The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival

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TSCF25 Insiders’ Guide – Part Four

Posted on: March 12th, 2025 by julianne

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 Hear n 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.

Open Captioning at TOsketchfest

Posted on: March 21st, 2021 by julianne

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We’re thrilled to offer captioning options for all TOsketchfest 2021 shows!⁠

To watch the screenings with captions, make sure you select the Open Captioned options when navigating our online box office. Look for the Open Captioned Pass or Open Captioned Single Tickets marked [OC] or click the links below:

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Image of a cartoon ghost with a friendly face, looking at a human who has their back to the camera. The on-screen caption says “Oh my goodness!”

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Open captioning is where the subtitles are edited into the video itself, with text indicating the dialogue and any sound effects at the bottom of the video.

If you have any questions about accessibility at TOsketchfest or our open captioned options, contact us: boxoffice@torontosketchfest.com

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Sketchfest Throwback: Andrea Miller

Posted on: March 13th, 2021 by julianne

International memories…

A year ago, we were gathered for TOsketchfest 2020, one of the last live events that many comedians and comedy lovers did together in the “before times.” A pandemic was declared in the middle of our festival and our world was turned upside down.

This week, we’re flooded with memories of last year’s festival. At the same time, we are planning TOsketchfest 2021: The Screen Time Edition, an entirely online festival running March 24-28.

To mark this one year anniversary, we asked participants what they remember from TOsketchfest 2020, what they’ve been doing in the past year, and what to expect from their 2021 TOsketchfest digital appearance.

Andrea Miller has been the Festival Stage Manager in the Theatre Centre Incubator for five years and has all the best backstage stories. We checked in with her leading up to her role as digital Stage Manager for our upcoming festival.

Q: Can you share a memory from the 2020 festival?

A: 2020 was my fifth year stage managing for Toronto Sketchfest, and the first week was one of the best the fest had seen in that time. The sketch community in Toronto had been getting increasingly strong, and we had some great out-of-town performers. Shows were HOT and the audiences large and receptive. I had the extra mental energy to keep a list of the crazy messes performers were making that year, including: fake blood, two separate money guns; and fistfuls of raisins tossed liberally throughout the audience over the course of a 3 minutes.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://www.torontosketchfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Blog-image-Andrea.png” alt=”Photo of Andrea smiling broadly while sitting in the dark of the stage manager’s booth. There are rolls of tape and dim lights on the table in front of her..” title_text=”Blog image Andrea” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.9.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”70%”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”12px” custom_padding=”|75px||75px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

Andrea in her element. The stage manager’s booth at the Theatre Centre Incubator stage. Photo by Dahlia Katz.

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Q: What do you remember about those final days of the festival, as the reality of the pandemic was really sinking in?

A: By the time the second week had started, COVID went from ‘future concern’ to counting cases in Toronto. As others panic-bought toilet paper and groceries, we were putting out hand sanitizer and moving seats farther apart. All the out-of-town troupes had to cancel and we scrambled to make scheduling changes. I started getting asked if microphones had been sanitized. We had to ban high fives with the audience.

I think about the last day of Sketchfest a lot. Especially the after party show, which sprawled on and on.

I’m a pretty self-conscious person who takes a long time to relax around people and was so happy that after years of knowing some of these people I really admired, it really felt like I fit in, and these people were my friends. Everyone got very drunk, and there were many sweaty hugs and telling everyone how much you love them. The die hards all ended up in an after-hours club nearby, where we all crammed into a purple-lit room with a tiny piano outside of the bathrooms and talked until five in the morning.

Carson Pinch kept exclaiming ‘We’re not going to see each other for MONTHS’ to everyone. It felt like comedic exaggeration at the time, yet none of us wanted to leave. It was early dawn when I finally got home, feeling on top of the world.

The day after I immediately went into self-isolation. Two weeks later my dad picked me up for what we figured would be a 2, maybe 4 month stay to weather the worst of the pandemic…. I have now redecorated their spare room and my cat has a special harness for the backyard.

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The view from the stage manager’s booth as the audience settles in for a show at TOsketchfest.

