Combat Comics

event schedule

Debbie Praver
Debbie Praver lives in Los Angeles but is always more at home in New York City because in Manhattan people are ready to order when they get to the front of the line. Her impatience, combined with her sarcastic wit, made stand up comedy her only career option. She was an invited guest performer at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival, has shared the stage with Kathy Griffin in Dennis Hensley's Screening Party and performs regularly at the Improv, The Comedy Store and The Friars Club.

Praver honed her writing skills with Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry and co-executive producers Joey Murphy and John Pardee. The refinement of her stand up act happened as she studied with the fabulously talented, yet brutally honest, Mark Lonow. She has been published in Los Angeles' Atomica magazine, is a fill-in sidekick for Dennis Hensley on his Sirius Out Q radio show and makes appearances on paper in Dennis Hensley's Misadventures in the 213 and Del Shore's novel Sordid Lives. Praver spent too many years in Disney costumes, including Minnie Mouse, Pinocchio, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, the March Hare and, in a pinch, she crouched down to do Donald Duck in a parade. She then toured as the dance leader for the media tour of the Broadway musical Footloose, choreographed several fitness videos (including Jeff Costa's Cardio Strip Tease, Denise Austin's Pilates Matwork, and George Forman's Walk it Off With George) and choreographed the series The Method Workout for Fit TV. Praver received her bachelors degree in physical education and exercise physiology from Cal State University at Long Beach and can be found teaching all sorts of fitness classes around Los Angeles.


Kirk McHenry
Always viewing life through the eyes of a comic, Kirk McHenry blends all of his life experiences together into a storytelling brand of comedy that has been likened to Bill Cosby with a Richard Pryor twist. Having already opened for such stars as Paul Mooney, Bobby Slayton, Tommy Davidson, D.C. Curry, Joe Torry and musical groups such as the Whispers, DeBarge and Kem, Kirk has gained recognition as one of comedy’s fastest rising young stars and has been recognized as one of the top ten comics in the Bay Area (Karma 777 Film Works and Productions). Kirk also is a member of the clean comedy division of Entertainment Max.


Richard Villa
Raised in the urban city of Compton, CA, Richard Villa always knew he wanted to make people laugh. After completing a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering, Villa felt there was something more out there in store for him. While driving home one night, the neon lights of the Irvine Improv called his name. Seizing the opportunity of amateur night, Villa grabbed the microphone, went on stage and has not stopped since. Using stories of his childhood, Villa turned what he thought were basic experiences into autobiographical, satirical humor that depicts life for Latinos and other minorities in the United States. Amid his newfound talent in improvisation, Villa was accepted to the Groundlings Theatre Group. With his comedy, and thorough understanding of his audience, Villa became the first Latino to ever host the renowned Hollywood Improv on Friday nights. Sharing the stage with talent like Jeff Garcia, Carlos Mancilla, Gabriel Iglesia, Mike Epps, Orlando Jones and Dat Phan, Villa quickly took over co-host duties at the Ha-Ha in North Hollywood, as well as the Ontario and Brea Improv.

Villa’s ability to appeal to the audience has allowed him the opportunity to perform for U.S. troops on the Combat Comics Tour across Southwest Asia. In 2005, Vanguard Cinema released Villa’s first DVD, Richard Villa: Performing This Way. Now, being hailed as “the leader” for the new generation of Latino comics, Villa exemplifies dedication to making other people laugh. With his television appearances on Mun2’s Loco Comedy Jam, HBO Latino and Los Angeles-based LATV, Villa has turned his talent to animation, writing and doing voiceovers for MTV’s Latin animated series Chico y Guapo. For a personal project, Villa is aiming to introduce his audience to Border Patrol Tales, a sketch comedy show depicting the social impact and influence of immigrants in the United States. With all this and more, it is no wonder that in no time, Villa will be as synonymous a household name as pan dulce and champurrado!


Lauren Bishop
Lauren Bishop is a quick-witted comedian-originally-from Arkansas. Half southern charm, half southern sass, this country girl turned Yankee is quickly rising to the top of the comedy scene. She’s regularly seen at the Chicago Improv and Zanies, and has performed at Gotham Comedy Club in New York as well as numerous other clubs across the Midwest. Bishop also is part of the popular comedy group Blerds and is an accomplished stage actress, having worked with Second City, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and toured the country with the first national tour of Scrooge the Musical. She has appeared in national campaigns for KFC and Quaker Oats, and also is a professional voiceover actress.