Don Tersigni

Comedy Impressionist

Don Tersigni is recognized as one of the top Comedy Impressionists working today.  Don is happy to talk about how fortunate and blessed he has been in his comedy career.  With just 4 months experience under his belt, he won his first comedy competition back in 1990.  It was for the Continental Airlines “Express Yourself” comedy competition, thus giving Don his first exposure to a national audience.  His “in air” performance was specially covered by CNN.  Johnny Carson even made comments about it on The Tonight Show saying that anyone flying from Detroit to Cleveland needed comedy.  Not long after that, Don was crowned winner of another comedy competition.  He won the privilege to open for Budd Friedman’s “Night at the Improv” live comedy tour Starring Louie Anderson in front of 8,000 people at the DTE Energy Music Center near Detroit.  Don continued to hone his skills in comedy clubs throughout the Midwest.  Don was unique in the world of comedy clubs by his commitment to clean comedy no matter what the audience.  Many folks would comment how refreshing it was to walk away entertained but not offended.  This was Don’s commitment at the very start of his career; he would not compromise his commitment to the Lord for a laugh.  Don was inspired early in his career after seeing a live performance of Red Skelton.  Red talked about how unfortunate it was that so many comedians would resort to profanity and that there is nothing funny about a 4 letter word, Don could not agree more. 

Don really began using his ability to imitate famous people when he was just 8.  John Wayne and Elvis were his first.  Now there are over 150 including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood, Sly Stallone, Jack Nicholson, Barney Fife, Homer Simpson, etc.  He enjoyed making people laugh back then and loves it even more now.  Don made his first stage appearance while serving in the US Navy as a Chaplain’s Assistant.  When he was stationed at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, he performed as Rocky Balboa at the Island Talent Show.  Don also made his radio debut on the island doing celebrity voices over the Armed Forces Radio and TV Network.  While serving aboard the USS KITTY HAWK, Don coordinated a concert event with The Blackwood Brothers world renowned southern gospel quartet.  He would keep his shipmates in stitches during the long months of deployment to the Western Pacific.  He also coordinated Orphanage assistance programs in the Philippines and Korea entertaining the kids with some of his silly cartoon voices. 

Don has since left the Comedy Club circuit to concentrate his efforts on church events, corporate shows, colleges and conventions, but the accolades and opportunities have not stopped.  A few years back, Don was blessed by being crowned Comedy winner of Ed McMahon’s “Next Big Star” Season 2 on The CW.  Don also appeared on 5 episodes of The Michael Essany Show on E! TV appearing with Actor Jerry O’Connell, Singer/Songwriter Jewel, Comedian Tom Green and Singer/Actor Joey McIntyre.  Michael is a dynamic young man who desires to bring good, clean and wholesome entertainment back to TV and Don is behind him all the way.

Don’s show is dynamic and has something for everyone; he blends his 150 voice repertoire with observational humor to create a hilarious entertaining impact.  Don also includes singing impressions in his act, i.e., Elvis, Louie Armstrong, Johnny Cash and even Homer Simpson singing “I Love Donut Holes” to the tune of the old rock song “I Love Rock and Roll”, unbelievable.  His voices cover the whole range from the old timers to the contemporary.  Wait until you see his “Magic Multi Personality Movie Star Sunglasses” bit or watch him do “Celebrity Nursery Rhymes” or his Magnum Opus “Never to be seen Hollywood Sequels and Re-makes”.  “I absolutely love to entertain and make people laugh.  I believe that humor can be a great tool to show people that God is great and Christians can have fun and be goofy.  The bible says that “a cheerful heart is good medicine”.  If I can help you get that medicine and make you forget your woes for awhile and help you remember that God is a God of joy and humor and share my gift and faith with you, and then I am honored and blessed.”

