Hypnonews

Williams left Virginia and moved to Houston in 1991, performing his routines as often as he could. After a friend suggested he trying adding hypnosis bits to his act, Williams attended school to learn more about it. He liked the extra excitement the hypnosis brought to his act, and soon he was incorporating it in his shows, which contain a mixture of urban and contemporary observational comedy, hip-hop, and hypnotic improvisation.

The stage at Bonkerz is perfect for his show.

"It's big enough for us to do some wild, wacky things," he laughed, explaining his shows do get a little wild. Guests are given suggestions, such as they are Chippendale dancers or know how to sing like Aretha Franklin.

"We don't do anything to embarrass them," he said of the audience members who volunteer to be hypnotized. "They are the stars of the show."

Williams said his show starts out with him telling jokes and talking a little about himself and his family. Once the audience has relaxed a bit, he gets volunteers and then the excitement begins.

The comedian/hypnotist loves what he's doing now. It would be about my life, like 'Seinfeld,'" Williams said.

And, while the television deal is still a dream, Williams' show at Imperial Palace is real - and really fun. Admission to Bonkerz is free with a two-drink minimum.

Get "HypBrotized" at Imperial Palace with Hypnobro!

You have another chance to get "HypBrotized" at Imperial Palace! "HypnoBro" (Leroy Williams) is one of America's hottest comic/ hypnotist, entertaining audiences around the world. He wowed audiences during his first visit to Imperial Palace back in February. He was so popular, Imperial Palace has invited "HypnoBro" back for 3 months! He will make audiences laugh at IP through August 10. Performances are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and 10:30pm. As always, admission is FREE with a two-drink minimum.

"HypnoBro's" television credits include numerous appearances on BET's "Comic View" and ABC's "The Debra Duncan Show." He has opened for acts such as Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D.C. Curry. Williams credits himself as the only black stand-up comic/hypnotist in the country. His show contains a mixture of urban contemporary observational comedy, hip-hop, and hypnotic improvisation. Don't miss out on your chance to be "HypBrotized" only at Imperial Palace through August 10!

Note: Show may contain adult material that some guests may find offensive. (Management reserves all rights.)

Growing Up With HypnoBro In The House

Express Entertainment recently sat down with a sibling of Leroy Williams to find out what it was like growing up with a talent such as HypnoBro in the house. Read what his sister Pat had to say.

EXPRESS: It has been reported that you always considered your brother to be an entertainer.

PAT: Yes!

EXPRESS: When did you first notice his talent?

PAT: Oh, as a little girl, in elementary school. He was my big brother, ya know and we were very close. He was cast in the role of John Henry in a school stage production. Whatever my brother was involved in, I wanted to be a part of, so when he needed to practice his role, I became his audience. He recited the legend, wielded an imaginary sledgehammer and evoked an image of the cumbersome task that weighed heavily on the back of this man. I was mesmerized because he so thoroughly transformed into John Henry, exuding confidence and the intensity with which he drew upon his strength. I could almost see steely beads of sweat pouring from his brow. It was awesome.

EXPRESS: That was a dramatic role. When did the comedy start?

PAT: Well, actually comedy was always within him. He is a consummate performer, an actor, a comic, a hypnotist and enormously talented at getting participants to join him in the laughter. I once saw an incident where an elderly person was upset with Leroy and was going to fuss at him. You know how elderly people can be. Well, before this individual could get two sentences out, Leroy had led them into a joke about the situation, that had the person guffawing with laughter and giving him a big hug.

EXPRESS: That’s funny.

PAT: It is skill. He’s practiced his craft forever and has done so from an inner drive.

EXPRESS: What do you mean by that?

PAT: Well, let me share a quick story. Leroy comes from a family of variously gifted individuals. As siblings we would perform our own productions to entertain ourselves. We had talk shows, variety shows, skits and musicals. We’d push back all the furniture and make our parent’s living room center stage. The broom was a stand-up microphone with combs and brushes being handheld mikes. Sheets, pillowcases and old clothes were costumes. I remember Leroy performing striking impersonations, comedy routines and making the rest of us laugh so much that we’d have trouble delivering our lines. Most often we undid the stage transformation before our parents returned home. That in itself was hilarious.

Well, this practice continued well into our adulthood, but with a different format. When we’d all come together to visit my mother, we now had real mikes, stereos, camcorders, etc. and Leroy had become a stand-up comic. I think that one of his most compelling “home performances” occurred during a gospel sing-a-long session that I was having with my sister. Leroy did an improvisation of a gospel singer/preacher that was all together riveting. It was emotional and thought provoking with sincerity about the appreciation of being free that became so over the top dramatically – it was hilarious. It became a shared family memory that I don’t think any of us will ever forget. What can I say? He’s just gifted.

EXPRESS: Any other special terms you’d use to describe your brother?

PAT: Talented, gifted, humorous, wise, intelligent, meticulously organized, but most of all a thriving survivor.

EXPRESS: Hmm, that’s an interesting use of terms. Why a thriving survivor?

