comedy is art 2024
Five Nights. Nine Shows. 50+ Artists.
Single Tickets & Early Bird passes are on sale now!
This year’s festival brings 7:30pm and 9:30pm shows with estimated run times between 60-75 minutes. All shows are intended for adult audiences (18+) unless otherwise noted.
7:30pm: first things first: hilarious shows that respect your bedtime: with something for everybody, these carefully curated early evening performances are the *chef’s kiss* of comedy. come ready to laugh as the city’s best and brightest comics light up the stage – without compromising your sleep schedule.
9:30pm: late-night snack packs: designed to give you a little taste of everything, our late-night snack packs are a delightfully chaotic selection of comedic offerings guaranteed to amuse your bouche*.
(*or something. there’s not actually any food, but the shows will be funny. promise.)
Tuesday October 22
Hosted by Bougie B Bougé, tonight’s performance features: Anto Chan, Bougie B Bougé, Daphney Joseph, Darren Leo, Faiza Kulle, Rae Gallimore, and Yaw Attuah.
The opening night lineup is stacked with a delightful group of hilarious stand up comics whose incisive observations will make having left your place to come see a show well worth your while.
Wednesday October 23
The only Halloween party you’ll need! Taking its inspiration from Stephen Sondheim’s Company, Bad Dog Theatre Company presents Holiday! An Improvised Musical. Based on suggestions from the audience, the cast weaves together a series of improvised vignettes and songs exploring love, relationships, work, and the true meaning of the spooky season. You’ll leave with a smile on your face and a song in your heart (though you may not remember the words because that song didn’t exist an hour before the show).
Tonight’s performance features: AP Bautista, Brandon Hackett, Kyah Green, Nadine Djoury, Sam Hancock, Stephanie Malek, and Musical Director Scott Christian.
Directed by award-winning improviser Jan Caruana (Because News), Holiday! features faves from the Toronto comedy scene, as well as a few exciting newcomers.
content rating: PG-13
Hosted by Alia Rasul, tonight’s performance features:
Kenneth Cheung presents Kung Fu Kenneth, presents a social commentary clown piece based on his personal experiences and critical point of view on what it means to be Asian in the Western world today. His interpretation as “a white man” combines dark humour, physical comedy and Bouffon clownery. This unique piece will bring you to tears, of laughter or shame: for you to decide. Kenneth Cheung is the poster child of misery in comedy. His style blends physicality and satire to present a surrealist view on his Asian experience. He has displayed his multiple talents on stages throughout Canada and across the pond and is one half of the infamous comedy duo, West 2 West.
Content notice: Mature content, mentions of racism, suicide, violence.
soft hands is an improv troupe made up of Sunny Gill, Liz Cyrus, Austin Sherman, and Stevey Hunter bringing you a never before seen improvised short story in a wacky world with vibrant characters.
When these four improvisers, Sunny, Liz, Austin, and Stevey, touched hands for the first time, they knew they were meant for greatness. soft hands is a Toronto based improv troupe who values positivity, friendship, and impeccably maintained cuticles. With a combined 15 years of improv experience, individually they have performed and taught improv across Canada. Their love for telling stories on stage (while being silly) brought them together in Nicole Passmore’s Narrative Studio Series at Bad Dog Theatre.
All-Inclusive Comedy presents Unscripted ADHD Adventures, a dynamic improv comedy show featuring Wilding (They/Them) and Tony Babcock (He/Him). This high-energy performance is a blend of quick wit, audience interaction, and spontaneous storytelling, ensuring every show is a unique experience. No content warnings or age recommendations, as the show is designed for all audiences.
All-Inclusive Comedy, is Wilding (They/Them) and Tony Babcock (He/Him), an improv comedy duo and education company that seamlessly blends short form and long form improvisation. Known for their wacky, out-of-the-box queer storytelling, they utilize a plethora of wigs and costume pieces to bring their imaginative worlds to life. Both performers, embracing their ADHD, create an inclusive atmosphere where audience members are not just spectators but active participants in the storytelling process. Whether you find yourself on stage or laughing in your seat, you’re a part of the show, making each performance a collaborative and unique experience.
Alia Ceniza Rasul is a Dora Award nominated Filipina artist and producer based in Toronto. With a passion for telling stories about the Filipin* diaspora, Alia has created, produced and performed in multiple award winning projects including Moro Girl, Tita Jokes and Titaverse. Alia is a member of the Tita Collective, a sisterhood of Filipina theatre artists. Additionally, she has recently published her first collection of poetry “Super Important Filipina Thoughts”. She is currently the managing artistic director of Bad Dog Theatre Company.
