Thrilled to see friend and theatre buddy TRICIA WILLIAMS promoting a fundraiser performance for the Fringe-bound Grown Ass*d Broads Talkin’ Dirty that features legendary Canadian stage & screen actor VALERIE BOYLE. Tricia passed along all the details and, if you’re in Toronto this Friday night, I encourage you to head down to the Performing Arts Lodge to enjoy a night of theatrical hijinks. Here’s what it’s all about….On Friday March 14th, there will be a fundraiser for the upcoming 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival comedic play, Grown Ass*d Broads Talkin’ Dirty. This night of music and comedy promises to be fun and full of hilarity, and features renowned singer/actor who also wrote the play, the indomitable Valerie Boyle (pictured below)Valerie starred, wrote and produced her own one-woman show,Sophie Tucker,which toured Canada, as well as workshopped in London, UK, and she was also Shirley in Shirley Valentinewhen the play toured Canada. She also starred as Mother Superior in Nunsense for twelve productions – a role she is going to resurrect again in 2025 at the Victoria Playhouse, Petrolia, for the Nunsense 40th Anniversary. Valerie also has numerous big & small screen roles to her credit including a turn on Murdoch Mysteries. She is a Canadian treasure.
Another featured performer will be Curtis Sullivan(pictured below) whose time at the Stratford Festival includes the roles of Admiral von Schreiber in TheSound of Music, Captain Watson in Carousel, Tony (cover) in The Boyfriend and Giuseppe Palmieri in The Gondoliers.Rounding out this night of show-stopping musical performances will be Tiffany Deriveau (below) who has performed in Soul Sistas as Tina Turner, Wanda in Beehive: the 60s Musical, Mama Morton in Chicago and Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors, in various theatres across the country.Bringing the comedy will be Christel Bartelse(below). As a solo artist, Christel has wowed Fringe audiences and beyond with her one-woman shows including CHAOTICA, ONEymoon, Significant Me, All KIDding Aside, The Surprise and Encore. She has been nominated twice for a Canadian Comedy Award and has toured every major Canadian fringe festival, as well as several in the U.S. and has performed twice at the original Edinburgh Fringe Festival.The emcee for the evening will be Tricia Williams who has graced the Toronto Fringe Festival stage for the past three years in hit shows such as the Sorauren Book Club, Hymns and Hearseand Disarming Venus. She is also a cast member of Grown Ass*d Broads Talkin’ Dirtyalong with Jorie Morrow, Andrea Davis, Morrie Sinkins and Julie Burris.The fundraiser will take place at the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL), 110 The Esplanade in the Crest Green Room Theatre. Tickets are $20 cash at the door and $10 cash for residents of PAL. Doors will open at 7:00 pm and show time is 7:30 pm.
So come on down to PAL, just around the corner from the St. Lawrence Market and have a great night of fun and laughs with a cast of great Canadian actors…including my friend, Tricia. Tell her I sent you!
I reached out to a number of friends for comments on Black History Month and what it means to them. Like all artists, many are a bit slow to respond with quotes but here are messages from four friends who have had an impact on my life and I have huge respect for their ethics and opinions.
First up, Michael Williams who many will know from the early days of MuchMusic (1980s) when he was the first face of colour appearing regularly on our TVs. He’s now producing and working with artists while keeping in front of cameras and hosting live events across the country.I live 24-7/365 days a year – Black History Month is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and teach those around you so that your history, our history, is no mystery. But I understand that black history is truly Canadian history now and is being taught in the schools (at least in Ontario) and hopefully coast to coast, that’s what I love about Canada the most. Michael Williams
CEO, Greydread Productions Inc. and celebrated original veejay of MuchMusic
I’m thrilled to welcome a few words from Kenny Robinson, one of the comedy greats who started back in the 80s when Canadian comedians ruled!! Kenny has had several comedy TV specials over the years and is the founder of the Nubian Disciples of Prior, a collective of black comedy artists that frequently presents special showcases, one of which is coming up soon…With President Trump trying to erase Black History Month in the States, I’ll say EVERY DAY is Black History for me. Political, business, sports and entertainment: the internet has made is possible to discover something new every day. Kenny Robinson, renowned stand-up comedian and founder of the Nubian Disciples of Pryor
And I’m honoured to include the following quote by well-respected poet and health & wellness entrepreneur Wakefield Brewster. Wakefield’s poetry and spoken word performances have engaged, enraged and entertained audiences across the country.The two easiest camps to identify with during Black History Month are: “Yes! Black Pride, Black Power, Black History Month!” …and “Damn! We still NEED this?!” I’m in both camps, and here is where I pitch my tent: in the last 5 years of world-changing events: President Obama, #45, COVID-19, the murder of George Floyd, the re-energized presence of BLM. Those five events if you will, gave me the opportunities to change my life. In the midst of global interruption, in the wake of economic upset, I was able to establish a new rhythm and financial moderation. I was not the only one, Black or otherwise, to thread the needle of the worldly chaos. These events allowed “smaller people” to do “bigger things”. There was now more room where very little, to none at all, once existed. I’ve been Living My Lyrical Life as a Poet of The People for a quarter-century, now. Only since 2020, have I become Poetically and personally seen, heard, felt, and embraced (especially by Calgary), like never before. Black History Month brings focus and attention to Our People, and all that we are; more than slavery, heralds of History, presently thriving, and living our legacy. Happiest Black History Month, every single day. Wakefield Brewster
YYC Poet Laureate Emeritus, Professional Poet & Spoken Word Artist
Page2StageProductions Inc.