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Q: What have you been up to during the pandemic? Creatively or otherwise.

A: I’ve been very lucky this past year, and not just because I was able to flee solitary confinement in the city. Creatively I’ve been able to re-dedicate time to my other career of audio producer, and am getting paid to produce multiple podcasts right now. My previous corporate AV work transitioned quickly over to online webinars, and that work also keeps me very busy. I’m excited to be able to employ everything I’ve learned about the ins and outs of Zoom while teching this year’s Learning and Fun programming at TOsketchfest.

Q: What do you miss most about comedy, festivals, the community?

A: I miss having anecdotes that aren’t about Zoom meetings. I miss that feeling of discovery when you see someone new totally killing it on stage. I miss watching someone grow over months to really find their voice. I miss the electric feeling when an audience is full and every joke, every cue is hitting exactly as intended. I miss when scenes go so far off the rails that it gets funnier and funnier, but in a way that only people who were in the room at the time could possibly understand. I miss yelling at goddamn comedians who don’t listen, and screw around with equipment, make huge messes, or ask for unhinged last minute changes. Because they’re my friends, and I miss them most of all.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://www.torontosketchfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/4-2.png” alt=”Andrea smiles at the camera with her Zoom stage managing set up behind her.” title_text=”4″ align=”center” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.9.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”71%”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”12px” custom_padding=”|75px||75px|false|false”]

A peek at Andrea’s Zoom stage management set up. She’ll be putting that to good use as the Stage Manager of the Learning and Fun series in 2021 (panels and workshops.)

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Sketchfest Throwback: Rachel Strauss-Muniz

Posted on: March 12th, 2021 by julianne No Comments

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International memories…

This week, we’re flooded with memories of last year’s festival. At the same time, we are planning TOsketchfest 2021: The Screen Time Edition, an entirely online festival running March 24-28.

To mark this one year anniversary, we asked comedians what they remember from TOsketchfest 2020, what they’ve been doing in the past year, and what to expect from their 2021 TOsketchfest digital appearance.

Rachel Strauss-Muniz and her troupe Room 28 came to Toronto to rock TOsketchfest 2020, and made it back to New York City just in time. We asked Rachel what she remembers from that whirlwind trip, and what she’s been up to since.

Q: Can you share a memory from the 2020 festival?

A: Room 28 and I road tripped it to Toronto from NYC for the 2020 festival. Unbeknownst to us, the global pandemic was on the horizon. In hindsight, I could not have been with a better group of people, visiting a more comedy-ridden and welcoming city. Toronto received us with open arms, then supported our very NYC-centric talent for a two-night affair, and then spit us out, like the flat bottom of a delicious beer.

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Rachel Strauss-Muniz performed at TOsketchfest 2020 with her troupe Room 28, returning home to NYC just days before the border closed.

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Q: What do you remember about those final days of the festival, as the reality of the pandemic was really sinking in?

A: Being a mother of two young boys back in NYC, I guess my initial thoughts were, “Sh*t, if we’re going to be stuck in Toronto for the pandemic, somebody get a list of the closest dispensaries, and find out where Drake hangs out, STAT.” All jokes aside, I was thankful…thankful to have had (potentially) my last on-stage sketch comedy hurrah on international soil and with my multicultural and amazing Room 28 family.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://www.torontosketchfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/3-3.png” alt=”Rachel sits on the green room table back stage at Comedy bar, laughing. Her cast-mate is beside her and they are surrounded by comedy costumes and props.” title_text=”3″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.9.1″ _module_preset=”default” width=”70%”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.9.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”12px” custom_padding=”|75px||75px|false|false”]

Rachel and Room 28 cast mate McKenna Cox goof around in the Comedy Bar green room! Remember that green room? It was a mess!

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Q: What do you miss most about performing, festivals, the community?

A: I cannot wait to connect with live audience members. I recently performed at a virtual event hosted by one of the big social media platforms, and making a bunch of avatars and folks on mute laugh is as easy as convincing my Dad that a 9th tattoo on my body is a good idea.

Q: What have you been up to during the pandemic? Creatively or otherwise.

