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A Look at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival T


RoseAnna Schick


he Winnipeg Comedy Festival bypasses the tradi- tional ‘sneak peek’ and went straight for the full-on reveal of comedic performances set to go down. Te Winnipeg Comedy Festival happens April 9 to 15,


with a line-up of nationally-known names blended with local entertainers, bringing the best of both worlds to a microphone near you. Tis year's festival include the likes of Jonathan Torrens, Emma Hunter, Chris Jericho, Paul Sun- Hyung Lee, Derek Seguin, Ivan Decker, and many more. “We’re excited by both the variety of shows and quality


of comedians on the schedule,” says Winnipeg Comedy Festival’s Artistic Director Lara Rae. “It’s always important for us to be able to showcase fine upcoming talent along- side bigger names throughout the festival, including at our much-loved galas. Be prepared for some great new talent to win you over.” More than 60 comics will perform in over 30 shows, in


venues like Club Regent Event Centre, Rumor’s Comedy Club, Pantages Playhouse Teatre, Te Metropolitan En- tertainment Centre, Te Forks, Millennium Library, and the much-loved Gas Station Arts Centre (GSAC) – a venue that was greatly missed last year. “It’s a bit of a festival homecoming for us, to be back at


the Gas Station,” says Nick Kowalchuk, Executive Director of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, who is also Executive Director of GSAC. “It’s also kind of funny, and possibly ironic, that we


weren’t able to use the Gas Station last year, considering GSAC produces the Winnipeg Comedy Festival. But since I oversee both, I was able to cut a deal with myself to use GSAC this year, and happy to announce that shows will once again take place right here at home in Osborne Vil- lage, beginning with a very special evening that will have you seeing red.” Red carpet comedy & reception


Te Winnipeg Comedy Festival opens in style Monday,


April 9, with a special Red Carpet Comedy & Reception. Sirius Top Comic and one of the most popular stand-ups to ever come out of Canada, Montreal's Derek Seguin says 'salut' to Winnipeg with an intimate and no-holds-barred evening of huge laughs. Tis audience award favourite is supported by Te Uniter's comic of 2017, Spencer Adamus. Te reception begins at 7pm, which is actually more than


just a reception, so you might want to be there for it. Te show officially starts at 8:30pm, and you definitely want


Emma Hunter. Photos courtesy of CBC. Paul Sun Hyung Lee.


to be there for that. Red Carpet attire would not be out of place. (Or possibly could.) Gala themes & hosts


Te most highly anticipated shows each year are the ga-


las, held at the stunning 104-year-old Pantages Playhouse Teatre. Recorded live-to-tape for later broadcast on CBC, this year’s galas include: Game On! / Tursday, April 12 @ 7:15pm Everyone loves sports! Except people who hate them.


Here’s a show for both groups. Come laugh at sports and how we can’t stand them. Or live without them. Host: Chris Jericho / Performers: Dave Hemstad, Erica Sigurdson, Simon Rakoff, Christina Walkinshaw, Rob Pue, Sterling Scott / Warm-up: Mikey Dubbs Punching UP / Friday, April 13 @ 6:45pm Gone are the days of looking down on the less fortunate.


Look up… waaay up… It’s time to take shots at all the big shots. Even the little ones. Host: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee / Per- formers: Katie-Ellen Humphries, Hoodo Hersi, Christophe Davidson, Yumi Nagashima, Carol Zoccoli, Simon King Just My Luck? / Friday, April 13 @ 9:15pm Let’s face it, life sucks. But laughing about it doesn’t.


Hysterical stories about worst moments, terrible habits, and horrible circumstances. (Also, a timely theme for Friday the 13th?! Coincidence?? You decide.) Host: Emma


Chris Jericho.


Hunter / Performers: Ivan Decker, Sophie Buddle, Todd Graham, Jane Stanton, Courtney Gilmour, Dana Alexander Everything’s Relative / Saturday, April 14 @ 6:45pm You can’t pick your family, but you can pick on them. Our


tribute to your moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, brothers and sisters, kids, cousins, and all those other DNA-holes. Host: To be announced very soon! / Perform- ers: Scott Faulconbridge, Shirley Whalen, Mayce Galoni, Joe Vu, Charles Haycock Eh! Material / Saturday, April 14 @ 9:15pm A comedy show about the Great White North. Because


there’s nothing Canadians find more Canadian than funny Canadians talking about what it means to be Canadian. Eh?? (Sorry!) Host: Jonathan Torrens / Performers: Jacob Samuel, Amanda Brooke Perrin, Leonard Chan, Jess Sa- lomon, Big Daddy Tazz, Howie Miller Te full schedule for the 2018 Winnipeg Comedy Festival


is at www.winnipegcomedyfestival.com/schedule. Tickets for most shows are available online through our


website www.winnipegcomedyfestival.com/tickets. You can also purchase tickets IN PERSON at the Box Office at Gas Station Arts Centre (445 River Avenue), on Tursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 11am-6pm, from now until festival week. RoseAnna Schick for the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.


12 Smart Biz


www.smartbizwpg.com


April 2018


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