Professional Health & Wellness Practitioner
WakeFull Wellness Registered Massage Therapy & Healing Space www.wakefieldbrewster.com
And here is the indomitable recording star Claudja Barry who has had so many “firsts” as a black artist in Canada I’m gonna let her tell you all about it. She has had hits in every decade since the 70s and is set to release new music later this year. Bravo, Claudja! https://www.theclaudjabarry.com/
Thank you so much to all for sharing your thoughts on BHM…am hoping to share more comments from other artists on the subject before the end of the month.
Congratulations to Bruria Cooperman and her director Eva Almos on last night’s opening of Rebel Bubbie, Inc. at the Alumnae Theatre as part of this year’s annual Toronto Fringe Festival. The theatre was mostly populated by friends and family (and Bruria has a big family) who laughed throughout her 60-minute show recounting stories of her life and what it means to now be a “bubbie” (Jewish grandmother). Even as a first-timer at the Fringe, Bruria owned the stage and seemed very comfortable sharing her thoughts and experiences, never shying away from recounting some of the naughtier moments in her life.So here’s a little background on the show, the stories and the bubbie…. Hot off her scene-stealing appearance in the Adam Sandler film, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Bruria Cooperman is a semi-reformed, self-confessed renegade who wrote and stars in an unfiltered one-woman comedy, co-written with Almos. As we learn, she was always in search of adventure, discovering that marriage won’t stop you from being arrested, banned from a casino, being taken into police custody in Yugoslavia for nudging a mule (!) or getting kicked-out of a bagel joint. From performing improv in NYC in the 60s & 70s, being at Woodstock, to drag racing, floating in a weightless space tube, authoring books – Rebel Bubbie has done it all…and only arrested twice (she holds up 3 fingers in a sly aside from the stage!)Cooperman has led a life of trail-blazing: she was part of the first generation of children born in Israel, post-Holocaust. From an early age, she exhibited an attitude of “Hey, look at me!” This adventurous child got into all manner of scrapes with her playmates and on her own. Always finding humour in the darkness, she wrote a book about children born to Holocaust survivors titled For This I Survived? Children of Survivors Beyond the Trauma (avail. on Amazon).When the curtain came down on last night’s show, Bruria was surrounded by well-wishers who embraced her and offered kudos and encouragement for the rest of the run.
And head of ACTRA Toronto, David Gale (pictured below L) also dropped in to congratulate Bruria on her show Emmy-nominated creator Eva also had friends come out to support the show (pictured below, R) and she was pleased to sit and relax after the show…The Toronto Fringe Festival runs over the next 10 days at various locations with numerous plays, musicals, puppetry and dance so check out their website for details Rebel Bubbie, Inc. show is 60-min. and all shows are staged at the Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkley Street, Toronto. Info & Tickets: www.FringeToronto.com
Here are the dates and times:
Thursday, July 4th 6:00 pm $10.00 Thurs July 11th 8:15 pm $15.00
Saturday, July 6th 12:30 pm $15.00 Friday July 12th 6:00 pm $15.00
Sunday July 7th 2:15 pm $15.00 Sat. July 13th 3:15 pm $15.00
Wed. July 10th 6:00 pm $15.00
Just 6-weeks until Toronto welcomes the annual theatrical Fringe Festival, offering a multitude of comedy and drama presentations by hundreds of actors, writers, directors and hard-working crews. Hot off her scene-stealing appearance in the Adam Sandler film, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, 75yr old Bruria Cooperman, a.k.a. Rebel Bubbie, a semi-reformed, self-confessed renegade, stars in an unfiltered one-woman comedy at this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival.Always in search of adventure, Rebel Bubbie has discovered that marriage won’t stop you from being arrested, banned from a casino, or getting kicked-out of a bagel joint. From performing improv in NYC in the 60s & 70s, to directing and producing theatre, to drag racing (the 4-wheeled kind), floating in a weightless space tube, writing books – Rebel Bubbie has done it all! And only arrested twice!Cooperman has led a life of trail-blazing: she was part of the first generation of children born in Israel, post-Holocaust. From an early age, she exhibited an attitude of “Hey, look at me!” This adventurous child got into all manner of scrapes with her playmates and on her own. Always finding humour in the darkness, she wrote a book about children born to Holocaust survivors titled For This I Survived? Children of Survivors Beyond the Trauma (avail. on Amazon).Rebel Bubbie posts fun videos sharing her “Yiddish Word of the Day” on her YouTube channel – subscribe to: @RebelBubbie. Follow on Facebook & Instagram.