A: I’ve been honoured to be able to still furnish comedic content, albeit no longer on a stage, such as a ten episode series of short for content now on Rizzle TV, alongside The HERlarious Show- an all-female variety show I produce. Earlier this year, Room 28 and I worked on branded content spots and a web series for organizations like SOMOS and the US Census Bureau. I’ve been able to work on some personal projects of mine, including a one-woman show about my “bumpy” journey to motherhood. And of course, my weekly podcast, Latinos Out Loud, which was just acquired by The Sonoro Media network, is thriving and continues to move Latinos forward while making them laugh :)

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Rachel has been performing and recording regularly during the pandemic. Check out her pod “Latinos Out Loud” on the Sonoro Podcast network.

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Q: What can we expect from your 2021 digital appearance?

A: I’m still learning how to work this post-pandemic pivot (sounds like a dance trend), so bear with me! However, I am set on continuing to cultivate my gift(s) and build with my peers. I hope that my tombstone one day reads “She broke the internet with her funny”.

Rachel “La Loca” Strauss-Muniz is a host of the multiple award-winning Latinos Out Loud podcast, now on the Sonoro Podcast network. Rachel is an actor, producer, comedienne, podcaster VO artist and writer. Streaming now on Peacock TV, you can catch Rachel alongside Room 28, the multicultural sketch comedy troupe she acts and produces for, on NBC’s “Bring the F unny”. Room 28 has performed at The Toronto Sketch Fest, New York Comedy Festival and serve as content creators for Broadway Videos’ “Más Mejor” comedy hub powered by Lorne Michaels. She is currently signed on for 8-episodes as the voice of a LatinX mom on the animated series, “The Tuttle Twins” now in production.

Like and follow Rachel:

IG: @RachelLaLoca

FB @RachelLaLocaComedy

Twitter: @RachelLaLoca

Clubhouse: @RachelLaLoca

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelstraussmuniz/

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Sketchfest Throwback: Ajahnis Charley

Posted on: March 10th, 2021 by julianne No Comments

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Productive Pandemic…

This week, we’re flooded with memories of last year’s festival. At the same time, we are planning TOsketchfest 2021: The Screen Time Edition, an entirely online festival running March 24-28.

Ajahnis Charley delivered a stand-out show, THOTS AND PRAYERS, at the 2020 festival, earning the Steam Whistle Brewing Producers’ Pick Award. We asked Ajahnis to reflect on 2020 and talk about staying productive in the pandy.

Q: Can you share a memory from the 2020 festival?

A: My favourite memory of the 2020 festival, besides watching troupes like Tita Collective and Tom Hearn smash onstage, was going to the Sketch Train performer party and staying out way too late. I think it was the last post-show hang I had before the world ended and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://www.torontosketchfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Ajahnis-Charley.png” alt=”Ajahnis performing on stage, wearing white clothing under a purple windbreaker jacket, a brown wig and glasses, hands up as if shrugging.” title_text=”Ajahnis Charley” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.9.1″ _module_preset=”default” width=”70%”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.1″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”12px” custom_padding=”|75px||75px|false|false”]

Ajahnis performed THOTS AND PRAYERS in the 2020 festival, proving to everyone that basketball IS the gayest sport.

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Q: What do you remember about those final days of the festival, as the reality of the pandemic was really sinking in?

A: I performed THOTS on two different weekends, one before all the pandy paranoia and one after. That second show definitely did have a darker energy, but everyone went hard like always and it truly was a joy to perform.

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Ajahnis’ “red carpet” look at the TOsketchfest Best of the Fest Show, accepting the Producers’ Pick Award…sponsored by, you guessed it, Steam Whistle.

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Q: What do you miss most about performing, festivals, the community?

A: I really miss the laughs, emojis aren’t entirely the same, but I really appreciate the digital work ethic I’ve come up with, and other people have done some impressive Corona-comedy. I’m interested in seeing where digital media can go!

Q: What have you been up to during the pandemic? Creatively or otherwise.

A: Figuring out what to do with my life! I graduated university during the pandemic, so now I have a degree in Geomatics. I still don’t really know what it is, but it’s not as fun as making up silly skits and songs. That’s my main profession right now. Oh, I guess I co-created and co-produced Canada’s first all-Black sketch ensemble. That’s something.

