DEAF PERFORMERS/COMEDIANS “Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” ― Groucho Marx, The Essential Groucho: Writings For By And About Groucho MarxThe Essential Groucho: Writings For By And About Groucho Marx

FUNNY~HILARIOUS~LAUGHTER~ PERFORMANCE Andrew Fisher, Kevin Hart, Keith Wann, Dave Chappelle, Sarah Silverman, Amy Pohler, Jerry Seinfeld, Daniel Tosh, Peter Cook, Dane Cook, CJ Jones, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Jim Carrey...Jimmy Fallon,  What do these names have in common???  Do you recognize all of these names???

ANDREW FISHER  Deaf Stand Up Comedian  Performs at Comedy Clubs in NYC  Performs at Colleges & Universities  Tells jokes in ASL then has a voice interpreter say them out loud  During and interview he was asked if there was “a deaf joke”, he responded... There are jokes in ASL that are based on the symbolic significance of hand formations. For example, the sign for “marry” looks similar to clapping your hands together once. So there’s a deaf joke about King Kong asking a blonde bombshell whom he’s holding in the palm of his hand to “marry” him. Of course when King Kong makes the sign for “marry,” he accidentally squishes his fiancée.   Andrewfishercomedy.com Andrewfishercomedy.com

KEITH WANN  Hearing, but is a CODA; both of his parents are Deaf  Known for Stand-Up Comedy  Comedy for Deaf, HH, & Hearing audiences  In 2006, thanks to YouTube gained popularity for his parody of Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby”  Appeared in Law & Order, several Pepsi commercials & travels all over the country performing  Performs alongside fellow comedian/performer Peter Cook  Works alongside his wife to promote affordable access to the legal system and personal development within the ASL Community  “We strive to raise awareness about ASL through comedy. We also believe in fully supporting the ASL Community involvement while offering ASL Entertainment and Learning” - Keith Wann 

PETER S. COOK  Deaf, internationally known performing artist  Incorporates ASL, pantomime, storytelling, acting & movement  Traveled throughout the world/US with Flying Words Project to promote ASL Literature  Teacher, Columbia College, Chicago, IL, ASL-English Interpretation Dept. In 1997, received Excellence in Teaching award  Appeared on PBS shows Live from Off Center’s “Words on Mouth” United States of Poetry  1998, established PC Production, based in Chicago

PETER S. COOK  Featured nationally in festivals including at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C  Worked with internationally Deaf storytellers & poets  2003, invited to the White House to join the National Book Festival  Performs alongside fellow comedian Keith Wann  Keith Wann & Peter Cook ‘Snafu in the Park” (29:38) 

CJ JONES  Born Hearing, became Deaf at age 7 from spinal meningitis  Attended Missouri School for the Deaf and later went on to attend NTID in Rochester, NY  After college joined the National Theater for the Deaf  Entertainer, Producer, Writer, Director, Author, CEO, comedian, & musician  Toured nationally & internationally to people of all ages  Performed on live stage as well as on several prime time TV shows

CJ JONES  Sign World TV Founder/CEO (1999) Entertainment company promoting equal access within media entertainment  Heads Hands Across Communications Producing events for international deaf artists to showcase their talents and receive recognition  Recipient of numerous awards and grants Received the Nevil Award 2013 from Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Award given to those who have made a significant contribution to improving the lives of Deaf/HH individuals  

VIDEOS  John Smith (British Deaf Comedian)  Interpreter’s Nightmare Peter Cook, Keith Wann, Crom Saunders  Keith Wann & Peter Cook ‘Snafu in the Park” (29:38)  Keith Wann ASL Comedy – Tennessee (1:34:16)  Peter Cook Douglas the Space Boy  CJ Jones & Bob Hiltermann