'Comedy On The Streets' on Video. rated PG Starring Ventriloquist Anthony Thomas and his hilarious side kick Leroy. Directed by Peter Ramdass.

Comedy on the Streets starring ventriloquist Anthony Thomas and his hysterical dummy Leroy, is an interactive comedy concept performance filmed live, unannounced and unrehearsed in New York City. A cross between stand up comedy and scripted film.

******** PRESS RELEASE; *******

COMEDY ON THE STREETS

                                                                         By J.A.Serling

Youve got reality shows coming soon to every channel near your remote. Reality dating, reality game shows, reality stuck on an island. reality this and reality that. But how real is it, when you pay each person to get stranded on an island with a T.V. plot? And then theres Comedy On The Street" which for my money is as real as real gets. Then again there is something about Comedy On The Streets thats not real.... Leroy, hes a ventriloquial figure (thats dummy in lay mens terms). But even this fact is debatable, just watch the people gathered around, as they lean on his every word, watch those that converse with Leroy, young and old, as if though.... well dare I say it, as if though he were real. Do you think Im really talking"? Leroy asks someone hes been conversing with. No" replies the individual, Well youre talking to me aint you"? Leroy replies, I guess I aint the only dummy out here! Comedy On The Streets can undoubtedly be labeled an interactive reality concept, it is unrehearsed, unannounced and filmed on the street corners of New York City. It features veteran ventriloquist Anthony Thomas and his sidekick Leroy, whose interactions with a host of hysterical characters creates the premise for this video, which is produced by Peter Ramdass, Anthonys long time business partner.

Anthony and Leroy are definitely not your everyday ventriloquist act. Leroy is a streetwise hipster of indeterminate age, with an ice-cube stare and a natteringly convivial style. He claims to live in Harlem, with a summer home in Newark" and is given to making pronouncements like money isnt the root of all evil, its the whole tree". In the manner of snaps, he also likes to single out members of the audience for inquisitions that have a hostile baiting edge. The comments and the comedy are directly related to whats happening now. Comedy On The Streets is an original show based on the wide variety of people that frequent the city streets, and the humor is created via the wit of Anthony Thomas through his boisterous sidekick, from the events within this environment. A good crowd can get you into flow" says Anthony, thats when you reach a place where you almost see the humor before it happens, the jokes flow effortlessly and just at the right time. Walking a fine line between humor and insult, Anthony does a remarkable job at keeping his outspoken partner from crossing it. What you looking at?" Leroy asks suspiciously to an innocent passerby whos eyes has caught his. Make a move Jack," he challenges, as he prepares with his disposition, for the fight he is starting. Ill take my leg off and beat you to death" he threatens.

One may actually wonder how Anthony has managed to stay out of trouble all these years. But while Leroy has a bold brash in-your-face attitude, it is tempered just right by his conservative manipulator, making him, well, lovable or at least likable, but undeniably funny. And speaking of reality, there was one time Anthony will admit, that he did wonder whether he had made Leroy too real for his own good. Its probably just the whole Schizophrenic thing of being a ventriloquist, but at times I almost feel like Leroy has a mind of his own. Like one night, years ago, we were working late out on Broadway, and Leroy starts running his mouth at some big mean looking dude, cracking wise about the way hes dressed, asking him when he got out of jail, all the usual stuff Leroy says. Usually if I notice that someone doesnt smile when Leroy jives them, Ill say cool it, Leroy, and move on to someone else. But this night I continued, and before I knew it this big mean unsmiling guy was right up in our faces, cursing, mumbling and reeking of cheap wine. All the while Leroy kept talking. Im a ninja" Leroy warned, Make a move" Leroy dared. Make my day"! Leroy pleaded. And just like that, the guy punched Leroy in the face, and the next thing I know, Im rolling around in the gutter with this man gone mad, and all these hands are grabbing at us, trying to break it up.

   Movement is the secret ingredients to Comedy On The Streets. While Anthony has a lightning quick wit, it is the movement of his surroundings that spark his thoughts. The streets are a goldmine for material," says Anthony, and then there is the soap opera atmosphere of the show. For the audience there is that, you never know whets going to happen next feeling, and the I hope he doesnt pick on me concern, and then the characters are endless and changing by the moment. It is a scientific fact" says Leroy that 1 out of 3 people is ugly, if you dont believe me, take the ugly test, look at the person on the left side of you... then look at the person on the right, if you still dont see him, guess who? Its you!" Its nice to see people laugh together and taking a humorous look at themselves. I feel the world would be better off, if we could do this more often"
   Thomas, now 46 built Leroy with his own hands while still a senior at Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx. After reading a how to book on ventriloquism and practicing his technique, he knew exactly the personality he wanted his doll to have: hip, street smart and bad-mouthed, like so many of the young brothers he ran with at Dewitt Clinton. There is a lot of entertainment experience that forms the essence of Anthony Thomass style, which is translated directly through his performances. In the 1970s and 80s his world evolved around Leroy and street performing, living day-to-day existence in midtown hotels, and surviving off the money thrown into his collection box. There have been bad financial times during the early years of Anthonys street performing, when bad weather or bad money management made it impossible for him to afford a hotel room. Ive spent more nights sleeping on the IRT and in the Port Authority Bus terminal than I care to remember," says Anthony, all while performing before the most demanding audiences in the world. He has never thought about giving up his comedy act. He has never even held a job out side of his craft.

Anthony has become a master of observational humor, which is the signature of Comedy On The Streets". But his has been a long road. Thousand upon thousand of New York City street corner shows, over 20 years worth, from Central Park to Battery Park, Broadway to Wall Street. Through the years Anthony and Leroy have toured major venues as an opening act for major stars, has appeared on various television shows, an amazing five time winner on NBCs Showtime at the Apollo; and has had many other performance accomplishments from colleges to cruise ships. And though he has played world famous stages such as: Radio City Music Hall, his claim to fame has been the streets of New York City. After all these years Anthony and Leroy will leave their legacy on video. And as Leroy would say If you dont think this is reality... make a move Jack!"                Anthony Thomass website is    

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Contact Anthony Thomas, 201-222-1055 or 212-539-4582                             or
             Peter Ramdass, 917-821-8212