2016 has already started off with a bang for Donnell, he has already been cast in Kevin Smith’s pilot Hollyweed.  2015 was a huge year for Donnell Rawlings,he lit the stage at The Dubai Comedy Festival.  He also rocked it at Montreal Comedy Festival. He has been touring all over with Dave Chappelle. In 2014  he killed during a record number of shows working with Dave Chappelle at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. You just saw him starring in his own show as Judge Rawlings on MTV2’s Guy Court. Donnell was also was a cast member  on MTV2’s Guy Code. Donnell can be seen hosting Staann' Dup to be seen on StarzBlack.  He lends his voice in a recurring role as “Another Cat Named Rally” on the hit animation Black Dynamite as well being featured in Adult Swim’s animation. Donnell continues to tour heavily, performing his intelligently bold stand-up throughout the US, Europe, and the Caribbean.       Donnell is an overnight success a decade in the making.  He made a splash in the DC comedy clubs going from a heckler in the audience to HBO's Def Comedy Jam in a period of six months. You’ve seen him as 'Ashy Larry' on Comedy Central’s award winning and critically celebrated Chappelle’s Show, where he joined Dave Chappelle as both as a writer and performer. He will also be featured in Queen Latifah's new movie Percentage. His 1-Hour Stand-Up “Ashy to Classy” premiered on Comedy Central in October of 2010.   He was a co-host on both Power 105’s (NY’s #1 Hip Hop and R&B radio station) morning show “Egypt and Ashy in the Morning” and “The Big Tigger Morning Show” on WPGC in Washington DC, and he enjoyed weekly guest appearances on New York’s Hot 97 Morning Show. He was a regular on E!’s “Chelsea Lately", starred in Comedy Central's “Reality Bites Back,” and was the resident “Funny Guy” on the Ricki Lake Show. In 2007, Donnell co-created and starred in Heavy.com’s hit web series “From Ashy to Classy”, which was picked up for a second round of episodes. His movie of the same name screened at the 2011 L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival.    As an actor Donnell has also appeared in the Law & Order series, Special Victims Unit (SVU) and Criminal Intent (CI) as well as NBC’s Third Watch, the Emmy-Award winning HBO Mini-Series: The Corner and as Day-Day Price on HBO’s Emmy-Award winning series “The Wire.”  On the big screen he could be seen in the blockbuster Spider-Man II.   His rise to stardom may not have been “overnight”, but the journey itself has kept him edgy and relevant. Comedy's heavy hitters have noticed his talent with Neal Brennan, co- executive producer and co-head writer of Chappelle’s Show exclaiming “whenever we put Donnell in the game he’s going to hit a home run.” Jamie Foxx says, “That guy is a beast!” Wayne Brady commented that Donnell provides “amazing work on the show” and Dave Chappelle feels that “Donnell brings so much to the table...this very funny guy makes it look natural and easy.”  

The New York Comedy Festival (NYCF) stands as the unrivaled pinnacle of comedic celebration in the United States. Established in 2004 by Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of the iconic Carolines comedy venue, the festival has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, becoming the largest and longest-running comedy festival in the nation. Over its illustrious 20-year history, the NYCF has graced New York City’s most prestigious venues, transforming hallowed spaces like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Apollo, BAM, the Beacon Theatre, Madison Square Garden, and Town Hall into arenas of uproarious merriment. The festival has played host to an unparalleled roster of comedy luminaries, including Judd Apatow, Aziz Ansari, Roseanne Barr, Bill Burr, Louis C.K., Jimmy Carr, Margaret Cho, Dane Cook, Billy Crystal, Larry David, Jim Gaffigan, Ricky Gervais, Kathy Griffin, Kevin Hart, Jo Koy, Artie Lange, Denis Leary, Norm Macdonald, Bill Maher, Marc Maron, Tracy Morgan, Conan O’Brien, Patton Oswalt, Ray Romano, Brian Regan, Adam Sandler, Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman, Robin Williams, Steven Wright, and many more. Beyond showcasing the industry’s top-tier talent, the NYCF has been a launchpad for emerging comedians. Events like New York’s Funniest Stand-Up competition and Comics To Watch have become platforms for the industry’s rising stars, offering not only recognition but also a chance to share the spotlight with established headliners. Past winners of New York’s Funniest Stand-Up include Nate Bargatze, Michael Che, Ricky Velez, and Tim Dillon. Among those who have performed on Comics To Watch are Michael Longfellow, Jaboukie Young-White and Ali Wong. In 2006, the festival expanded its impact by partnering with Bob and Lee Woodruff for Stand-Up for Heroes, a benevolent endeavor benefiting the Bob Woodruff Foundation. This noble cause ensures stable and successful futures for our nation’s veterans, service members, and their families. Stand Up for Heroes has presented stellar performances from comedians such as Nate Bargatze, Ronny Chieng, Stephen Colbert, Jim Gaffigan, Ricky Gervais, Seth Meyers, Conan O’Brien, John Oliver, Ray Romano, Jerry Seinfeld, Iliza Shlesinger, Jon Stewart, and Robin Williams. The event has also featured musical talents like Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, John Mellencamp, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bruce Springsteen, and Rita Wilson, raising nearly $100 million to date. The NYCF is not just about stand-up performances; it’s an immersive experience. The festival presents a diverse array of programming, including conversations, panel discussions, live podcast tapings, improv and sketch shows, film premieres, screenings, engaging partner activations, and much more. Evolving with each passing year, the festival expanded from seven to ten days in 2023, now featuring over 200 comedians in more than 300 shows annually. The NYCF continues to transcend borders and boundaries, attracting comedy fans from across the nation and around the world. As it enters its milestone 20th year, the New York Comedy Festival has firmly etched its place in the heart of New York City’s cultural landscape. The 21st annual New York Comedy Festival will take place November 7– 16.