Definition: Traditionally, a bubbie (the Yiddish word for grandmother) wore floral housecoats, made chicken soup and gave you the biggest hug. Today’s bubbie still loves you, but wears designers suits, plays tennis and orders in. Bruria’s co-writer, executive producer and director is Eva Almos (pictured below) who has found success as a writer/executive producer on both the East and West coast. A graduate of the Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop, Eva began her career as staff writer of multiple episodes of Duckman. She won a CableACE Award and was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program for the episode “Noir Gang.” She has worked on numerous live action and animated series including The Wild Thornberrys, Pinky and the Brain and Invader Zim.Eva went on to develop and executive produce the animated series Carl Squared for Teletoon, developed Dave Darling-Head Case for Starburns Industries, and developed/wrote the popular TVO/PBS series Wild Kratts where she also plays fashion-designing villain Donita Donata. I remember Eva as the voice of so many brilliant radio commercials in the 80s/90s – so good was she, that Eva became the go-to voice actor for every advertiser, but bigger things beckoned her in Hollywood…and the rest is tv history!I’m thrilled to be publicizing Rebel Bubbie, Inc. throughout the Toronto Fringe Fest period so watch for news on my social media throughout the next 6 weeks.
All 60-min. shows take place at the Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkley Street, Toronto
Thursday, July 4th 6:00 pm $10.00
Saturday, July 6th 12:30 pm $15.00
Sunday July 7th 2:15 pm $15.00
Wed. July 10th 6:00 pm $15.00
Thurs July 11th 8:15 pm $15.00
Friday July 12th 6:00 pm $15.00
Sat. July 13th 3:15 pm $15.00
Tickets: www.FringeToronto.com
Oh, how I LOVE this funny lady! Carla Collins has been making me laugh for many years (I won’t say how many ‘coz a lady never tells her age – Carla’s or mine!). This Canadian-born comedy powerhouse has created a brilliant creative niche for herself in Los Angeles that puts Ryan Seacrest to shame – Carla does it all. She’s won awards for her acting, has built a HUGE fan-base for her stand-up comedy and tv series, modelled, authored an hysterical autobiographical book, and is now conquering the radio airwaves as co-host of the LA AF show. She also Founded a unique comedy/meditation program that launched just as Covid hit us (and it took off online throughout pandemic isolation) and is currently applying her artsy-fartsy sketching skills to produce custom “vision boards” for friends and clients. Way too many skills and credits to list here…whew! So why don’t I just let her tell it herself….laughing out loud is permissible and inevitable!!Carla, as the old ad says… “you’ve come a long way baby”. Did you ever imagine you would be such a successful creative producer, web series hostess, author and comedy goddess in Los Angeles when you first stepped onto the comedy stages here in Toronto? Oh Honey, you’re so sweet but I’m just out here hustling and happy to be doing what I love. Been a rough couple of years for the industry with the strikes and the Jean-Claude Pan Damme so I’m lucky I’m a bit of an arts Swiss army knife and can do some comedy, some acting, some voiceover work, some hosting and even some drawing. You’ll know that I’ve finally made it when I have a butler called Cavendish, warm kittens stacked up next to my bidet instead of moist toilettes and I’m wearing Fruit of the Illuminati underwear!I remember back in…well, quite some time ago… when the CTV network sent you to Hollywood to host their Oscar red carpet news and interviews. Was it terrifying or did you feel you were finally with “my people”? Yup, it’s been a minute since my red-carpet days and I think I was one of the first Canucks covering the Oscars red-carpet. It was pretty nerve wracking at the time because we were live, and I used to get very anxious doing new things. Now I would jump up and do 45 minutes of stand-up at a garage sale! I have always loved LA but I don’t think this place is necessarily anyone’s tribe or people, more like another planet with great weather! It was wonderful to meet Sting in person and ask him what would last longer, an Academy Awards acceptance speech or a tantric orgasm? As I remember, I took a lot of heat for the Judy Jetson outfit I wore. No regrets! (G: Oh I remember that orange sparkly thing well)
Comedic Meditation – you launched this initiative several years ago, helping people reach nirvana (or at least sort out some shit) via comedy and yoga and just chillin’ out – a strange intersection of philosophies, sure, but it all worked. How/why did you launch CM and how important did your online presentations become during Covid? Actually, there’s absolutely no yoga involved whatsoever, even though I’ve been practising yoga for a couple of decades now. This is simply stand-up comedy followed by an authentic, original guided meditation. It happened pretty organically as I have been a big fan of meditation for years. My Mom practiced Transcendental Meditation so I’ve always known how beneficial meditation can be but so many people in LA are self-proclaimed gurus and many of my friends were too intimidated to go to a meditation center. I started this at a friend’s chiropractic and wellness space here in the valley one night a few months before the pandemic. I had been writing my own meditations for a couple of years because I wasn’t loving the ones online and I wanted to remove the woo woo factor and make meditation more accessible and digestible to everyone. I’m also a very hyper person, most of the time I shake like a chihuahua on meth after a couple of 5 Hour Energy drinks so I figured laughing for 20 or 30 minutes before sitting or lying still to meditate would help burn some energy, release endorphins or at the very least, people would hear about my crazy life and feel better about theirs! Turns out laughter and mediation are a great combo because they both produce the same gamma brainwaves.People seemed to really enjoy the odd marriage right out of the gate, and I was lucky to get some lovely media coverage early on. Chuckle & Chill (that’s what I call it now) combines my two greatest passions: comedy and wellness/spirituality. I think it seems natural that haha moments would lead to aha moments. I was in Canada doing a mini-Chuckle & Chill tour when the world shutdown and C&C transitioned fairly seamlessly online. I believe people were very stressed and felt more comfortable doing this in their own places. Everyone loved that they could just roll over and go to sleep after a session and didn’t have to drive home! I tailor both the comedy and the meditations to make them more personal for each group or individual. I mean who doesn’t need to laugh and relax more in these rapture adjacent times?
