TOSketchFestBlog
It’s time for Part Two of our TOsketchfest Insiders’ Guide! TOsketchfest favourites and die-hard fans share what they’re most excited about seeing at TOsketchfest25. Grab a pass. Book some tix. Have some laughs.
Alia Rasul
Catch Alia on March 7th & 8th at The Theatre Centre in Tita Collective: That’s So Tita, and hosting on various stages throughout the festival.
I AM SO EXCITED for the 20th anniversary of this festival, everything in the festival is sure to be a great time! I’ve got my pass and have challenged myself to watch as much sketch as possible, but if I HAD TO pick 5 shows to talk about it would be these:
Comedy Dance Chicago: dance AND comedy? I am there! I missed them last year and I have regretted it ever since. Hailing from Chicago, this is a critically-acclaimed act and there is nothing quite like it in Toronto.
Vivek Srikanthan is doing something really cool, melding autobiographical work with sketch. It’s so exciting when sketch comedians take a medium and REALLY make it their own, and I think Vivek’s done it. There’s massive buzz around this, it’s going to be a hot ticket for sure.
Nkasi Ogbonnah’s Afronaut – I have been a huge fan of Nkasi’s comedy for a while and I think solo comedy is IT for her. She is a Second City Mainstage Alumna, and in the shows she was in, her sketches always pushed the envelope in terms of point-of-view. Whipsmart and hilarious as hell, this one is something you don’t want to miss.
Gaylulu – Having seen Pat Gourdeau in a few improv shows lately, he is always a standout amongst an ensemble. I’m not sure what it is: charisma, delivery, stage presence, maybe it’s all of it. I think Pat’s going to do big things, and this Sketchfest show is an opportunity for you to say you saw him right before he blew up.
Manic Depressive Thrillness: A Mad Musical Comedy – I don’t really know how to encapsulate K. Zimmer’s genius into words, I saw their show 2 Sketchfest’s ago and it was the greatest thing I had seen that year. They are a rare figure in the comedy scene. Watch this if you want to see something that breaks all of the rules.
Sachin Sharma
Sachin is one half of Two2Mango performing Colonial Circus on March 6th at The Theatre Centre.
The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival is packed with unmissable acts by amazing artists this year. I am sure you know many of these artists already. So, I am going to tell you about the acts/artists I have watched and liked very much. Hence I recommend them to anyone looking for a healthy comedy diet. All the artists listed here ARE VERY FUNNY.
My list starts with Vivek Srikanthan and his solo show which he describes as a ‘self-deprecating solo sketch comedy revue’. His humour, In my view, is more self-embracing than self-deprecating. He makes you ‘feel’, not just laugh.
Our clowning community is looking strong at this festival. I am very happy to recommend these shows that I was fortunate enough to see the artists build these successful shows very closely:
Santosh Santosh: I remember watching ‘Tosh’ emerging at a workshop show and the power this character wields. Also, being a co-fringer with Tika and the team was super fun. Emily Jeffers Presents The Mathemagician and Bitty-Bat: Emily’s Bitty-Bat has been flying across the globe including Edinburgh Fringe. So Bitty-Bat is a must-watch show. At the same time, Emily’s new character (Mathemagician) looks very solid to me. I can’t wait to see what Emily does in and as The Mathemagician.
While we are at ‘clowning,’ may I suggest you to sign up for Brunch! A CLOWN WORKSHOP? No matter what you do in life – TAKE THE BRUNCH. So many of us at The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival are a product of BRUNCH. I can’t possibly highlight enough about the trio of clowning teachers at Brunch (Gord, Isaac and Ken). Isaac is the most committed and electric performer/teacher who also directed our show (Colonial Circus).
Nate Friedman
Nate is a rockstar member of the TOsketchfest Box Office team (be sure to say hello!) and frequent sketch performer in duo “Friedman & Stew”.
So excited for it to be time for Toronto Sketchfest again and to get laughing properly- because let’s be honest, that snow outside has been kind of a buzz kill. I’m happy to be back working for the festival this year :) come and say hi! AS USUAL, and for great reason for the 20th anniversary year, this festival lineup is STACKED!
I wanted to start with a show that’s absolutely top of my list. Do yourself a favour and do not miss Nkasi Ogbonnah’s AFRONAUT. I’ve had the pleasure of watching Nkasi perform at Sketch to the Death and her comedy is always hilarious, pointed and topical, I still remember her from her time at Second City where she would frequently steal the show and am still laughing from a niche political sketch she put on a few weeks ago, always so greatly written and world class performance. Another must-catch is Erica Gellert and her Friends. I have long been an Erica Gellert fan as I don’t believe that our country has a better pure character comedian than her. The characters are always outlandish, as she promises, and over-the-top in the best way. It looks like the show got even better with Friends, but it’s unclear if she will be playing her friends or she has friends- hard to tell with comedians lol. I challenge you to go see this show and not laugh but I know that simply won’t happen.
Another big deal of a show you’d be insane to miss is: Tallboyz: One City World Tour. There’s a reason this one is featured as it’s rare to see them all in one place and we hope to see more of the Tallboyz together. The sharp wit and physical comedy along with the way this troupe works together are second to none and pure magic. Next recommendation is Jon Blair. He’s received Best of Fest honours twice at the festival and no one quite does absurdity like he can. The types of sketches that stick in your mind and make you laugh long after the show, kind of like the mad scientist of sketch comedy.
Another show that just jumps off the page at me is Gillian Bartolucci on a double bill with Shannon Lahaie’s: The Inevitable Solo Show. Gillian is always so polished and writes sketches that appeal to everyone. Shannon I’ve seen a bunch in the Improv community and always has the best silly characters, not to mention this one is directed by Canadian Sketch Royalty Aurora Browne of Baroness Von Sketch. Sign me up.
For workshops make sure to take: Seth K Thomas’ Creating Content with a Political Lean and Amanda Xeller’s Character Creation in Context. (and go see their shows too!)
See you at TOsketchfest
Did you love that list of reccos? Want some more? Here are some links to Insiders’ Guide Part One, Insiders’ Guide Part Two, Insiders’ Guide Part Three and Insiders’ Guide Part Four.
Between part one and two of our Insiders Guide, you’ve had some very strong recommendations from NINE different sketch comedy experts! Still not enough? We have one more to come! And, if you aren’t one already, you can become a sketch comedy expert, too. With over 50 shows and 70 different troupes performing from March 5-16, you have the opportunity for a comprehensive education in comedy right at your fingertips.
Now go study the full festival schedule and get ready for 12 days of the best live comedy on earth!
Comedians’ recommendations may have been edited for length and clarity.
