening even more enjoyable. She definitely knew how to interact with the audience and keep them on the edge of their seats not knowing what to expect next.It was obvious Donna enjoys doing what she has been called to do! We look forward to having Donna East back in the future." - Faith Ministries
"It is my joy to recommend Donna East for your event. Donna has a unique way of connecting with the audience. She is quick to pick up on people and their responses and she runs with it! Her characters are true to life and will leave you in stitches. Donna related well to our mission as a Pregnancy Center through her personal testimony and relayed it well to the cause for the event, raising money for our Center. Her calling to share Christ through comedy shortly after 9/11 and the recent birth of her first child made her story all the more poignant to the evening. Donna had the audience in the palm of her hand from the first moment and laughing right up to the end. She was a joy to work with!" - Executive Director, Care Net Pregnancy Center
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 altar to give my heart to Jesus! In that moment, I felt my burdens 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 for 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.