You currently have several projects on the go, including Laugh of Attraction, and especially your unique Vision Pop Boards. You’re helping people create visualizations of their wishes and dreams, right? So how can we get our own customized vision boards? Yes! The Laugh of Attraction family now includes Laffirmations (merry mantras that make you giggle and punch through to your subconscious more easily than the generic affirmations. For example: “My skin is as smooth as jazz” or “I have an attitude of gratitude when I’m in the nude”), “Chaneling” instead of channeling with my French lingerie model stand up psychic character Souffle (“Knock, knock, I know who’s there and what to wear”), Vision Pop Boards where I draw you and what you want to manifest (see below) and coming soon my Tarot Grigio comedic tarot card deck.When I was a kid and throughout high school, I wanted to be a fine artist. Shout out to my Facebook friend and high school art teacher Mr. Olsen! I would overthink and stress about each drawing or painting, so I abandoned my watercolors even though art was my first love. This year I started sketching again on the down low. My brother and best pal Rick, who teaches Art History at a private school in New Zealand, saw my sketches when he was visiting over the holidays and encouraged me to keep going. I was sketching little vision boards because I heard it was a great manifestation tool and I found it very therapeutic. Rick asked me to make him one. I posted a couple of them online and started getting orders from friends and lovely people on socials. Rick felt my style was more pop art/cartoon thus Vision Pop Boards! Basically, I ask people to send me a few pictures of themselves along with things they love and want to bring into their lives. I sketch the person in the middle of the piece and use symbols, drawings of their desires, pastels and some magic to create the boards. I also do some generic feelgood boards like a winning scratcher ticket. These can all be used as phone or computer wallpapers. You can order your customized VPB by hitting me up on Insta or FB or emailing me directly: carla@carlacollins.comSo tell me about your “professional 3-way” with Grace and Jimmy co-hosting the LA AF podcast – how did you meet, what was the “lightbulb moment” that focused your sights on hosting the show? And what is LA AF all about? Jimmy McCammon and Grace Fae McCammon reached out to me on Instagram back in December and asked me to be a guest on LA AF, a Los Angeles-centric show that has some fun at the city’s expense. I believe their tagline is News. Culture. Snark. As a good, trusting Canadian, I literally drove to a stranger’s home in Pasadena whom I had never met out in the wild or even spoken to. I keep joking that I could have ended up on Dateline. Instead, I was really impressed because Jimmy is an amazing producer and is very funny. He reminds me of my bro. The whole show has a morning radio vibe, is jam-packed with pop culture and is loosey goosey but professional. Grace is a phenomenal jazz singer, like a modern-day femme fatale from the 1940s and a beautiful spiritual soul. They are just the most lovely and talented couple. The chemistry was straight fire and there was a seamless ease to the hour when I was a guest. In January, Jimmy reached out to ask if I would be interested in being a regular host for two of their three shows a week and it’s been a delight ever since. We are getting some great guests and numbers and I’m loving it. It reminds me of my radio days. I have been asked to join several podcasts but this time it just worked. I believe Jimmy started this podcast during the pandemic then Grace joined him and now, we’re a throuple! Professionally speaking of course.Listeners can stream the shows on Spotify, iTunes, etc. and join LA AF Patreon for the entire show with lots idle extras for just $1 a month https://www.patreon.com/laaf?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator
We all loved you in Carlawood – the comedic tv series telling of your quest for fame and paid gigs in Hollywood. So has your life actually mirrored those tv episodes? Often and it’s only become weirder and more entertaining, I wish we were still filming. It was back on good, old fashioned cable TV in Canada. More recently on Amazon Prime. When I first moved here, I thought people in LA didn’t understand sarcasm but it’s more that it’s so wild and weird in this city, anything is possible and can happen. Los Angeles is almost impossible to parody. I think there is always a lot of fodder in my life mostly because I constantly find myself doing comedy in the oddest places: funerals, wealthy people’s living rooms, nudist colonies (I mean, where am I supposed to keep my phone?). I’ve had to follow Burlesque performers who are wearing less material than Carrot Top’s act and doing gymnastics on stage with great names like BonBon Paris and Lola Boutee. At that moment, I don’t want to do comedy, I just want to become a Burlesque dancer called Gigi Hadidn’t. I’ve performed stand up at a hospice here (that afternoon we were all dying…) and I’ve even performed at the Kabbalah Center in Beverly Hills where I told them my Hebrew drag queen name was Yum Yum Kippur! Also, LA is loaded with so many delicious, crazy characters right outta central casting, literally. There’s never any shortage of material here. I recently found out my yoga instructor was a coke head. This explains why we kept only taking in deep inhales. It’s very convenient to take a snort in downward facing dog! I also now know it wasn’t yoga keeping her so slim and confident.Any more fabulous books in the works? Angels, Vampires & Douchebags (2010) was brilliant, hilarious and a very insightful look into the life of a vixen on her