Submitted by Kaysia Earley
The City of Lauderhill’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) hosted the Lauderhill Live Comedy Show on December 1, 2023 at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center. The show was hosted by the funny and multi-talented comedian Marvin Dixon, who appeared on various shows, such as Def Comedy Jam, BET ComicView, and Showtime at the Apollo.
Kym Whitley was the first and only female comedian to hit the stage. She instantly connected with the audience and kept the crowd in continuous laughter with her comedic storytelling. Known for her various roles on television, such as My Wife and Kids, The Boondocks, The Parkers, The Cleveland Show, Black Dynamite, and Act Your Age. Kym was nominated in 2004 for the BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Box Office Movie for her role as Ormandy in the 2003 comedy film Deliver Us From Eva.
Damon Willians was the next stand-up comedian to entertain the crowd. He interacted with the audience throughout his humorous skit. Damon also appeared in numerous television appearances including BET’s ComicView, The Joyner Skyshow on TV ONE and HBO’s P Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy.
The last comedian to grace the stage was Don “D.C.” Curry. D.C. Curry is an “OG” in the comedic industry and has had people laughing out loud with his stand-up and movie roles for years. Best known for starring as Craig’s Uncle Elroy Jones in “Next Friday” and “Friday After Next,” DC kept the crowd in stiches, yet he masterfully weaved into his comedic set a call to action regarding the excessive use of police force and the disproportionate executions of African Americans. He eloquently listed the numerous victims who died at the hands of law enforcement.
Pictured with criminal defense attorney Kaysia Earley, Esq., she shared her T.R.A.P.S. cards with D.C. Curry to encourage civilians to know their legal rights. Kaysia is the creator of T.R.A.P.S.: Arrive Alive During a Police Encounter©. T.R.A.P.S. is an acronym for the Constitutional rights of individuals when they encounter law enforcement. “T” stands for Trickery, “R” stands for Respect, “A” stands for Attorney, “P” stands for Permission, and “S” stands for Silence.
The show catered to the 21 and over crows and was truly entertaining. Special surprise guest in the audience included Tom Joyner, the veteran broadcaster who hosted The Tom Joyner Morning Show, an American nationally syndicated radio program, for 25 years. Due to the success and overwhelming positive responses from the attendees, the Lauderhill CRA is planning a future comedy show tentatively set for Saturday, March 23, 2024. CRA is dedicated to the economic revitalization of both Lauderhill districts – Central CRA and State Road 7 CRA, y encouraging investment, job creation, and housing, we aim to heal urban communities that have been scarred by inequity, lack of infrastructure, and non-conforming uses. To learn more visit https://lauderhillcra-fl.gov/.
