Biography

Kahlil Ashanti

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Kahlil Ashanti began his career as a teenager performing in community theater and open mic nights at comedy clubs throughout the midwestern United States. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force, winning the 1993 Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest which earned him the opportunity to tour with the elite Air Force Entertainment troupe Tops In Blue in 1994 and 1995 as a comedian/dancer/actor. This provided him the unique opportunity to perform for over 700,000 people in nearly 27 countries. After being honorably discharged in 1996 Kahlil performed his own magic/comedy dinner theater show at Caesar's Magical Empire, Caesar's Palace Las Vegas from 1997-2000 in Japanese as well as English. Upon his arrival in Los Angeles in 2001 he began writing his critically acclaimed one man show, 'Basic Training' which premiered Off Broadway on October 13, 2008. In addition to several rave reviews Basic Training recently became a NY Times Critics Choice and is in development as a book and television series as well as a feature film being shepherded by Kahlil Ashanti and produced by Barry Josephson (Enchanted, Bones).
- IMDb mini biography by: fringefan001

Is of West African and Cherokee descent.
Discovered by Writer/Director Doug Atchison and Producer Barry Josephson during workshop performances of his one man show 'Basic Training' in Los Angeles.
Named after famed poet and author Kahlil Gibran.
Lost every talent show he entered until he was almost 19. He finally won first place in the 1993 Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest and was awarded the Roger Award, the military equivalent to the Oscar.
Attended grades 1-4 in Sagamihara, Japan and learned Japanese. Kahlil later used this to his advantage by translating the Caesar's Magical Empire show at Caesar's Palace into Japanese and performing it nightly in both English and Japanese.

'Fear of failure is a good thing, it's great fuel. As long as I don't stop trying I won't fail and I'll hopefully continue to grow. It's better than enjoying the safety of doing nothing.' - Radio interview, Vancouver BC
'If all you look for is the negative then that's all you'll find. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself.' - commenting on whether his childhood affects his career while promoting 'Basic Training' in Montreal, Quebec.

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