journey to tinseltown. You must have enough material for at least 3 or 4 more books…. Aw, thank you so much Doll, you are too kind. I have recently completed writing a children’s/inspirational book called The HuaHua Way. It’s a love letter to my beloved Chihuahua mix Dr. Zira who passed away. It’s the “true” story of my three dogs: Buster, Miles and Dr. Zira (pictured below with their mistress) which subtly tackles some heavy issues like grief, divorce, sexism, etc… and I hope it brings comfort and joy to animal lovers everywhere. It’s currently being illustrated and should be released in time for the holidays this year. Right now, I’m working on another non-fiction book called Botox in my Third Eye which, like Angels, Vampires and Douchebags, is somewhat autobiographical and combines comedy with self-help.And your stand-up comedy – you’ve headlined and guested on so many of the BIG stages (and TV specials) across the US and Canada…where are you appearing next, where can fans come out to worship you? Hahaha worship! Welp, you can come laugh at me for sure. I will be on at The Laugh Factory on April 18thwith iconic host Frazer Smith. Just follow moi on Instagram @carlacollinscomedian for all upcoming dates and hopefully I’ll be back in Canada for some shows soon.Any other news or stories you’d like to share? Just that I appreciate wonderful goddesses like you who have always been wonderfully supportive. You have been a tireless champion to many Canadian entertainers, and we really appreciate your expertise and wit Darling. Remember, every time you laugh…an angel gets knocked up by Nick Cannon or Elon Musk so keep laughing! xo
Visit Carla’s website for all her social media links, videos, funny business, news and more… https://www.carlacollins.com/This blog is dedicated to Carla’s muse, the late great Dr. Zira (below)
EVAN CARTER is one of my all-time favourite comedians. When I worked as agent for Toronto’s Yuk Yuk’s Komedy Klub back in the 80s, he was my go-to guy for corporate gigs when the client required a clean comic, and he was a brilliant MC for in-house shows as well as gigs across the country – Evan was always reliable and could deliver the goods no matter who the audience may be.
Back then, record labels and concert promoters would frequently use comedians to open for their touring music artists and I booked Evan for gigs with some pretty big names such as the chart-topping Aussie pop duo Air Supply and the late R&B legend Marvin Gaye when he stopped in Toronto on his Sexual Healing tour…oh my!Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of not only working with Evan but sitting in the audience as a civilian and watching/listening to him kill it on stage. Now we can all watch him on YouTube and listen to his recent comedy album You Speak So Well.I was thrilled when Evan agreed to come visit me for a Live From the Pool Deck series of video Q&As talking about his current “Legends of Motown” musical stage show that’s successfully packing ‘em in across North America, as well as past triumphs and stories from the comedy trenches. His new website has just been launched [www.evancarter.com] so check Evan out for yourself and see why he’s considered “the comedian’s comedian…”
Thanks for sharing all the laughs over the past four+ decades…keep it up, we need all the laughs we can get, Evan. LOL
Again, visit Evan’s new website for social media links plus videos and concert soundtracks – www.evancarter.com
Thanks to an introduction from “That Canadian Guy” comedian Glen Foster, I recently connected with LUKE LYNNDALE, a fellow stand-up comic and the Founder of a brand new comedy festival taking place over 2 weekends next month (Aug.) on Danforth Avenue in Toronto’s Greektown.
The Danforth Comedy Festival line-up of exciting and hilarious comedians includes many who you might have seen on Canada’s Got Talent, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Conan, Comedy Central, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as well as Just for Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Halifax Comedy Festival, CTV Comedy Channel, and CBC Comedy. See full line-up, shows dates and times at www.danforthcomedyfestival.comI recently spoke with Luke to learn about his roots in the comedy scene, his Comedy Nuggets comedy agency and, of course, this inaugural laugh fest spanning two weekends in August….
What first drew you to a career in comedy? Did you start off studying to become a medical professional, accountant, stockbroker, auto mechanic? My father was a professor at McGill University in Montreal and saw a posting for a comedy competition. I went and won $50. I was hooked! In university, I studied mathematics but I didn’t have any specific direction. Later, I did lots of work as a digital product manager.
You first worked as an improviser – what propelled you into stand-up comedy? Well, actually, I started in standup. In Montreal, I did standup for two years before moving to Toronto to take courses at The Second City. Then, I did both for two years before taking a long break from comedy. I started back doing improv in 2010 and standup back in 2017.
How did you become a finalist in 2020’s Comedian of the North competition? And what is that contest all about? I first competed in the Comedian of the North competition in 2019, when I didn’t place. I went back in 2020, and finished third. The competition is in Thunder Bay, ON. It no longer runs but was produced by Incidents Comedy – Miki Hughes and Carole Cunningham.You’ve worked in the States in festival and club environments – how do US audiences differ from Canadian ones? For me, I haven’t found many differences at all. My material isn’t Canada-specific, except for one or two, so most of material works well in either country.
