NJPAC Presents A Thanksgiving Comedy Fest

(NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents a Thanksgiving Comedy Fest on Friday, November 29th at 8:00pm. Escape the madness of holiday shopping at this uproarious evening featuring some of stand-up’s biggest stars: DeRay Davis (of Fox’s Empire and FX’s Snowfall), Tony Rock (HBO’s All Def Comedy), Jess Hilarious (Fox’s Rel) and Drew Fraser (HBO’s P. Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy). Stand-up comic Smokey Suarez (Comedy Central’s Russell Simmons Presents Stand-Up at the El Rey) is your host!

Stand-up sensation-turned-actor DeRay Davis is known to television audiences for his role as Jermel, Taraji P. Henson’s cousin and go-to hitman on the Fox series, Empire. He’s also starred in two top-rated stand-up specials, DeRay Davis: Power Play on Showtime, and DeRay Davis: How to Act Black on Netflix. Davis also stars in the hit series Snowfall, currently in its third season on FX. His big-screen credits include Semi-Pro(with Will Ferrell), Imagine That (with Eddie Murphy), and 21 Jump Street(with Channing Tatum and Johnny Depp).

Tony Rock (Chris’ younger brother) is proof positive that comedy runs in the family. He most recently toured with Mike Epps on the Platinum Comedy Tour, was part of the Festival of Laughs with Sommore, and crossed the country with his own Tony Rock Live! club tour. He starred in the CBS series Living Biblically, and has become one of the most in-demand hosts on television, including stints on HBO’s All Def Comedy, BET’s Black Card Revoked and Apollo Live, and NBA TV's The Warm Up.

Jess Hilarious has been featured on MTV's Wild ‘n Out and HBO’s All Def Comedy in addition to various appearances on VH1 and BET. she has opened for comedy legends like Martin Lawrence, Rickey Smiley, Mo'Nique, and Mike Epps, and last year made her network television debut starring opposite Lil Rel Howry and Sinbad on FOX’s Rel.

Drew Fraser’s unique, high-energy and side-splitting humor is sure to crack your ribs. His career took off hosting Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater and doing warm-ups for TV shows, such as The Queen Latifah Show. He has co-hosted P. Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy, Def Comedy Jam, Bad Boys of Comedy, and Comic View.

NJPAC is located at One Center Street in Newark, New Jersey. It is America’s most diverse performing arts center, and the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey – where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted nearly 10 million visitors (including over 1.7 million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.