About

Kambri Crews once lived with her deaf parents in a tin shed with no electricity, plumbing or running water. She has since become a renowned storyteller and the author of the critically acclaimed New York Times best selling book Burn Down the Ground (Penguin Random House). Her memoir was adapted into a LifeTime documentary “Family Secrets” and the film rights have been optioned by an Academy Award winner. Kambri is also a public speaker, focusing on areas such as Deaf culture, domestic violence and criminal justice. 

Currently Kambri is the sole owner and operator of Q.E.D., a performance arts space and multi-purpose venue in NYC which was voted #1 comedy club in NYC by Time Out NY. She also serves as a volunteer with the Fortune Society, is a Membership Director of the NY chapter of the National Independent Venue Association and serves on the Small Business Advisory Council led by NY State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris.

Below are some credits in their exhaustive, glorious detail.

Q.E.D.

In 2014, Kambri opened Q.E.D., a multipurpose performance venue & arts space. With 80+ events per month ranging from comedy, storytelling, art exhibits and music to classes like embroidery, improv, cartooning and writing, there is something for everyone. Since its opening, Q.E.D. has been featured on The Jim Gaffigan Show, NY1, The New York and LA Times and countless other media outlets. Performers have included the super famous like Al Franken, Gary Gulman, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Janeane Garofalo, et al., to the first-time performer and everyone in between. 

PERFORMING & PUBLIC SPEAKING

Also a performer and public speaker, Kambri has given speeches for Girls, Inc., University of Texas, Texas Book Festival, University of Oregon, SXSW (South by Southwest), DeafHope, and many other schools, colleges, book festivals, and events. She has been featured on The Moth (both MainStage & radio), Women of Letters,  Risk! and Mortified.

As a storyteller, she has appeared on critically acclaimed shows including Risk!, The Moth and Mortified. She has appeared at Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre (UCB), Gotham Comedy Club, 92YTribeca, Comix Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club, The People’s Improv Theater, The Bitter End, Ochi’s Lounge, PS-NBC and the illustrious KGB Bar. Check out her calendar for upcoming dates.

Click here to learn more about hosting Kambri at your school or event.

PUBLICIST CREDITS

In 2004, Kambri began Ballyhoo Promotions, a production and PR company in New York with a focus on comedy and theater. Over the years, clients have included actors and comedians David Koechner and Christian Finnegan, the 92Y Tribeca, comedy nightclub Comix, Jest Magazine and God’s Pottery. She has promoted events for Jennifer Coolidge, Richard Lewis, Robert Wuhl, Craig Ferguson, Janeane Garofalo, Roseanne Barr, Oxygen & Mandy Moore, and Barbara Walters.

Additionally, during her four years as Director of Marketing and PR for the comedy nightclub Comix, she developed the brand and slogan “Life’s Tough. Laugh More.” She wrote, developed and produced television commercials, a series of print ads which appeared in New York City subways, and guerrilla marketing strategies. Click here to see photos from this campaign and others.

Other Ballyhoo clients and projects have included the Stand Uppity comedy tour featuring Marc Maron, Andy Kindler & Eugene Mirman; award winning novelist Edith Layton; Chamberlain Bros. International Film Festival; and The Meow Mix House, a televised marketing campaign that had nine rescued cats living in a house on Madison Avenue. No kidding.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

In 2007, Kambri created Ochi’s Lounge, a 50-seat performance space in the lower level of the comedy nightclub Comix that featured a variety of comedy shows for four years. Comedians that graced the Ochi’s stage included Zach Galifianakis, TJ Miller, Kumail Nanjiani,  and regular drop-ins by Jim Gaffigan and a slew of others.

Additionally, she is a co-producer of the ECNY Awards and produces dozens of shows each year featuring comedians and writers from The Onion, The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live, you name it.

With Tex in the City, a social networking company for Texans living in NYC, she co-produced an off-Broadway cabaret featuring Andra Mitrovich (Love, Janis), promotional events for the Broadway productions of Urinetown the Musical and 42nd Street, a private book launch party for Governor Ann Richards and lots of free shows and soirees.

ACTING

Kambri’s acting credits include a featured role the original Emmy nominated PBS television series K.C. & the Kidd, “Maggie” in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, “Helena” in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, “Billie Dawn” in Born Yesterday, and “Brooke Ashton” / “Vicki” in Noises Off, for which she won Best Supporting Actress. She has appeared on The Jim Gaffigan Show and was even an extra in an AARP commercial but not as the retired person and as background in 30 Rock, Smash and many other major network shows.

Download Kambri’s Acting Resume.

MARKETING & PROMOTIONS

Kambri once hosted parties for Jose Cuervo contest winners on the private island Marina Cay, aka The Cuervo Nation, located in the British Virgin Islands. She also toured the United States in conjunction with professional sporting events including Major League Baseball and NHRA/NASCAR Winston Cup Series and exclusive engagements for various companies such as Jose Cuervo, Camel, Stolichanaya, Pepsi, Winston, Kellogg’s & more. Click here to see photos from these campaign and others.