You created Comedy Nuggets, an agency/promoter securing gigs in clubs and corporate venues for fellow comics, and most recently founded the Danforth Comedy Festival here in Toronto that launches August 4th and runs for 2 weekends. What drives Luke to succeed in such a capricious business? First, I want a great show for both performers and audience. I’m a performer first, so I want there to be lots of audience and good audience – those ready to laugh and looking for a good time. This inaugural Danforth Comedy Festival means lots of balls in the air…how good a juggler are you? In my corporate life, I worked at times as a project manager. So, juggling and prioritizing are strengths. I don’t get stressed. I do my best, make decisions and go with it.Who are the comedians (or shows) we should look out for at the Fest? Any improvisers or stand-ups we’ve never seen before but should? This is a loaded question because they should all be seen or else they wouldn’t be in the festival. Some of our headliners are Nathan Macintosh, who is a Canadian living in New York City, has been on late night TV. He’s a favorite in Toronto. We have two Greek headliners – Efthimios Nasiopoulos and Manolis Zantonos, both hilarious and must-see. We also have Rob Haze – one to watch. On the improv front, we have HERE: The (Improvised) Musical. They are a duo from Columbus, OH – Tara DeFrancisco Rance Rizzutto, ask the audience for suggestions and then create a 45 minute musical, all improvised.
Starting April 1st, YOU can vote your favourite Canadian comedian into the CANADIAN COMEDY HALL OF FAME...but you must become a Member first. Visit www.canadiancomedyhall.com and for a special lifetime membership fee of $25, you will have voting rights to ensure your favourite “Performers” are added to the Hall’s list of great comedic artists. “Voting is set to open as of April 1st for this year’s group of inductees into the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame,” says Founder and Exec. Director Tim Progosh, “and we hope everyone across the country will become members so they can cast their votes for their favourite performers named on the impressive list of nominees.” Voting runs until May 24th. “After 2 years of Covid lockdowns, restrictions and lack of live entertainment, Canada needs a damn good laugh”, continued Progosh, “so we’re proud that the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame celebrates the country’s funniest comedians, creative professionals as well as great artists from the past whose legacies paved the way for today’s comedy stars.” Those stars voted into the Hall this year will be announced July 1st, followed by a formal presentation event later in the year.
Here are just a few of this year’s nominees…Learn more about the previous inductees and plans for the future of the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame by following social media (all linked on the website) and visiting www.canadiancomedyhall.com
On behalf of the Board and Nominating Committee for the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame, I’m pleased to announce this year’s inductees featuring legends of Canadian comedy in three categories: Legacy, Creator and Performer.
First off, nominated as performers (10 to be voted in): Norm MacDonald (pictured), Mike MacDonald, the cast of SCTV, the cast of CODCO (pictured), Steve Smith, Rose Oulette, Catherine O’Hara (pictured), Mort Sahl, Elvira Kurt, Michael J. Fox (pictured), Al Waxman (pictured), Phil Hartman, Leslie Nielsen, David Steinberg and Dan Aykroyd.The Creators nominees include (5 to be voted in): Mark Breslin/Yuk Yuks (pictured), Sandra Faire, Keith Johnstone/Loose Moose Theatre, Robert Gravel and Yvon Leduc/La Ligue Nationale d’Improvisation (pictured), Ivan Reitman (pictured), Andy Nulman/Bruce Hills of Just For Laughs Festival, Jo-Anna Downey – Comedian/Open Mic impresario, Andrew Alexander/The Second City and Lorne Michaelsand as Legacy inductees (2 to be acclaimed): Oliver Guimond, Mordecai Richler, The Happy Gang, the cast of Wayne & Shuster (pictured), Beatrice Lillie and silent film director and founder of the Keystone Cops Mack Sennett (pictured).The inductees will be announced on July 1st with a formal live ceremony to be announced later.
The Board and Nominating Committee has also voted to acclaim writer and humourist StephenLeacock (pictured below)…and the legendary TV comedy producers Frank Peppiatt & John Aylesworth (pictured below) into the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame. The vote was unanimous for Canada’s greatest humourist and the writing duo that dominated and changed television comedy in Canada. Every year the Board and the Nomination Committee has the ability to acclaim two Legacy acts into the Hall.In the words of Exec. Director and Founder of the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame, Tim Progosh: From the very first political cartoons in the 1860’s through the two world wars, the advent of silent movies and the rise of television, Canadians have always been leaders in making people laugh and recognized for those achievements around the world. And from Board Member and comedian, now Director of Pembroke’s Festival Theatre, Rick Wharton: The wealth of comedy talent in Canada is just mind-blowing. As well, there are so many people behind the scenes who need to be recognized, too.
I encourage you all to join up for membership and learn more about the current and future plans for the Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame: www.canadiancomedyhall.com and follow them on Fcbk, Twtr and Instagram for weekly updates and news.
I’ve known GLEN FOSTER for nearly four decades, representing him during the 80s as part of the Yuk Yuk’s Komedy Klub agency Funny Business, then working with him again several years ago when he launched a series of independent comedy showcases featuring the best of the best of Canadian comedy talent. Known as That Canadian Guy, Glen has become a mainstay on the Canadian comedy circuit – he didn’t just work the road, he’s one of the comics who built it! His comedy is clever and intelligent, combining reflections on his own personal experiences with razor sharp commentary on current events and popular culture.He has appeared many times at the world-renowned Just For Laughs festival, had his own TV specials on the Comedy Network, can be heard frequently on CBC Radio’s “The Debaters” and he’s a club and corporate event favourite across the country. That Canadian Guy is a reference to Glen’s first network comedy special during which he joked about the fact people could call him “that Canadian guy” if they couldn’t remember his name. Sure enough, after the show aired, Glen received a flood of e-mails from viewers who said, “I couldn’t remember your name but I remembered “that Canadian guy.” This became a part of his act….
