Released on = October 20, 2006, 10:07 pm

Press Release Author = Full Circle Entertainment

Industry = Entertainment

Press Release Summary = THEATER WITH A PUNCH

Press Release Body = [ALI: The Man, The Myth, The Peoples\' Champion]

\"Outstanding! Vincent took me back to my childhood years and his show reminded me of
my father\'s hilarious sense of humor!\"

-May May (Muhammad Ali\'s eldest daughter)

What happens when an actor, former boxer and lifelong fan of the world\'s most
recognizable cultural icon gets to meet his hero face to face, while working on the
epic motion picture that bears his name? Well, if you\'re comedian Vincent Cook and
your hero is legendary boxing champion/humanitarian Muhammad Ali, a heart-felt
theatre tribute called ALI: The Man, The Myth, The Peoples\' Champion is what
happens.

Vincent Cook has been in good entertainment company for quite some time, having been
handpicked by legendary comedian Richard Pryor to open Pryor\'s final live comedy
tour. Most recently, Cook worked extensively with Oscar nominated actor/rapper Will
Smith in Michael Mann\'s \"Ali\" 2001 movie.

In playing the role of Will Smith\'s boxing double in \"Ali\", Vincent Cook stated that
when auditioning, he had no clue he would be really fighting - but he was soon to
find out. \"Once they gave me a mouthpiece and told me to \'protect myself at all
times,\' I figured it out pretty fast,\" explains Cook. After being personally
selected by director Michael Mann, Vincent ran over 100 miles and spent in excess of
20 hours per week in the gym, as preparation for the acclaimed film.

In his amateur boxing days, Vincent Cook won a gold medal for the United States
Boxing Team and was proclaimed a Golden Gloves Champion, another similarity he
shares with his hero, Muhammad Ali. Although Cook has always been quick with his
hands, comedy remains his true passion. In fact, with his ability to make people
laugh, Vincent was voted class clown throughout his school and college years, all
the while being a young boxing champion. \"My wit is even faster than my hands,\"
Cook explains.

Upon noticing Vincent\'s mastering of Ali\'s boxing style and voice, Michael Mann
informed Cook he would be awarded a meaningful role in the film, one that connected
closely with his current job on the set. Vincent was asked to play Jimmy Ellis,
Ali\'s famed sparring partner and a former Heavyweight Champion of the World. During
the making of \"Ali\", Cook realized yet another childhood dream when he received the
opportunity to meet Muhammad Ali in person. The overall experience of working on
\"Ali\" would inspire Vincent to spend the next few years creating a labor of love -
his ALI: The Man, The Myth, The Peoples\' Champion production.

In addition to comedy, Vincent Cook remains a master impressionist, being able to
imitate Don King, Sugar Ray Leonard, Howard Cosell, Ronald Reagan, Lennox Lewis, and
of course Muhammad Ali, among many others. In addition to touring with the late,
great Luther Vandross, Vincent has also opened for Patti Labelle, Kenny G, The
Temptations, New Edition, and even for former President of the United States Bill
Clinton (as he played his Saxophone during the US California Primary)!

Vincent Cook has also starred in the hit television show \"Blackberry Inn\" on the BET
Network, and has performed stand-up numerous times on such groundbreaking shows as
HBO\'s Def Comedy Jam, BET\'s Comic View, and Showtime At The Apollo. Cook worked with
Academy Award winner Halle Berry in Robert Townsend\'s \"BAPS\", and recently
co-starred with Emmy nominated actor John Amos (\"Good Times,\" \"Roots\") in \"The
Watermelon Heist\".

As if all this wasn\'t enough, Cook is also a real life hero in his own right. While
a youngster, Cook was profiled in the Washington Post for saving six people from a
burning building in America\'s capital, Washington DC.

[See It Live!]

The Muhammad Ali: One-Man Play will run on weekends at the TheatreTheater (5041 West
Pico Blvd.) in Los Angeles, California from October 18th to November 18th. For more
details about Vincent Cook and ALI: The Man, The Myth, The Peoples\' Champion visit:

http://www.blackcomedycompetition.com/vincentcook.htm

For booking and media requests e-mail:
FULLCIRCLE@BLACKCOMEDYCOMPETITION.COM

Web Site = http://www.blackcomedycompetition.com/vincentcook.htm

Contact Details = FULLCIRCLE@BLACKCOMEDYCOMPETITION.COM