Debra Terry

Debra Terry is a multi-talented entertainer who has been in the entertainment industry since 1989.  Residing in Kernersville, NC, (although she grew up in High Point and was born in Hamlet, NC), Terry made her comedic debut in Durham, NC (November 1989) when she opened for Kim Coles (of Living Single and In Living Color).  Churches, colleges, club owners, promoters, actors and other comedians describe Terry as “clever and classy”.  She deals with everyday life and her own unresolved issues using references from movies, commercials, song parodies and female singer impersonations for a show to remember.

Actor

Terry has been cast in numerous commercials and industrial training videos.  Her film credits include being cast as the voice of ‘Li’l Bit’ in a fabulous, new animation, The Magistical, due out in late 2006 and a principal role in Funny Valentines (produced by and starring Alfre Woodard) in which Terry plays the young and aged preacher’s wife, Mrs. Watts.  Other television appearances include Something Borrowed, Something Blue (CBS), a made-for-television movie in which Terry plays a principal role as an energetic talk show host named Kendel.

Terry recently appeared in the season’s premiere episode of One Tree Hill (CW Network formerly WB) as an aggressive reporter interviewing one of the principal characters.  Terry’s quick wit and effervescent personality were on display as she co-hosted two seasons (2004 & 2005) of Gimme the Mike, a North Carolina version of “American Idol.”  In October 2003, the City of Greensboro, NC and Greensboro ConnecTV, a community outreach program that celebrates the city’s strengths and promotes its image, selected Terry to co-host the television program that began airing in November. 

In April 2005 she returned to theatre (at The Reynolda House in Winston-Salem, NC) to co-star in a two-actor play, “Free Gift” (by Israel Horowitz), where Terry nailed the dramatic scenes.

Comedian

Terry is part of a new and exciting comedy tour called The Laughalujah Gurlfrienz Comedy Tour (www.gurlfrienz.com) featuring Christian women who bring laughter and healing to their audiences.  She is also hosting a live comedy movie called Laughalujah Entertainment Mega Comedy Jam 2006 which will be taped in Phoenix, AZ as well as taping a segment of God Ain’t No Joke to air on the Black Family Channel.  Terry performed six consecutive seasons on Comicview (BET) and was also featured on Showtime at the Apollo (WB) where she received lots of love and thunderous applause.

Terry explored new comedy horizons by performing at the international Comedy Factory Festival 2004 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.  She was also one of ten semi-finalists in NBC’s Diversity Showcase in NYC and was also a semi-finalist in Comedy Central’s Laugh Riots national comedy competition in 2003.  Terry has worked with the best comedians and singers in the industry, such as Anita Baker, Patti LaBelle, Regina Hall, Brian McKnight, Paul Mooney, Mo’Nique, J. Anthony Brown, Chris Rock, George Wallace, Just June, Bernie Mac and D L Hughley to name a few.  Her performances have been well received across the country in such venues as The Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, The Comedy Zone, The Funny Bone, Catch a Rising Star, Carolina Theatre, University of South Carolina, Wake Forest University (NC), Spelman College (GA), Rutgers (NJ), Princeton University (NJ), West Chester University (PA), Dickinson College (PA), Polytechnic University (NY), Rensselaer Polytechnic (NY), Georgetown College (KY) and Baldwin Wallace College (OH). 

In 2001, she also worked one year on the “Donnie Simpson Morning Show” on WPGC 95.5 FM – in the DC-metro area – helping make it the “#1 morning show.” 

Singer

“Debra was singing before she could actually talk,” says her mother.  “She would mimic commercials or whatever she heard.”  Terry has been singing since age three.  One of her Hamlet, NC neighbors used to take her from church to church to sing.  Because she was so young and so small, she would have to stand on a piano stool in order to be seen.  She grew up singing in the children’s choir, The Young Harmonettes, at her church.  She has lead many solos and served as choir director for many years.  Terry’s band lessons helped her understand music and directing.  She started playing the clarinet in the sixth grade.  After having to wait several months before actually getting her clarinet, Terry tried out for first clarinet-first chair and got it!  She remained first clarinet-first chair until she graduated high school.  She became the first African American drum major at her high school and received the John Philip Sousa Award for Band by popular vote.

Terry’s sharp ear for music and love of singing are evident in the many song parodies incorporated into her comedy performances.  She sings occasionally with her church’s Women’s Day Choir and praise team.  She faithfully sang with a local gospel group, The Ebony Gospel Chorale, for almost twenty years as they traveled throughout the Carolinas and the Virginias.

Producer

Terry has truly stepped out on faith by helping to write scripts, direct and produce DVDs, commercials and plays for her childhood church.  She is also in the final editing of her independent film, Mr. Bones, created by Terry (screenplay by Nathan Ross Freeman) based on some of her childhood church friendships.  She even named one of the main characters after her son, Devin.  Terry also wrote the theme song, “You Will Find Me There” in two versions – a traditional, three-beat hymn as well as an up-tempo, R&B ballad sang a cappella.  She also taught her two co-stars the voice parts to produce a tight, three-part harmony for the reunion church scene.

Terry has also been perfecting her one-woman show, Dinah, with the help of her long-time NYC friends Roz Fox (Director) and Susan-Sojourna Collier (playwright).  This work is a coming-of-age story in which Terry portrays nine characters – male and female, young and old, and black and white.  Tour dates will include churches and colleges across the country.

Terry was the producer of a monthly extravaganza called Debra Terry’s Comedy All-Stars coordinating talent booking, ticket distribution, advertising, newsletter publication and mailings as well as stage production for a night to remember.

Minister

Terry’s life experiences, education, God-given talents and calling on her life have transitioned her into ministry.  Her willingness to be transparent, vulnerable and available help her minister as an Exhorter, motivational speaker, women’s conference participant, women’s ministries coordinator, nationwide prison outreach and performing arts ministry. Terry is determined to help others as God has helped her move ‘from pain to purpose’.

Education

Terry graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Relations and a minor in Psychology.  Because of her high GPA (grade point average), she made the Dean’s List often.  She attended High Point Central High School where she was inducted in the National Honors Society, National Beta Club, Who’s Who Among America’s High School Students and voted as Homecoming Queen. 

Her technical training consists of acting workshops and scene studies with Nathan Ross Freeman, renowned playwright/screenwriter/director; The Advanced Actor Scene Study with Andy Lane and Wayne Crawford of the NC School of the Arts; and The Professional Actor Workshop with casting agent Shay Bentley Griffin (GA). 

Woman

Terry is a devoted wife and mother who loves taking care of her family.  From coming up with new recipes to seeking new worship experiences to on-going interior design projects, there is never a dull moment in her household.  She is always creating moments for family and friends centered around food.  Terry has ‘multi-tasking’ down to a science by being able to go to auditions at a moment’s notice to planning the dinner menu on the drive home to cooking and eating dinner just before a church meeting to getting back in time to play with her son before bedtime. 

Affiliations

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Gene Banks Foundation Board Member
RJW Ministries, Inc. Executive Board Member

Terry’s versatility as a comedian, actor and singer give her mass appeal.  Her down-to-earth personality and eagerness to inspire, educate and entertain are breaths of fresh air for all who experience her operating in her gifts.