Growing up was interesting to say the least.  I am half Italian and half Hillbilly, it’s true.  It was pretty tough but I didn’t have it as tough as my brother Vinnie Bob.  Nothing like spaghetti and ham hocks.  I grew up in a religious tradition that emphasized performance and works.  I thought God was waiting for me to slip up so he could whack me on the side of my head.  Where is the love?  I always believed in God and that Jesus was the son of God and that he died for my sins, but that was only in my head and not in my heart.  I remember praying at night by myself and reading prayer books when I was a young teenager.  I had a hunger for God.  When I got my driver’s license, I would drive myself to the early service to the delight of my Italian grandparents.  Even though I considered myself a Christian, I certainly did not live a Christ like life.  When I was about 18, my older sisters got “saved”, they were “born-again”.  These words were somewhat alien to me and when I did hear them it was usually not in a good light.  The thing that got me was not their words really, but their actions.  Their very look caught my attention.  There was a peace about them that I had never seen before.  They were really different, changed by the Holy Spirit.  I remember them sharing with me from the Bible verses that I had never seen before and they seemed to bring the words to life.  Through their lives, the words took on a whole new meaning.  They told me that I too needed to be born-again.  I remember certain verses from the Book of Revelation and quite frankly, it scared the heck out of me.  Not long after their conversion, I too came to that place of decision.  They were so new; they really didn’t know how to lead me to Jesus.  I recall one night lying in my bed and praying to God with tears in my eyes, and out of my ignorance I just said, “Lord, make me like them, come into my heart”.  I was born-again!

Not too long after that, I entered the US Navy as a Religious Program Specialist which is a fancy way of saying Chaplain’s assistant.  God really used my time in service to help me grow.  God sent the right people to cross my path.  One in particular was Chaplain Don denDulk.  He really helped me work through a lot junk from my past.   Chaplain “D” was and still is one of my heroes of the faith.  I had the opportunity to witness to a lot of guys and was fortunate enough to be the vessel that God would use to bring them to the Cross.  What a joy!  

A couple years removed from the Navy, I married my best friend Lisa.  We now have 3 kids, and they all have Bible names, there’s Nathanael, Lydia and our youngest one King James.  Just kidding, she is a cool little kid named Chloe and she hates that joke.  God has taught me a lot about a father’s love through my kids.  I would tell them things like, “its ok, you can jump Daddy will catch you, I would never let you fall”.  And, “Daddy is here; don’t be afraid, I will protect you”.   God would say, “If you love your kids that much, and take care of them, how much better do you think I can love and take care of you?”  So, I’m still learning.  I’m learning to be humble and obedient.  I’m also learning more and more what it means to be a true man of God, to step up and be responsible, to admit my mistakes and own my flaws.  God has a way of keeping one humble, but He gives grace to the humble, so that is good.

I love the Lord, I love to entertain and if He can use me to be a blessing and an instrument, then here am I Lord, send me.

“A Terrific Performer!”

– Ed McMahon, TV Legend, The Tonight Show, Star Search and Ed McMahon’s Next Big Star

“He was good spirited and very professional and talented!  My goodness, he performed flawlessly well over 50 different impressions.  I strongly recommend Don to any Christian event.” 

- Pastor Joe Bowman, Heartland Community Church, Decatur, IL

“Don Tersigni helped to make our event a huge success.  He left the audience wanting more.  We especially enjoyed his impersonations.  He even made our unfortunate mic problems hilarious.  We most definitely want a return performance.” 

- Ruth Fortney, Home Schooling Fund Raiser at Faith Evangelical Bible Church, Valparaiso, IN

TV and Radio:

- HBO's Comic Relief

- ABC's America’s Funniest People

- FOX's Show Me The Funny

- The CW: Ed McMahon’s “Next Big Star” – Comedy 

  Winner Season 2

- E! TV's The Michael Essany Show

- CBS's 48 Hours

- CNN: Special Coverage

Comedy Clubs:

- Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, Royal Oak, MI

- Chaplin’s, Metro Detroit

- Main Street Comedy Showcase, Ann Arbor, MI

- Joey’s, Metro Detroit

- Toledo Comedy Club, Toledo, OH

- Wisecrackers, Merrillville, IN

- ComedySportz Improv, Chicago, IL

- Headliners, Alexandria, VA

Performer: Don Tersigni

Travels from: Valparaiso, IN

Performance Fee: Call for quote

Travel Requirements: Airfare and Hotel for (1)