The 9th Annual Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival returns March 6-16. The festival highlights the best live, scripted comedy in North America. This year is no exemption with a diverse lineup of comedy troupes from around Canada, and abroad.
For those who are not familiar with sketch comedy, in general, it is basically a funny performance that is written, rehearsed and performed by a cast of comedians. If you’ve seen Saturday Night Live, or SCTV, or Kids in the Hall, then you’re familiar with it already. It is different from stand-up or improv. But it’s just as funny!
The 10-day festival offers an array of shows and performances. To make things a little simpler for you, I’ve chosen 5 events that would appeal to some of you.
Thursday, March 5th – 8:30pm
Best Nerdy Sketches
Cabaret Series, Comedy Bar
From its description alone, this is going to make my inner nerd laugh. It will contain “weird science, awkward silence, comic book references and alternate endings to Battlestar Galactica.” You’ve been warned.
Tuesday, March 11th – 8pm
The Kids In The Hall: Brain Candy Live
The Queen Elizabeth Theatre
If you’re a fan of The Kids in the Hall, this is a not-to-be-missed night. All five members will grace the stage for a live reading of their 1996 cult film, Brain Candy. Musical accompaniment will be performed by the movie’s original film score composer Craig Northey (The Odds), and his all star band featuring Chris Murphy and Gregory MacDonald (Sloan). This is a one-night-only engagement.
Wednesday, March 12th – 8pm
Sirius XM Sketch Off
Comedy Bar
Come see 12 of Toronto’s best sketch comedy performers present radio sketches for a chance to win $500 in cold, hard cash, plus a live-album recorded by SiriusXM.
Some of the troupes in the lineup include Tony Ho, Parker and Seville, Rocket Scientists, and more! The winner will be determined by the audience this same night.
Thursday, March 13th – 8pm
Two Weird Ladies, Kaboom Hooray, Rulers of the Universe
Comedy Bar
From neurotic humour to dumb enough to being funny to hearing as many jokes as you can in one minute, three troupes in one night seems… well, definitely do-able.
Friday, March 14th – 6:30 pm