PAT: Because he’s had an arduous journey with pitfalls scattered along the way and the option of choosing the road that would lead to defeat or walking out his pathway to success. He survived the pitfalls and mastered the challenges of life, always studying, growing and perfecting his craft. Now he is thriving from making the most of the talent with which he was gifted.

EXPRESS: A thriving survivor.

PAT: Yes!

EXPRESS: Well, thank you for your time Pat and I wish you the best on your life’s pathway or journey.

PAT: Thank you.

A Twist of Fate

Engineered for success, designed for accomplishment, endowed with the seed of greatness, the story of Leroy Williams' rise to HypnoBro is encouragement personified. A twist of fate led Williams through a long and arduous journey to realize the seed of success that lay within his desire to do a stand-up comedy routine. Though secure and comfortable in his position with the Corps of Engineers in Norfolk, Virginia, the challenges of life were overwhelming and led to a threatening despondency. The laughter had ebbed. Life was no longer fun. He had come to a fork in the road and self-destruction loomed heavily before him.

He decided to follow that inner desire to perform a stand-up comedy routine. Venturing into uncharted territory, he attended an open mic contest at a local comedy club and walked away the first place winner. Wild applause and infectious laughter at his brand of humor won for him the job of emcee for the following week. Laughter had reigned. Since that day in 1989, Williams, with dogged determination has charted a path for his success, studying his craft, honing his skills and trusting that the talent he was given had been destined for success.

Today Williams employs the use of hypnosis in his show; a craft that he studied to enhance his already successful stand-up routine. Hypnotic improvisation adds electri-fying excitement through audience participation. Always a wild and wacky show but never embarrassing to his guests, his hypnotic suggestions include having participants believe that they can sing like Aretha Franklin. Hypnosis' new flava, the 1st black comic and hypnotist -HypnoBro- has arrived. So come on out everybody, let's all get HypBrotized!

The Imperial Palace in Biloxi, Mississippi welcomes HypnoBro; a successful comic and hypnotist to showcase his unique blend of urban, contemporary, and hip-hop humor mixed with hypnotic improvisation and observational comedy. HypnoBro will be performing at Bonkerz Comedy Club through August 10th shows are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 and 10:30 p.m.

A certified intellect - validated by a degree in Architecture - yet, genetically predisposed to be a comedic genius; such a coupling might make the average person writhe in agony along the path or road of least resistance. Ah, but that was not the case for Leroy Williams. When he found himself at the fork in the road of self-destruction -vs- self-preservation, he chose to enhance the gift within him, by becoming a stand-up comic. Today, with the success of Hypnobro, it is difficult to believe that there was ever a time when Leroy Williams didn't consider being a performer.

According to his sister: "I always saw my brother as an entertainer, I knew the talent was enormous when as little children, I watched his performance as "the preacher" in a little tots' mock wedding ceremony production. Better still, was his portrayal of John Henry in a school production. The best performances were at home, when the five siblings would transform my parent's living room into the center stage of a variety show. Leroy would become so thoroughly immersed in his comical characters that it would leave the rest of us in stitches. And…I have the pictures to prove it!"

Success and leadership was always expected of Leroy. Living up to those expectations, he had obtained success with a secure position in a government job with the Corps of Engineers in Norfolk, Virginia, when he was faced with mastering a monumental challenge of life. Despondent, but clinging to an inner desire to perform a stand-up comedy routine, Leroy ventured into an open mic night at a local comedy club and took first place. The laughter reigned and according to Leroy, winning the job as emcee for the next week probably saved his life.

Smitten with comedic performance, but still practical, Leroy did not commit to standup until 1991 when he returned to his home town of Houston, Texas - the mecca of comedy in the southwest United States. Leroy became a regular at The Comedy Place, which proved to be a great training ground. Sometimes, the audience only consisted of 3 patrons. At other times, 150 patrons would be in attendance. Regardless of the numbers, the show went on. In an instant, one could be called on to MC or headline, as advance notice was optional. You had to work hard at becoming a better comedian or you'd get left in the pack of "also rans" and "could have beens".

Leroy paid his dues the old fashioned way - by working the road. The experience proved invaluable as Leroy climbed through the ranks to headline such notable clubs as Pierce St. Annex in Anchorage, Alaska, The Punchline and Bobby's Comedy Corner in Houston, Texas, and The Comedy Lift in Omaha, Nebraska. His international performances include Germany, Japan and Korea.

Having appeared on BET's Comic View numerous times and as the opening act for such notables as Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and D.C. Curry, Leroy added hypnosis to his repertoire to the delight of audiences in clubs, colleges and corporate events nationwide.

"One of my most requested entertainers; he slips from comedian to hypnotist in a fast paced show that leaves you wanting more". -Dana McGraw, Comedy Express Entertainment.

Arguably, the only black stand-up comedian/hypnotist in the country, (if you don't count Baptist preachers) HypnoBro serves up Da Laffs to all age groups and venues. With an undeniable stage presence and HypnoBro's blend of urban, contemporary, and hip-hop humor mixin' it up with hypnotic improvisation and observational comedy, his shows can be tailored to fit your needs. A brand new flavor of Hypnosis has arrived! So, come on everybody let's get HypBrotized!