Riverview resident Thomas Brown used to sneak into his father’s room as a boy to learn every last one of Richard Pryor’s jokes. He was the class clown in school. An accomplished automotive metal fabricator and custom painter, Brown has restored cars for Major League Baseball stars Dwight Gooden and Gary Sheffield as well as for Tom Dupont, publisher of the Dupont Registry, among others. Believing that his true calling was to make people laugh, Brown resolved to pursue his dream full-time. The one-time paint-and-body man turned comedian hasn’t looked back since.Since then, he has toured with Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall, earning his comedian credentials. He has been voted AOL’s Best Cruise Line Comedian for the past two years.He has a CD entitled Stupid Things that People Do and a cookbook- From the Stage to the Stove, World’s Funniest Cookbook. Brown, along with his wife, Vanessa, is now opening his own comedy club in the Brandon area. Jokers Live Comedy Theater will have its first show on Friday, June 18, at the Embassy Suites Tampa-Brandon, located at 10220 Palm River Rd., Tampa. With shows performed once per month, Brown has hopes of expanding the shows to every Friday night. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased online or at the door. Embassy Suites Tampa-Brandon features a restaurant- Mango’s- and a full bar. “The great thing about having it at a hotel is that if you have too much to drink, you can stay,” joked Brown.Brown also wanted to emphasize that another advantage to having the business within a hotel is the ample parking lot. With seating available for up to 250 guests, Jokers Live Comedy Theater will have a different format than most comedic “three-man” shows. Brown said he is aiming to have six comedians on stage every night. “You’ll see a new, fresh face every time,” he said.Another unique characteristic of Jokers Live Comedy Theater is the audience participation. “We take down that fourth wall and make you feel like a part of the show,” said Brown.The Browns live in Aberdeen Creek with their two children, daughter Niyah and son Trae. “I love being a dad,” claimed Brown. “For a grown man, there’s no feeling quite like the one you get when you get in an argument with your 4-year-old daughter…and lose.” For more information on Jokers Live Comedy Theater, please call 377-3070 or visit www.jokerslivecomedy.com.
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