Glen contacted me recently with great news…he’s releasing a brand new comedy CD on a real-life record label, so I asked him a few questions about how the album, UnChecked, came to be during the pandemic lockdown as well as how the comedy industry has dealt with the lack of live audiences….
After being locked down and locked out of live performing for 14 months, you’re releasing your new comedy album “UnChecked” May 25th – is producing this album how you spent your time during Covid quarantine? I’m a procrastinating perfectionist which is a terrible combination. It means that a lot of things never get done. And if by some miracle, they do get done, they’re never right. Oddly, I was wildly productive at the beginning of the pandemic; I created a “Covid Comedy” website to showcase comedians who were doing online projects during lockdown. I co-wrote a Covid parody song and I was one of the first Canadian comedians to attempt a Zoom show. In fact, just hours before the lockdown, I borrowed a van and raced to Home Depot to get a piece of fake brick wall so I could build a virtual stage in my basement which I called “The Covid Club”. But did I work on the album? No, well, not right away. The bulk of this album was recorded in January 2020 which is very lucky, because a month later, we were going lock down for three weeks to “flatten the curve”. After it was done, I decided to set the recordings aside for a while so that I could come back and listen with “fresh ears”. For me, “a little while” means “forget about altogether”, so it wasn’t until we were in full blown pandemic that I actually started listening. And then I listened repeatedly, over and over. I made detailed notes as I prepared a paper edit. Being a bit of a purist, I was hoping to record the entire album from a single show. (Personally, I think it’s cheating to record six shows and take the best bits of each), however, it turned out that the best recording was the Saturday early show, which is a shorter show because they have to bring in a second crowd. This meant that I couldn’t do a full headline set. So, full disclosure, I had to edit in material from other shows. As the pandemic dragged on, so did the editing process as I sent notes and audio files back and forth with the producer, who was a friend with a newborn who was also time-challenged in his own way. I vacillated between completely ignoring the album and sudden urgency for completion. First it was to release the album in time to qualify for the Junos. When that deadline passed, I thought Canada Day might be a good time to release. Of course, I couldn’t get my shit together in time, so by late summer ‘20, I had decided to hold the release till Christmas. Then I got a call that changed everything. A comedian friend I have known for many years, put me in touch with 800Pound Gorilla Records, which is the largest producer of comedy albums in the world! They wanted to hear my album but they couldn’t get to it until after Christmas so I made the decision to postpone yet again! Finally, almost a full year after I had recorded it, I got word that they wanted to sign me to a distribution deal. I am very excited because UnChecked will the first album that I have ever released on an actual record label. It’s only taken forty years to get some US audience and media attention.How did you choose the material included on the album? Well, first of all, I had to eliminate material that I had already done on previous albums, which I managed to do – mostly. There were a couple of bits from earlier albums that I HAD to include because they were working well with some of the newer bits I had been working out, so they had become part of my regular set. I would say though that there are only a couple of exact repeats. Most of them are bits that were in an early development stage when I first recorded them. Now, of course they’re much more polished, or I’ve spun them differently or changed the delivery. Besides, I wouldn’t be the first comedian to get away with doing an “old” bit on a new album. Unchecked has been growing as a concept in my mind (and in my act) for a few years now. Partially it’s a reference to my scatterbrain existence. I have a To Do list with NO checkmarks, which is not entirely true, I suppose, because I did manage to get this album out…finally. However, it also refers to the fact that as a “cis gendered white male” I don’t check any boxes. If you look closely at the cover, you will see that it is made up of actual check boxes, some of which refer to things that are still on my “to do” list like “Screenplay” and “Taxes” (the deadline is looming as we speak), while others are boxes that I can’t check like “Female” or “LGBTQ”. I’ve thrown in some more whimsical ones as well, like “Rich”, “Sexy”, “Astronaut” plus a few more contentious ones like “woke”, “safe”, “politically correct”. – things I am most definitely NOT. So in that sense, the third meaning of UnChecked is not holding back, no holds barred, which is an approach I certainly take on this album. I seem to have a penchant for ambiguity; I love it when things have two meanings, so UnChecked having three gives me a kind of nerdy thrill.
You pride yourself in working “clean”, but with all the frustrations of isolating with the family, were you tempted to go from That Canadian Guy to That Pissed Off & Angry Canadian Guy? I used to be more of a stickler on the clean thing, but now I like to play both sides of the fence. I can do a completely clean show if that is what’s required, but shows where you can cut loose are a lot more fun. I don’t mind dropping the odd F bomb, but I would never swear for the sake of swearing. If you’re going to do it, it should help the joke. There is only ONE F bomb on the entire new album, but there is no way to do the joke without it. I’ve tried, but F*ck is the only word that really works. I could have cut the joke, but I really wanted to include it because, apart from getting a great laugh, it makes an important point about the state of comedy and what should be considered “funny”. In fact, there are a few observations about the state of comedy, particularly with regards to political correctness, cancel culture and what you can and can’t say. Or more specifically what I, as a cis gendered white male, can’t say. Or certain taboo topics that comedians are not allowed to joke about. The only rule I have in comedy is that there should be no rules. In fact, when someone tells me that I can’t do a joke about such and such, I see it as a challenge to find a way to do it. For me, the jokes that create the most tension are the ones that bring the biggest laughs and the best of those are the ones that leave you wondering “Was that offensive?” I would say that about 70% of this album is pretty close to “Disney clean”, and another 20% could be considered questionable, but that last 10% is going to make some people’s heads explode!! So I look forward to the release of UnChecked and my subsequent cancellation…LOLWith the possibility of live performances starting up by end of summer, are you already planning shows in Toronto and across the country in support of the album? If I do any touring, I don’t think it will be in Canada, not for a while at least. We are way behind on vaccinations, so I don’t see things opening up again until fall. Even then, I think older crowds, which I appeal most to, are going to be pretty skittish about going into crowded spaces for some time. Or maybe, if they ever perfect Zoom, we’ll be doing more virtual shows. I’ve done a few of them during the pandemic, and some of them were awful. Even the good ones don’t compare to LIVE though. Of course, if the album is a big hit, who knows? This is the first time that my comedy will be heard all over the world and that may bring some new and interesting opportunities.
