That time of year is here again folks! Time to bring your fave quotes and ideas from the Star Wars universe and we will put them into use in this action packed all Star Wars themed show. Twisted tunes will be back but you’ll have to be there to see what we twist next with the force It is your destiny.

Featuring at the Atomic Rooster.

One night, two shows, and a cast and a half.

Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps is now playing at the Gladstone Theatre, and as a special treat, Friday night is a double bill!

At 11pm at the Gladstone, following the play, Crush Improv featuring The 39 Steps‘ Richard Hannay (played by AL Connors) will be performing an encore performance of their hit 2011 Ottawa Fringe Festival show Spotlight On…

Spotlight On… is an improv show where the performers improvise scenes inspired by the true-life anecdotes of a guest monologist, and Friday night’s stories will be coming from none-other than the Director of The 39 Steps: Mr. John P. Kelly!

If that wasn’t reason enough to visit the theatre at 11pm Friday, the cast of Crush (2001 ‘Best Ensemble‘ winners: AL Connors, Brad MacNeil and Cari Leslie) will be joined by Uncalled For improv’s Dan Jeannotte and Sex T-Rex‘s Robin Toller and MORE!

If you’re planning on watching The 39 Steps this Friday or have already done so, bring your show program or ticket along and receive HALF OFF the already low price of TEN DOLLARS!

The Gladstone
Friday September 9th, 11pm (ending around midnight)
$10 at the door (cash please) or $8 in advance
http://crushimprov.com for tickets

Here’s a clip from Monday’s Crush show at the Elmdale Tavern to whet your whistle.
http://youtu.be/9Rxl5f9X02g 

The Neighbourhood, the only undefeated team in ‘Bout Time! history retires! Ottawa superstar Cari Leslie is moving overseas so this will be her last show with the ‘Bout Time juggernaught.

Who will take on the unstoppable force that is
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
(Tim Anderson, Ken Godmere, Cari Leslie)

vs.

CRUSH IMPROV
(AL Connors, Brad MacNeil, Cari Leslie)

That’s right, to celebrate Cari’s time in Ottawa, she’ll play both sides of the fence, both defending her team’s title and playing with the award winner challengers.

It will be amazing. Come early. It’ll be packed.

Monday, September 5 · 8:00pm – 11:00pm
The Elmdale House Tavern
1084 Wellington Street West
Ottawa, ON

$5 (suggested donation)

The troupe of 8 professional actors and fighters—who don’t actually fight—have been working in the film, television and theater industries for decades and have experienced all the highs and lows of working in Ottawa; “Acting projects come and go in Ottawa”, says Stephanie Halin, producer, “so we decided to try and create a comedic presence that would represent our beautiful city in the way that people think of SNL in New York, or of Second City in Toronto and Chicago.” Halin, and co-creator Sarah Argue, feel that a recurring show that presents some of Ottawa’s funniest performers and comedians can also become one more economic benefit to the region.

Most people are used to seeing comedy performed on television, or have headed out to a comedy club to watch stand up. The Ottawa Sketch format mixes live sketch comedy with video, for a unique entertainment experience that leaves you wanting more. The sketches include impersonations, parodies, character based comedy pieces and skethes with puppets.

“If our last show is any indication, people are hungry for comedy and are ready to support more than just stand up. Watching sketch comedy, when it’s professionally produced, is like sitting in on a taping of Saturday Night Live in New York city—only you’re right here in Ottawa!”

Ottawa Sketch presents their next “LIVE SHOW” at the Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank Street, on June 7th and 8th at 7pm, and June 9th at 9:30pm. The June 9th show includes a special screening of LOCKER LIVES, Ottawa Sketch’s new Web series that is due to launch the following night. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $20 or online for $15 through our blog.

If you are over 18 and love to laugh—“Ottawa Sketch’s THE LIVE SHOW” is waiting for you!

For more information visit: ottawasketchcomedy.blogspot.com

Contact:
Rachelle Casseus
rachellecasseus@hotmail.com or
ottawasketch@gmail.com

Torontoʼs NOW magazine called her “the best comic to see after a messy break-up.” In the fall
of 2009, Debraʼs first special aired on Comedy Central, “Live at Gotham” taped in New York
Cityʼs prestigious Gotham comedy club.

Debra will be performing at Centrepointe Theatre (101 Centrepointe Dr.) on November 25th at
7:30 PM.

Tickets to Front + Centre performances are available at the NEW
www.frontandcentreottawa.ca website or by calling 613-580-2700 (Toll-free 1
866-752-5231).

About Front + Centre:
Every year Front + Centre, presents a busy and eclectic schedule of local, national and
international performances at Centrepointe Theatre and Shenkman Arts Centre stages offering
audiences of all ages a variety of musical, theatrical, and comedic talent. Promising dozens of
stellar shows this season, there is no better time to join the Front + Centre program for
guaranteed Best Seats! Best Shows! Best Prices! Best Perks!

 A Front + Centre membership costs only $40 per year and in addition to advanced notice and
purchasing opportunities for the first and best selection of seats, members also receive up to
20% discount on performance tickets and the opportunity to buy up to 8 seats at the discount
price for each event.

Front + Centre Members also receive complimentary coat check , free
non-alcoholic beverages at Front +Centre shows, invitations to exclusive members-only events
and monthly e-news letters for advance notice and purchasing of added shows.