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In addition to performing lots of digital content and working with the Untitled Black Sketch Project, Ajahnis directed a documentary for the NFB called “I’m Gay”.

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Q: What can we expect from your 2021 digital appearance?

A: Did I mention silly songs yet?

Ajahnis Charley is a comedy writer and performer delivering daring works that only a young debt-ridden gay could do. He wrote and directed the short documentary I AM GAY, produced by the National Film Board of Canada. He writes for satire site The Beaverton, CBC news comedy show Because News, and the CBC podcast Tony Ho. He also is an alum of Canadian Comedy Award-winning sketch troupe The Sketchersons. He has written and performed his own solo sketch show THOTS & PRAYERS and won the Producer’s Pick award at the 2020 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival. In 2020 he was a recipient of the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre Queer Emerging Artist Award.

Like and follow Ajahnis:

Instagram: @ajahnischarley

Twitter: @ajahnischarley

Website: www.ajahnischarley.com

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#SketchfestThrowback: Laura Ramoso

Posted on: March 8th, 2021 by julianne

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Going out on a high…

This week, we’re flooded with memories of last year’s festival. At the same time, we are planning TOsketchfest 2021: The Screen Time Edition, an entirely online festival running March 24-28.

Solo performer Laura Ramoso triumphed at last year’s festival with her Best of the Fest winning show. We asked her about that experience and what she’s been up to since.

Q: Can you share a memory from the 2020 festival?

A: During my solo sketch show diane on opening night of the festival, my biggest fear came true. Something happened with the tech board and the sound stopped working in the middle of my performance. The sketch? Oh, just a fully mimed piece that relies solely on its accompanying sound. This had always been a worry of mine and I long debated whether to bring in the sketch or not, but it was also my favourite piece to do, and I felt it really showcased who I am as a performer. So, when the sound stopped working, I think my heart went with it. There was no covering it up or improvising my way out of it, and there was also no scene partner to lean on. I had to call it out in the moment to make sure the audience knew they didn’t have to feel sorry for me, and it ended up being an incredible moment of connection with the crowd. It really was a lesson in honesty and “failure”, because the audience was right there with me through it all. I consider it to be one of the best nights of my career. Who knew?

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Laura takes a traditional mirror selfie in the Theatre Centre dressing room before taking to the stage in her solo show “diane”

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Q: What do you remember about those final days of the festival, as the reality of the pandemic was really sinking in?

A: The festival really was the last “big live thing” that happened in the comedy scene. I remember my final show was on the same day Ontario announced we would be going into lockdown for the first time. The audience was newly socially distanced and we were told not to interact physically with them. You could feel a collective nervousness and uncertainty in the air. Social distancing and hand sanitizer stations are almost second nature to us now, but at the time it was all very new and strange. To be frank, it’s a bit of a blur, but I am very happy that the last live performance I did was at such an amazing festival.

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Laura won the Best of the Fest Award at the 2020 TOsketchfest for her solo show, diane.

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Q: What do you miss most about performing, festivals, the community?

A: There really is no replacement for live performance and the comedy community that surrounds it. I miss…everything. Can I say that? I miss warming up before shows, feeling a live audience right there with you, joking backstage with your friends, drinking and debriefing at the bar afterwards, ending up at McDonald’s at 3am…then somehow you’re at the Christie Pits benches laughing so hard you can’t breathe. The on-stage performance aspect of it represents probably 20% of the evening – there’s so much that goes on around it that shaped our collective experiences. When you’re having one of those “remember when” conversations, most of the time you’re talking about what happened on the way to a show as opposed to the show itself. Some of my happiest memories are the evenings I’ve shared with members of the comedy community in this city. When that is suddenly taken away, it becomes apparent that those moments and those people shaped a major part of your identity.

Q: What have you been up to during the pandemic? Creatively or otherwise.