Several years ago, you presented a series of live stand-up shows (The Canadian Aces) featuring comedy greats like the late Mike MacDonald, Evan Carter, Ron Vaudry, Ronnie Edwards and Simon Rakoff, as well as your then Hump Dump Live radio show co-host Lawrence Morgenstern. The rooms were packed with fans who appreciated the sharp and timely material. Could such a series of shows happen again, either with the Aces or the young’ens once we’re allowed to go back in to the clubs? Again, it remains to be seen. And again, the primary market for that sort of thing would be an older crowd who, as I say, might be a little skittish about crowded spaces for a while. The good news is more and more comics have been in this game for twenty years or longer, although due to all the lockdowns and on again off again closures of live venues, 2020/2021 may have an asterisk in the margin of the record books.
In That Canadian Guy’s opinion, how has the comedy scene changed over the past 4 decades since you started out? Comedy reflects reality, so all the issues that have been part of that reality like racial tension, the #metoo movement, gender issues have all had an influence on comedy. The biggest thing I’ve noticed would be the rise of political correctness, which isn’t unique to comedy of course, though comedy seems to be the focal point of a lot of anger lately. Certainly a number of comedians have been under the threat of being “cancelled” for mere jokes. This is another one of the themes of UnChecked. There is this notion that comedy, like everything else needs to be more diverse and inclusive. Along with that comes the idea that old, white, male comedians such as myself should step aside, give up our privilege, etc. As a result, I find that a lot of comedy is more preachy than it used to be. It’s more about making your point, or standing up for this group or that group, not punching down, etc. There is a lot “clapter” these days which is a term for an audience half laughing, but more clapping and agreeing with whatever point a comedian might be making: I think it’s all a bit of nonsense. To me, the only thing comedy has to be is funny. My rule is be funny first, then you can preach or do whatever the hell else you like, but be funny first.
Where can we purchase/download your UnChecked album and how much will it cost to enjoy and own great comedy? On May 25th, it will be available on all the usual music download platforms like Apple, Amazon etc. Or you could just visit my website www.thatcanadianguy.com because I will have all the links listed there.
Good luck with the launch, Glen…I hope everyone buys the album and the next blog interview I do with you will be for next year’s Juno awards!! Make sure you visit Glen’s new website, follow him on Fcbk at www.facebook.com/thatcanadianguy or visit the record label www.800poundgorillarecords.com
On Friday March 14th, there will be a fundraiser for the upcoming 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival comedic play, Grown Ass*d Broads Talkin’ Dirty. This night of music and comedy promises to be fun and full of hilarity, and features renowned singer/actor who also wrote the play, the indomitable Valerie Boyle (pictured below)
Valerie starred, wrote and produced her own one-woman show,Sophie Tucker,which toured Canada, as well as workshopped in London, UK, and she was also Shirley in Shirley Valentinewhen the play toured Canada. She also starred as Mother Superior in Nunsense for twelve productions – a role she is going to resurrect again in 2025 at the Victoria Playhouse, Petrolia, for the Nunsense 40th Anniversary. Valerie also has numerous big & small screen roles to her credit including a turn on Murdoch Mysteries. She is a Canadian treasure.
Rounding out this night of show-stopping musical performances will be Tiffany Deriveau (below) who has performed in Soul Sistas as Tina Turner, Wanda in Beehive: the 60s Musical, Mama Morton in Chicago and Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors, in various theatres across the country.
Bringing the comedy will be Christel Bartelse (below). As a solo artist, Christel has wowed Fringe audiences and beyond with her one-woman shows including CHAOTICA, ONEymoon, Significant Me, All KIDding Aside, The Surprise and Encore. She has been nominated twice for a Canadian Comedy Award and has toured every major Canadian fringe festival, as well as several in the U.S. and has performed twice at the original Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The emcee for the evening will be Tricia Williams who has graced the Toronto Fringe Festival stage for the past three years in hit shows such as the Sorauren Book Club, Hymns and Hearse and Disarming Venus. She is also a cast member of Grown Ass*d Broads Talkin’ Dirty along with Jorie Morrow, Andrea Davis, Morrie Sinkins and Julie Burris.
The fundraiser will take place at the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL), 110 The Esplanade in the Crest Green Room Theatre. Tickets are $20 cash at the door and $10 cash for residents of PAL. Doors will open at 7:00 pm and show time is 7:30 pm.
