TTF Entertainment generates laughs at Base Theater

Marine Corps Installations East
Story by Cpl. Miranda Blackburn

Date: 08.17.2011
Posted: 09.16.2011 13:21
News ID: 77151
Miller generates laughs

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - In an effort to build morale, Esprit de Corps and unit cohesion, Headquarters Marine Corps and the Single Marine Program presented the first “Leatherneck Comedy and Entertainment Tour” event to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Marines and sailors at the Base Theater, Aug. 17.

Over the past few years, the Marines have expressed a desire to have more entertainment available on the installations.

TTF Entertainment used this opportunity to find the best comedians and musicians to service 17 Marine Corps installations throughout the United States and Japan for the next year, with MCB Camp Lejeune being the first stop.

This particular entertainment company is the first and only organization focused solely on bringing the most popular talent in music, comedy and sports to domestic military bases.

According to the TTFE website, “We produce world-class live entertainment events for our troops, their families and the surrounding communities at an affordable price and on a consistent basis. With hundreds of military bases spread across the U.S., many of the supporting over 20,000 active duty personnel, there is a significant opportunity to deliver a diversity of exciting live entertainment to this under-served and deserving audience.”

The four entertainers who performed were singer Tommy Stanley and comedians Alex Scott, Ray Lipowski and Corey “Zooman” Miller.

Stanley, of Kirbyville, Texas, is a singer-songwriter currently serving in the Navy. He was also a “Top 10” contestant on NBC’s Nashville Star. Many of his original songs can be related to by most of the military community.

“If you have a dream, you can do it,” Stanley said. “Just because you are in the military doesn’t mean that you can’t follow your dreams.”

Scott was born and raised the Washington, D.C. area and won the 2003 Kings and Queens of Comedy contest. He appeared on BET’s Comic View and Grins, a local D.C. cable television comedy showcase and co-hosts the “Rhythm Ride in the Morning” on Charlottesville, Virginia’s radio station.

“Right now the country needs to be pulled together and I think comedy is the way to do it,” Scott said. “Everybody can always laugh together.”

Lipowski was a featured performer on BET’s Comic view for five years and is also a veteran performer on P. Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy featured on HBO.

Miller made his comedic television debut on the HBO Original Series “Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam.” He has been featured on many network and cable television showcases, such as BET’s “Comic View,” Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend,” NBC’s “Friday Night Videos,” and has hosted late night talk show NBC’s “Later.”

Each of the performers provided their own unique style of comedic relief and entertainment to the packed theater.

“On a scale of who needs to laugh more than anybody in the country, it’s the service members,” said Lipowski. “They need it more than anybody due to the simple fact that they allow us to do what we do. We take for granted and don’t realize the freedom we have in this country and without the military, the men and women who are serving to protect this country, we would have all of the things we take for granted on a daily basis.”