Host Bios
Donna Drake
Donna Drake, an international award winning creative artist, writer, producer, actress, voice-over talent, and the Creator and Executive Producer/Host of her new television show “Live it Up!” with Donna Drake and Fran Capo. The show features stories, tips and resources filled with positive messages of hope, motivation, and inspiration to empower others.
Donna grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, pursuing her passion in art and singing and moved to the East Coast in 1994. She spent most of her early career working at Technisonic Studios selecting music and sound effects for radio and television commercials and eventually went on to produce television, film, and multimedia projects. Donna is well-known for her former WLIR radio and public access television show, “Indies Insider,” where she interviewed actors and directors of upcoming films, and recently hosted an entertainment and art world podcast known as the “After Party” with interviews with entertainment professionals, artists, and business entrepreneurs. She is an active voice-over talent and actress and has a long list of credits in movies, television shows and stage performances.
She accepted a position as the Director of Creative Services for WLNY-TV on Long Island in 1997 creating promotions for Oprah, Wheel of Fortune, Hollywood Squares and Jeopardy as well as serving as the creative producer for television commercials. Later as Director of Client Communications at Progressive Marketing Group, a strategic marketing firm where she helped develop branding messages along with hosting podcasts to help clients' businesses thrive. As the president for Drake Media Network, Inc. she enjoys a creative relationship with
The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. and works to provide the local PR and advertising arm to the locations in Farmingdale NY, White Plains, NY, Westwood, NJ and Darien, CT.
In October 2006, Donna began writing her first inspirational book, “Got Cancer?” Just roll over and LIVE, a memoir dedicated to her second husband, Tom LaScala. She is currently working on her second and third books, "Create a Canvas of Success by Painting With People", and
"Live It Up!" with Donna Drake and Fran Capo, Year One.
Donna was named one of Long Island’s 100 most influential people in 2005, and Friend of the Foundation of the Long Island Film/TV Foundation in 2002. Donna is a former executive board member of the Huntington Arts Council and the Long Island Film/TV Foundation.
She spearheaded many fundraisers, such as the Huntington Arts Council Laff-Off Comedy Competition (2002-2006) and the Got Talent? Show Competition (2009). She also created a Day of Beauty to bring awareness to Breast Cancer and helped raise money for Long Island Cares and countless non-profit organizations. Donna was also named, North County Junior Miss in 1983. It was a local competition for talent, beauty and scholastic achievement and it became a pivotal moment in her life's journey.
Donna is an active member in many organizations: Kids in Action (committee member), Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, Huntington Arts Council (past executive board member), and Futures of America (Board of Directors) and resides in New York.
Fran Capo
The World's Fastest Talking Woman
Comedienne - Adventurer - Author - Actress
Spokesperson - TV Host - Voiceovers- Keynote
Dubbed “Fast Talker Extraordinaire” by the Associated Press, Fran Capo doesn’t mind if you call her motor mouth. In fact, she’s proud of it! Fran Capo is The Guinness Book of World Records fastest talking female clocked at 603.32 words in 54.2 seconds. That’s 11 words a second! Her record also appears in Ripley's Believe it or Not (2007 & 2008 books) & RHR (2009)
Her fast-talking, boundless energy, down to earth approach makes her easy to relate to and a fun quick-witted TV guest. She has appeared on over 350 TV shows including; Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Last Call with Carson Daly, Inside Edition, ET, Ripley's Believe it or Not, More than Human ,Martha Stewart and CNN where her segment was voted top 5 watched. She’s been heard on over 3500 radio shows including Howard Stern, Bloomberg news and Rick Dees.
As a comedienne, Fran Capo has performed in major comedy clubs from Dangerfield’s in NY to the Tropicana in Vegas, and in Okinawa for the Marines. With her own novelty rap record, Rappin Mae, she toured with LL Cool J and the Fat Boys.
On the corporate front, Capo is sought after not only as a motivational speaker and spokesperson but also as a featured author. Her topics include: Dare to Do it, The Secrets of Publicity, Success Made Simple, Humor in Business Speaking and Creativity in Marketing.
Fran's commercials use characters ranging from a judge to the world’s oldest customer, you may also know her from her national spot for XM-Sirius radio. She's done spokesperson work for: Nissan, Pitney Bowes, Expedia.ca, Papa John's Pizza, GE Capital, Flexon, IBM, 1-800-Flowers, Perdue, Snickers Marathon Energy Bars, Auntie Anne Pretzels & Chock Full of Nuts.
As an actress and voiceover talent Fran has appeared in cartoons and films including; Lonely in America with Spike Lee; in the Sundance Film Festival winner, Sunday; Signs of the Cross winner- Pocono & Long Island International film festivals for best picture,4000 & Just Laugh.
Several authors have profiled Fran in their show business books including, Comic Lives by Betsy Borns and Revolutionary Laughter by Roz Warren. As a freelance writer, her motivational and adventure stories appeared in Caribbean Magazine, Internet sites, Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul and the Random House book, Life’s a Stitch. Fran has a weekly blog called "Fran's world" for the WB and for www.travelingmom.com
As an adventurer Fran has bungeed, swam with sharks, flown combat aircraft, driven race cars, eaten fire & crawled in a polar bear den. In addition she holds 4 other world records: Highest book signing - Top of Kilimanjaro; Deepest book signing - at wreck site of Titanic; Most patients seen in 2 days; 21, 695, fastest song from conception to airwaves: Adventure Girl.
Fran’s an 11 time author her books include: Almost a Wise Guy, and Adrenaline Adventures and Hopeville:The City of Light. Fran is the co-host of Live it Up! With Donna Drake and Fran Capo! You can learn more about Fran, and see comedy clips at her website.