Gospel Comedy Show offers fun for the family,
TEXARKANA, Texas — Saturday night’s Unity in the Community Gospel Comedy Show should prove that good humor can go anywhere.
With local comedian Derrick Keener as emcee and presented by Partners in Christ Productions, the show provides a chance for the whole family to laugh together and also enjoy good music. Show time is 7 p.m. with doors open at 6 p.m.
In addition to Keener, comedy includes out-of-town talents Andre Price, Nate Williams and Mike Paramore, plus local vocalists Sandra Carroll and Keith Gladney.
“It’s really a chance for people to come out in an atmosphere that is for the entire family. That’s the whole point behind the show,” Keener said. He does plenty of shows where he uses colorful language, as he put it, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect how his par
ents raised him. It’s just how he is.
“We wanted to bring a show here that was just the same level of funny that I do in my regular shows, but do it for those that don’t necessarily appreciate that sort of atmosphere,” Keener said.
This Saturday night show will be “all the way funny,” he said, but in a family-friendly setting. “It’s going to be hilarious,” promises Keener.
As for the comedians coming to town, they include Price. “This is a guy that’s been trying to work with me for quite some time,” Keener said.
According to his online biography, Price is a Louisiana-born comedian who lived in Chicago a bit before settling in Arkansas and then attending Henderson State University. Known as “Big Dre,” he’s been doing stand-up for more than five years and opened for the likes of Steve Brown, Tyler Craig and Costaki Economopoulos. He’s also taken his act on the road regionally.
Nate Williams also hails from Arkansas. “Nate Williams is very energetic. All these guys are funny, they are flat out funny,” Keener said, adding they’re funny in any atmosphere — clean comedy, the club or otherwise. They’ll bring a high-energy show.
Paramore’s many credits include being a featured comedian on the FOX show “Laughs,” as well as being a finalist in the World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas and a winner at the Cleveland Comedy Festival, Laughing Devil Festival and LaughFest’s Best of the Midwest competition.
“It will be way more than enough for the entire family,” Keener said. “You can bring grandma, you can bring your 9-year-old and they’ll both get it. They’ll both laugh and it will be something the family can take with them as people start to get ready to go back to school.”
Comedy is just part of the entertainment. Two talented locals will also sing on the Perot stage, Keener calling Carroll a great singer from this area.
“Keith Gladney, he’s a ball of energy,” Keener said. And while he’s a good singer, he’s also a strong performer. “He is a ham in a good way, in a very good way.”
Keener will also sing a bit. “I’m going to do the gospel version to ‘Old Town Road,’” he vowed. He urges people to come see it and make it go viral. “They need to come out to participate and to go viral.”
(Tickets: $23, VIP for $43. Purchase at the Golden Lady Restaurant, the Perot Theatre box office or PerotTheatre. com. You can also call 903792-4992.)