A: I’ve been kind of reeling with the loss of live performance and the community at large, so I have been spending time with my family and focusing on personal development. At first, I thought this might be a good opportunity to write another show, or really dive deep into some different creative pursuits. However, it has been really hard to find inspiration without living in the normal world. I’ve decided to press pause on the creative stuff for now and spend time baking cookies, walking around the block, pretending to read books, stuff like that.

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Creating sketch comedy video content at home. Laura adapted some of her live material to video for the Best of the Fest show and the 2021 TOsketchfest Screen Time Edition

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Q: What can we expect from your 2021 digital appearance?

A: Oh God. Um. Inconsistency, probably. Keep your expectations low and you’ll never be disappointed. I realized throughout this pandemic that I am very much not a “digital content creator.” It’s just not what brings me joy and satisfaction. I dabbled in short-form character content for TikTok and Instagram for a bit, and while it can be fun, the whole social media “likes/views/followers” side of it really turns me off. I think these online platforms can be massively useful for anyone looking to make a living in the arts, but the negative effects they had on my mental health were too much to ignore. I got caught up in what I “should” be doing, and that pressure felt really bad. You probably won’t see much of me until we’re able to go back to live shows, and I think that’s okay.

Laura, originally from Italy and Germany, is a sketch and improv comedian based in Toronto. She is best known for her physical comedy, character work, and award-winning solo sketch show, ‘diane’. In March 2020, ‘diane’ became the first solo-show ever to win the Best of the Fest Award in the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival’s 15-year history. She can’t wait to perform live again!

Like and follow Laura:

Instagram: @lau_ramoso

Twitter: @lauraramoso

Facebook: Laura Ramoso

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#SketchfestThrowback: Tom Hearn

Posted on: March 7th, 2021 by julianne No Comments

What have you been up to in the pandy?

This week, we’re flooded with memories of last year’s festival. At the same time, we are planning TOsketchfest 2021: The Screen Time Edition, an entirely online festival running March 24-28 (Tickets and lineup will be revealed soon!)

We checked in with Tom Hearn, a prolific comedian who performed in one of the very last public shows at TOsketchfest 2020, and who will (spoiler alert) be a featured creator in our 2021 Screen Time Edition festival.

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Q: Can you share a memory from the 2020 festival?

A: My favourite memory was directing Ajahnis Charley’s award-winning show Thots and Prayers. I finally got to see their second performance. It was such an exhilarating feeling to sit back and watch Ajahnis wipe away everyone’s pre-pandy fears for 30 minutes.

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Tom Hearn’s raucous solo set, performed at Comedy Bar, was among the very last shows at TOsketchfest 2020.

Q: What do you remember about those final days of the festival, as the reality of the pandemic was sinking in?

A: My final show was on March 14th and it was one of the last of the festival. It was such a strange feeling at Comedy Bar. A place I consider a home felt surreal. During the show I had to hold back from going to dance in the aisle as Doug Ford. I said something as dumb as Doug as I closed the show: “See you in 2 weeks!” LOL!

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Q: What have you been up to in the last year, creatively or otherwise?

A: I’ve been laying in my bed. Walking my dog. Crying. Hosting shows and doing skittys. But I’ve really fallen in love with painting my face. It brings me calming energy to stare at something so beautiful for HOURS.

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When he’s not painting his face for hours, Tom (Hunni Krüller) teaches a unique “Comedy for Drag Artists” class online through Improv College.

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Q: What do you miss most about performing, festivals, and/or the community?

A: I miss the laughter. I miss being together to watch a really good show. I miss being inspired by people’s AMAZING shows and comedy.

Q: What can we expect from your appearance in 2021 TOsketchfest: The Screen Time Edition?

A: We’ve been locked up for a year. To What End? It’s kinda become my phrase during the Pandy. We are in a GLOBAL PANDEMIC… TO WHAT END? I’m doing a solo comedy special filmed from my home!! It’s called – you got it – TO WHAT END. And there’s no COVID content.

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Tom has been prolific in the pandemic, producing character pieces, sketches, and performing in online shows.

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Tom Hearn is a Canadian Comedy Award winning sketch comedian, improvisor and producer. PRE-PANDY, he was touring his 5-star reviewed solo show “SLANG.” During the PANDY, Tom has carved out a space for himself online, creating sketches and content for his YouTube page and hosting/playing in shows like Theatresports, The Oval and Hookup on Bad Dog Comedy TV.

