TOSketchFestBlog
It’s time for part four (and dare we say… the last!) of our TOsketchfest Insiders’ Guide! TOsketchfest favourites and die-hard fans share what they’re most excited about seeing at TOsketchfest25 in week two! Book some tix, or better yet …
Grab our BRAND NEW Pick-4 Pass for week two.
Hillary Yaas
Hillary Yass is your favourite comedy queen, bringing the best of drag, sketch and song to her show Miserable Old White Woman on March 13.
After not being recommended by ANY of you even though I am a former Audience Choice Winner (by acclamation), it’s always nice to feel included. I am happy to take your pity gesture and share my opinions with your readers.
Firstly, I recommend Miserable Old White Woman, by me. When you get the chance to self promote you take it. Also, every gay that didn’t recommend me is just jealous.
Secondly, I recommend the other half of my show, Andy Assaf’s Freaks. It is likely better than mine and Andy is both famous now and looks like Benson Boone. I expect that I am worth watching for some, but he is worth watching always.
Finally, there is no one who compares to my mediocre yet derring do spirit more than Good News Toronto. I am as amazed as you are that they are STILL around. I love them. Watch them! Plus their partner show Seth K Thomas says they bring “haha over rara” and “RaRa” was my first drag name, a sure signpost to greatness.
Otherwise, if you are looking for talent, check out 24 Double B, the sketch people, and/or the boobs!
Rena Taylor
Rena is one half of Toronto faves Joy Provision… aaaaand she’s the Producer of TOsketchfest’s Learning and Fun series of comedy workshops, panels and social events.
Hiiiiiiii! I’m Rena from Joy Provision (shameless plug for our show Friday, March 14 at Comedy Bar)! Toronto Sketchfest brings some of the best sketch from across North America together, and I’m so psyched to see as many acts as possible!
Our baby boy darling of sketch, Tom Hearn is back from the Big Apple, and I can’t wait to host his show! His debut album with Howl & Roar will undoubtedly showcase a variety of ridiculous characters, his clever writing, impeccable musical direction from Jordan Armstrong, and a special guest from Canada’s Drag Race. Possibly the gayest show in the fest, but anything but trash.
I wouldn’t miss Small Friend Tall Friend either. They’re not only adorable, but they are such sharp writers and EXCELLENT performers. They make poignant commentary on modern society in a way that always lands, and on top of that, they’re stupidly kind and warm humans.
And 24 Double B! You just shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see the squeaky cleanest* comedy in the fest (*content may or may not be that clean). I love this duo, I love their dynamic, and I don’t know if I’ve seen a troupe get people howling like this in ages.
Also, a huge shoutout to Lou Laurence, musical comedian visiting from Montreal! Her shows are like a warm hug with a silly tickle—comforting, playful, and full of heart.
Jon Blair
Jon brought the funny to the first week of the ‘fest in his solo set and with 13 Plays About ADHD All At The Same Time. Missed his shows? Well, don’t miss his picks for week two:
Hey what’s up it’s Jon from sketch comedy, how are you? Have a good couple days off? Get some sleep, go to work, stuff like that? Okay excellent so listen here are some things I think you should see in TOsketchfest week 2!
I was lucky enough to see Woody Fu: One Man John Wick last spring in Austin and I loved it; Woody goes so far outside and beyond the expectations of a one-man reenactment in ways that are brilliant and surprising and playful. The Incubator space is pretty much the perfect venue for this show and once you’re in it you’ll get why. Go see this, it’s just fun as hell.
If you have a chance to see Lou Laurence this week definitely do, if you don’t then I guess just do your best to enjoy a life without whimsy or romance. Lou is an amazing musician who charms audiences everywhere she goes and her music finds that perfect balance between comedy-music and legit-just-really-lovely-music that makes this a really wonderful show.
Chicago’s Comedy Dance Chicago combines comedy and dance (I’m now realizing they don’t really need my help explaining that) and they are VERY GOOD at BOTH of those things. The dance element is applied so smartly and with so much skill that every sketch down to the smallest blackout is a spectacle. They’re also just very fun people and that really makes its way onto the stage.
One of my favourite things about Sketchfest is when classic shows come back for a one-off and there’s some really good ones this year! Audience Choice-winning live news show Good News Toronto is reassembling their amazing cast for a reunion they claim will “ruin their legacy”; given how tall an order that is for the city’s most trusted comedy-news thing, they must be planning something truly chaotic, so absolutely be there for that. Rapp Battlez is also taking the big stage to make comedians rap-battle it out as opposing characters or concepts. It’s the silliest thing on earth and I love it. I’m also really glad Beggar’s Canyon are coming back for a show! Ian and Pete have such a fun and goofy sensibility and their comedy feels really baked into the DNA of this festival.
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.
Now that we’ve shared our Insiders Guides for 2025, you’ve had some very strong recommendations from TEN different sketch comedy experts! Still not enough? Well, 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.
