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Dana Laurie
JAMES P. CONNOLLY, MARINE TURNED COMEDIAN, HEADLINES IRVINE IMPROV BENEFIT
FOR US MARINES.
‘Operation Semper Funny’ raises money for Camp Pendleton 5th
Marines support group.
IRVINE, Calif. — Comedian and
former U.S. Marine James P. Connolly will headline the upcoming “Operation
Semper Funny” benefit show at the Irvine Improv Comedy Club July 29. The show’s
proceeds will go toward the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support
Group and include dinner, door prizes and a silent auction. A 5th
Marine Desert Storm veteran himself, Connolly is thrilled to support the cause
and headline the show.
“I got my start in comedy as a
U.S. Marine during Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s,” said Connolly. “My
Commanding Officer asked me to write him one liners for a dinner roast of all
the Officers in the Battalion. Of course, when a Colonel “asks” you to do
something, consider it an order! I may be the only person who started a comedy
career with a lawful command to do so!”
Prior to Desert Storm, Connolly
attended Harvard University on a Marine Corps ROTC scholarship. In addition to appearing
in television, commercials and independent films, he is recognized as one of
the most-played comedians on SiriusXM’s comedy channels and a regular guest on
the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Radio Show.
James has made multiple trips
overseas to entertain the troops, including entertaining his former unit, 3rd
Battalion, 5th Marines in Iraq following the Battle of Fallujah in
2004. He also produces an annual Veterans
Day Comedy Benefit show in Burbank, raising money for Veterans causes.
The Dana Point 5th
Marine Regiment Support Group formed in 2004 with the goal of reaching out to
Marines and sailors and their families. In 2008, it became fully operational
and has continued to pursue its mission through care packages, sponsoring
events for expectant mothers, gathering food for families and arranging
financial resources for troops. Many members of the 5th Marines have
recently returned to the area after nearly a decade of deployments in Iraq and
Afghanistan
“People always tell me ‘Don’t
take this the wrong way, but you don’t look anything like a Marine.’ said
Connolly. “Of course I don’t look like a Marine! Because that’s exactly what
the enemy would be expecting me to look like!”
“Operation Semper Funny” begins
at 6 p.m. on July 29 at the Irvine Improv. Tickets are $35 each, which includes
dinner and door prizes. Other comedians include: Tom Riehl, Ron J. Ruhman,
Julie Kidd and Billy Houston. Those who cannot attend but would like to support
the cause are encouraged to sponsor a Marine and his or her spouse by making a
donation to the secure PayPal account, which can be accessed on the event’s
website.
To learn more, visit http://danapoint5thmarines.com/semper-funny.
To find out more about James P. Connolly’s upcoming appearance visit
www.jamespconnolly.tv
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