Thursday October 24
Produced and Hosted by Clif Knight, tonight’s performance features: Bita Joudaki, Danish Anwar, Foad HP, Lou Laurence, and Nathan Hare.
Heat Wave Comedy is a showcase of Clif Knight’s favourite local stand up comics! His lineup represents the diverse comedic talent that makes the Toronto scene incomparable, complete with ‘hot’ prizes.
Hosted by Rebeca Araniva, tonight’s performance features: Bad Bunnies and Small Friend Tall Friend.
Bad Bunnies: One night while listening to Bad Bunny’s “Titi me preguntó”, Monica Garrido Huerta and Patricia Taborda realized that they should combine their two true passions in a short form improv format! That fateful night, Bad Bunnies (an ESL Latinx duo that mixes improv comedy with reggaeton) was born, and life has never been the same.
Small Friend, Tall Friend is back with Take a Proper Gander, a brand-new sketch comedy revue featuring sketches and songs that are all about pop culture, identity politics, and being in your 20s. They hope to make you not only laugh, but also… contemplate. Featuring: Becky Ablack, Zoe Marín, Rayhan Jabbar, and David Čivčić.
Rebeca Araniva’s foray into standup comedy surprised no one. She shocked many more with her decision to pursue data analytics. An only child and only grandchild during her formative years, she was destined for the spotlight. Her talent for comedy emerged during a daily commute to the office back in the 2010s. As the only non-driving member of a carpool, Rebeca took on the role of in-car entertainer seriously, to avoid going back to public transit. Rebeca’s comedy is a blend of satire and misdirection, challenging assumptions about her identity, privilege, and upbringing. She uses her wit and unique life experience to surprise audiences everywhere.
Friday October 25
Andrew Phung is one of Canada’s top comedy gems. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to see the Kim’s Convenience and Run the Burbs star live and in person. Andrew makes his Comedy is Art debut with Andrew Phung and Friends, where he will be joined by a talented ensemble of improvisers – Gavin Williams, Alexa MacKell, Nelu Handa and Jillian Welsh – for an unforgettable night of spontaneous laughs!
Hosted by Ben Sosa-Wright, tonight’s performance features: Bitty-Bat and Gender? I Hardly Know Them.
Bitty-Bat is a unique creature – not quite a vampire, not quite a bat and not quite sure what you’re doing in her cave. Driven instinctively to charm and intimidate, she lures the audience deeper into her world, only to be interrupted by a strange know-it-all voice interfering with her daily rituals. Discover Bitty-Bat in this ridiculous physical comedy that will delight and baffle. Audience praise: ‘If you love to laugh, then Bitty-Bat is a must-see.’ ‘Every expression got me cackling!’ ‘A truly magical piece of clown art.’ Written and performed by the ‘strange and hilarious’ Emily Jeffers (BroadwayWorld.com). Produced with creative consultant Allan Turner.
Content notices: Lighting changes, loud music.
Gender? I Hardly Know Them brings you fast-paced, joyfully provocative queer sketch straight from the heart of the God-fearing, gun-toting, beef-loving Alberta prairies. Featuring: Elena Belyea and Syd Campbell.
Saturday October 26
“I’m with Stewwwww Pitt” is about two comedians trying to forge a friendship through the creation of their new and never-before-seen experimental comedy show.
Created and written by Rakhee Morzaria, Canadian Screen Award nominated actor for her performance on Run the Burbs (Hulu, CBC) and her sketch-based web-series Note to Self (CBC) and Hannan Younis who you may recognize from the award-winning show, Bria Mack Gets a Life (Crave) and her sketch duo Definition of Knowledge (NXNW, JFL, Austin Sketchfest). The show is directed by Natalie Metcalfe, creator/show-runner of Made for TV (Crave) and sketch comedy duo Christian & Nat.
We can’t wait for you to watch this hilarious, playful and seriously stewwwwpitt new live show debuting first at the Comedy is Art Festival.
Hosted by Tim Blair, tonight’s performance features: Diaspora Darlings and Hackett & Langdon.
Diaspora Darlings are an all-African comedy troupe, featuring Guled Abdi, Portia, Sara Meleika, and Kadi Diop. They explore themes of race, intersectional privilege, and friendship!