Like and follow Tom:

Youtube: www.youtube.com/tomhearn

Instagram: @isthattomhearn

Twitter: @tomhearn

Web: www.isthattomhearn.com

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#SketchfestThrowback: Paul Snepsts

Posted on: March 6th, 2021 by julianne No Comments

A year ago this week…

Our minds and hearts and social feeds are full of memories of last year’s festival, at the same time we are planning this year’s festival: The Screen Time Edition, an entirely online TOsketchfest. (Announcement coming soon!)

If it weren’t for COVID, this week we’d be laughing together in a dark room somewhere in downtown Toronto. Instead, we’ll celebrate the stories of our TOsketchfest community in our #SketchfestThrowback series. We’ll ask what they remember from TOsketchfest 2020, what they’ve been doing in the past year, and what to expect from their 2021 TOsketchfest digital appearance.

First up, we’ll chat with Paul Snepsts, the Festival’s Executive Director and Producer. As the Festival’s co-Founder, he’s been with TOsketchfest in the good times, bad times, the before times and pandemic times.

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Q: Can you share a memory from the 2020 festival?

A: My favourite memory from the 2020 festival is a tossup between watching Carson and Taylor Promise to do a Bunch of Flips with my 9 year-old son, and hanging out during the last Sketch Train performer party. There was a real sense that night that this would be the last thing we do together for a while… a long while.

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Paul in the final days of TOsketchfest 2020. About to enter the Sketch Train performer party and looking quite fed up with the pandemic… already. It was only March 14th.

Q: What do you remember about those final days of the festival, as the reality of the pandemic was sinking in?

A: For the producing team, that back week of the Festival was immensely stressful. Daytimes we’d “ready room” the Theatre Centre Gallery space: struggling with the ethics of proceeding with shows or not; grappling with insurance; sitting on hold for hours with Toronto Public Health; scouring the city for rubbing alcohol and wipes; spacing out our theatre seating; and contemplating what might be financial ruin and the end of TOsketchfest. Then take refuge with the team at Death & Taxes before regrouping for a night of shows (sleep, wake, repeat).

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Q: What have you been up to in the last year, creatively or otherwise?

A: I’ve been working on ways to keep comedy happening – between joining the Board of CASC to advocate for comedy creators with funders and government, producing the 2020 TOsketchfest Award Show, bringing Comedy on the River to The County, and of course working on our “Screen Time” Edition of TOsketchfest I’ve kept busy. Creative highlights for me were doing a few duo-prov gigs with my fav dance partner, my lovely wife Julianne, and some online improv with my troupe, broadcast from my kids’ play room surrounded by their toys.

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Comedians worldwide can identify with the challenge of finding the best Zoom performance stage at home. For Paul, it’s in the basement among the kids’ toys.

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Q: What do you miss most about performing, festivals, and/or the community?

A: I miss our comedy PEOPLE – fans, volunteers, staff and artists. I miss laughing with you, reuniting with you, sharing drinks and chats with you. Most of all I miss all the HUGS!

Q: What can we expect from the 2021 TOsketchfest: The Screen Time Edition?

A: I’m very excited to share with the TOsketchfest audience all the good work our comedy creators have been making this year. It won’t be the same as being together, but the “Screen Time” edition of TOsketchfest will be the next best thing. Cool packages to bring the flavours of the festival home, late-night social gatherings to interact with one another, in-show chats for our audiences, all the amazing panels and workshops… and of course, so many familiar faces, and lots of laughs. You will love what our Producers Ivan, Damien and the rest of our team have built for you comedy nerds.

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Busy days right now getting all of the tech set up for a fully digital TOsketchfest 2021. Good thing Paul has two screens and a can-do attitude!

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Paul Snepsts is the Executive Director and Festival Producer at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival. He performs comedy with Taste That! and Silver + Gold in Prince Edward County. He is the host of “The Sneptic Tank” on 99.3 County FM, and teaches improv for radio in the Broadcast Radio program at Loyalist College.

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