TOSketchFestBlog
During the annual Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, you can fill your calendar with shows by top notch comedy talent from across North America. But don’t take our word for it, get the insider recommendations. We asked some TOsketchfest favourites and die-hard fans to share what they’re most excited about seeing at TOsketchfest26. Read on. Grab a pass. Book some tix. Have some laughs.
(Check out Part One of this series for more reccos!)
A.C. Birch
Find A.C. Birch at TOsketchfest in Alter Boy, March 6th and 12th.
In many ways, going to a festival is like ordering a table of tapas (everyone is always saying this, I know!) – as delicious as everything looks, it can help to be a little choosey. If only for the sake of the weight capacity of the table. Which I guess in this case is your busy schedule? This metaphor is really getting away from me. ANYWAY! If you’re looking for some help refining your selection, then look no further than the recommendations of the boyish waiter with the gay little smile and the under-eye bags of someone who is surely approaching end-of-life (it’s me, I’m the waiter. The metaphor is still going. I live here now, inside of this restaurant. Help me!)
Here are my must-see shows for our final days at TOsketchfest…
- Legally Brown Presents: Corporate CULTure
This troupe knows how to mine a theme for every drop of gold. When I tell you I’m still thinking (almost daily) of a random one-liner from one of their recent holiday shows you must believe me. - Summer Dad
Well, well, well, if it isn’t one of the nicest, biggest, most talented, largest, coolest, most populous troupes in the city! You simply must see them. - Two2Mango
Can you believe I get to share a billing with these clowns? I’m obsessed with Sachin and Shreya, and only a smart part of that obsession is driven by Sachin’s tiny little necktie. Grab a ticket for their show so you can see what I’m talking about.
Jacqueline Ashton
Find Jacquie with Legally Brown on March 8th and March 11th, and with The Midnight Snacks on March 14th.
Holy smokes, this is my Sketch Fest 2.0 (last year I was a young grasshopper and this year I am the captain now)…so buckle up, it’s going to be a cwazy n wild festival. There are so many shows worth seeing if you want to laugh your f-ing a-off every single day, but these are some of my faves.
My recommendations…
- The Red Hot Sili Peppers are like the chilli crisps to my vanilla ice cream: utterly addictive, literally viral, and just the perfect sweet treat. They’re incredibly locked-in, every.single.time. Their shows are so muy picante I need to CHUG a glass of milk after, and I’m lactose intolerant, so that says a lot. I’m obsessed with them, they’re unstoppable & they’re HOT sellers obvi.
- EMILY JEFFERS EVERYBODY. Emily and Legally Brown have a special bond, because yes, we shared the stage as double bill headliners in Spotlight at the Second City in February. So, it’s no wonder she’s got a special place in my heart. I LOVE all of her absurd characters and incredible physical comedy. Emily’s brain is just mwah, chef’s kiss. I want to be her when I grow up, sue me.
- This recommendation is a two cakes, one pan kind of deal… Amanda Xeller is our friend from NYC, who Legally Brown was lucky enough to double bill with at last year’s Sketchfest! Her shows are incredibly hilarious and zany as she takes her characters to a level you didn’t even know was possible! Same show, same night, A.C. BIRCH – a shining star, they will quite literally have you cackling the house down. I don’t know about you, but I will absolutely be found hooting and hollering in the audience at this late-night show.
Kristina Guevarra
Catch Kristina Guevarra in Grease Trap with The Understudies on March 13 and with Brain Frogs on March 14 at Comedy Bar Bloor St in the Mainspace.
Her recommendations…
- Lou Laurence
The first time I saw Lou Laurence I was automatically enchanted, she had me tapping my feet to the rhythm of her funny little tunes and I was singing along like I was a fisherman at sea! Lou is the wittiest and sharpest serenading mermaid of all time. She is constantly weaving together melodies so clever, you’ll forget all of our own personal qualms on shore! - Beacon of Hope
Oh boy, you better strap in… The millisecond you get wind of Nicky Fournier and Marty Graham on stage, you will be enamoured by this very CHARMING and very STRANGE duo. Their chemistry is undeniable like when you pop a mentos into a 2L of Diet Coke, an explosion of hilarity! Beacon of Hope is top tier, Montreal freaky, alternative comedy. - The Tita Collective
These superstars are a sketch troupe I’ve been fangirling over for YEARS. Not only are they talented comedically and musically, but they are also making waves for the rest of us Filipinos who have an itch to defy limiting conventions and express ourselves through BIG laughs and art making. These ladies are constantly transcending the standard and pushing the needle forward. An absolute must see.
Chris Leveille
Chris Leveille’s an award-winning sketch comedian who’s been a part of the comedy scene for over 15 years with troupes like Apology Not Accepted, Dame Judy Dench, and 32 Short Sketches About Bees. He’s also a Festival Board Member.
Their recommendations…
- Comedy Dance Chicago: Anyone who’s talked to me during Sketchfest knows how much I love this troupe. Lots of sketch troupes write jokes – but this troupe dances them! Super physical, super energetic, and super surprising, I always leave their shows with a smile on my lips, a song on my tongue, and inspiration on my molars.
- The Rocket Scientists: Years ago, I caught a Rocket Scientists set and laughed so hard beer came out my nose. This troupe hits my sweet spot – smart and silly. So I was excited to see they’re at Sketchfest as it’s been years since these silly geese performed together on stage – catch them now because who knows with their busy schedules – they’re all successful writers, performers, and comedians – when they’ll do it again!
- 24 Double B In the Belly of the Beast: I caught this red-headed duo’s set earlier this year and it left me excited to see more – so I’m definitely catching their festival show! They’re silly, smart, dumb, and committed to their bits – a winning combination – but they get my heart when they go meta. They’re also super nice and super funny, so you know you’re in for a treat!
See you at TOsketchfest
Now go get your TOsketchfest Festival Pass and get ready for 12 days of the best live comedy on earth!
Comedians’ recommendations may have been edited for length and clarity.