Hackett & Langdon is a sketch comedy duo made up of Brandon Hackett and Jonathan Langdon. Their sketches touch on the Black experience, the queer experience, fatherhood, and speak to the age-old question: what if you were half-man, half-motorcycle?
Tim Blair is a comedian and founding member of the acclaimed comedy troupe, TallBoyz II Men. Together with Bruce McCulloch from Kids In The Hall, they created the multiple Canadian Screen Award-winning sketch show, TallBoyz. A seasoned live performer, Tim excels in stand-up, sketch, and improv. He’s an alumnus of Second City’s House Co. and has showcased his talent at festivals like Just for Laughs Toronto and the NBC Breakout Festival in Chicago.
Production team
Production Stage Manager – steph raposo
Artist Manager – Joey Lau
Technical Director – Yoan Holder
Lighting Designer – Shawn Henry
Sound Technician – Frank Incer
Lighting Technician – Aidan Shepherd
2024 selection committee
This year’s week of excellent comedy and good vibes has been curated by comedian, storyteller and The Theatre Centre’s associate artistic director liza paul, with programming support from Tim Blair (TallBoyz) and Ellie Posadas (Tita Collective). The mission: program a festival full of artists who take the work seriously and whose bits will crack you up.
liza paul is a writer, curator, artistic leader, director and producer who loves laughter, life, music, family, stories, all things bashment, impromptu dancehall-flavoured a cappella street jams, and pum-related non sequiturs. she has trained at the second city’s improv conservatory and was selected to join their 2017 bob curry fellowship program. she has worked extensively in theatre and radio with ciut 89.5 fm, soulpepper theatre company, anitafrika! dub theatre, bcurrent, and the watah theatre. liza writes for television (from ontario, with love (tvo); big brother canada (global)); and directed sketch comedy show don valley girls for the 2022 riser festival. she is currently the associate artistic director at the theatre centre.
Ellie Posadas is a Queer Filipinx-Canadian, multidisciplinary artist from Scarborough, Ontario. Ellie was featured in the 2021 TIFF for the world premiere of ‘Scarborough’, based on the award winning novel by Catherine Hernandez, and was a Vancouver Film Critics Circle nominee for Best Supporting Actress in a Canadian Film at the Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2021, for her role as ‘Edna’. She is a co-creator, writer, and performer of the award winning, all Filipina comedy theatre group, Tita Collective. She is an alumni of Randolph Academy’s Triple Threat College Program.
Tim Blair is a comedian and founding member of the acclaimed comedy troupe, TallBoyz II Men. Together with Bruce McCulloch from Kids In The Hall, they created the multiple Canadian Screen Award-winning sketch show, TallBoyz. A seasoned live performer, Tim excels in stand-up, sketch, and improv. He’s an alumnus of Second City’s House Co. and has showcased his talent at festivals like Just for Laughs Toronto and the NBC Breakout Festival in Chicago.
Comedy is Art.
Comedy is Art Festival features some of the best comedians in Toronto and sends a clear message: comedy should be taken seriously!
Comedy is Art Festival is generously supported by:
With special thanks to:
This event is part of our 10 for 10 programming (ten unique offerings over ten months), which celebrates ten years since we moved into our forever home on 1115 Queen Street West.
10 for 10 activities have been financially assisted by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation.
Comedy is Art Festival Media Partner
Photo credit: Jae Yang
October 22— 26, 2024
Limited edition early bird passes are $50 and include three shows of your choice and fun perks, including:
- 3 shows
- Your own lanyard and passholder card
- 50% off discount on Lost Craft Products at The Theatre Centre during the festival
- 50% discount on Comedy is Art Merch (stay tuned!)
- Unlock additional discounts during the festival!
Single show tickets are $20.
Plus! Purchase a ticket for another show on the same night for half price.
All shows are intended for adult audiences (18+) unless otherwise noted.
For Media Requests related to Comedy is Art:
Katie Saunoris, KSPR [email protected]
Connect and Share: @thetheatrecentre
The Theatre Centre is a nationally recognized live-arts incubator and community hub. Our mission is to offer a home for creative, cultural and social interactions to invent the future.
We make work that spans disciplines and genres; work that pushes the boundaries of what is considered “art”. Our programming and our role as a community space are inextricably linked. Art is not made in a silo: it is connected to the world around it.