The Ottawa Zombie Walk is an annual event held in October to celebrate the love of halloween and the undead. Participants of all ages dressed in elaborate and unique zombie costumes gather to lurch through the streets of Ottawa in search of delicious and fulfilling braiiinnns. The walk begins outside Beechwood Cemetery (the walk does not condone any tresspassing into the cemetery and asks that it’s participants respect the visitors who are grieving) and makes its way to Parliament Hill. This year we will gather at Beechwood Cemetery between 2:00pm-2:20pm and then follow the designated route (see below) which includes a detour through the Rideau Centre mall-a favourite location for zombies and survivors alike.

Following the walk there will be an afterparty for participants and the general public held at Zaphod Beeblebrox at 27 York St. Doors open at 5pm. There will be a standup comedy set with local performers, costume contest with three prize packs donated by zombieinfo.com. There will also be local DJ’s playing icluding DJ Lowpass and DJ Boogiehowser. Cover is $2 before 11pm and all proceeds will go towards next years party and advertising.

To keep up to date with the annual happenings you can become a fan on Facebook (Ottawa Zombie Walk), attend the events page (Ottawa Zombie Walk 2010), follow us on Twitter (@zombiewalk613) and hopefully soon on our very own webpage! All inquiries can be made to zombiewalk613@gmail.com.

The official route for the Zombie Walk this year can be found here.

The Lymphoma Foundation of Canada

Daniel Stolfi, a lymphoma survivor, has put together a 1 ½ hour one man comedy show that uses larger than life characters to vividly portray Daniel’s experience. This hilarious show is followed by an after party that includes desserts, beverages, door prizes and a silent auction.

Tickets are $40each or 2 for $35each, Doors open at 7:00pm, Show starts at 8:00pm.

Contact: Angele Menard  Regional Manager  (613) 614-8469

emailto: angele@lymphoma.ca
or visit: www.lymphoma.ca

Matt Stewart and Peter Nielson were persuaded by their friend Sarah Bruckschwaiger, to bring to the stage what comes naturally to them – every. waking. second. of the day. : Being Funny. And yes, that’s me capitalizing “Funny”, because these two guys deserve the uppercase kudos. They compliment each other’s sense of humour so seamlessly, that you would swear, even in an interview, that they had been given the script to perfect beforehand.

I’m not normally one to make comparisons, but imagine if you had been able to morph Billy Crystal with Woody Allen, and pair that guy with a David Hyde Pierce/David Spade being, when they were all 20 years-old, and you will get an inkling, just an inkling,  of what’s in store for you with Men Telling Stories.

Sarah Bruckschwaiger has managed to harness these two, with what I can only imagine was a Herculean effort in direction (they never stop). These two could turn Ebenezer Scrooge into a drooling puddle of pant-peeing, eye-tearing guffaws.

Just go see it.

For more information, and to follow  ”That Dinosaur is Blue Productions”  on Facebook:  go here.

Video: Kevin Burton

That one improviser jumped into a van and travelled East to Edmonton to perform a two-person show with a second improviser.

They together then drove to Calgary to pick up a third improviser, and so on performing shows of increasing size in Regina, Winnipeg and Chicago. 

On May 20th, one week after the tour’s kickoff in Vancouver, the big white van (named Vanna White) arrived in Ottawa, picking up an Ottawa Improviser with Crush Improv, Cari Leslie, and play a show at the sold out Elmdale Tavern. 

Then the Tumbleweed continued eastward.

Video courtesy: Kevin Burton

Comedian Dave McConnell bringing comedy to the patrons of Shanghai Restaurant

It’s Friday night and the streets are busy in Ottawa’s Chinatown. Some 20 patrons sit in a dimly lit room near the corner of Bronson and Somerset, sipping wine and picking at bowls of Kung Pao surrounded by informal Asian-funk décor.

Without notice, Anto Chan – a young, Asian lad with a winning smile and straight black hair – gets up to a microphone set near the back wall. There is no stage and two dim lights bathe the “performance area” in a soft yellow glow.

“Welcome to Shanghai Comedy Night!” he intones to scattered applause and bemused looks from patrons who weren’t aware their meal came with a side of entertainment. Anto tosses out some jokes to loosen up the crowd, then introduces the comics.

A 16-year old newcomer who talks about the wonder of sex (“especially,” he quips, “when it’s with another person”), a professional comic who gets laughs simply by spritzing with the crowd, and a comic who flips through his notebook and fires off jokes, defending bits that fall flat (“That’s a good joke!” he snaps at one point). Local pro Alex Wood, has a sprained ankle, so he performs sitting at his table. He shouts jokes, while waving his walking stick at the patrons. The crowd laughs, groans, hoots and applauds, at the end, a basket is passed around for contributions to the “Get the Comics Drunk Fund”.

Clearly, this is not your father’s comedy club.

In fact, it’s not a comedy club at all. It’s Comedy Night at the Shanghai Restaurant, one of many “side rooms” infiltrating Ottawa’s comedy scene.

Ottawa, contrary to its boring government image, is filled with comedic talent. Norm MacDonald, Jeremy Hotz and Star Search winner Tracey MacDonald all started in the nation’s capital. The launching pad for many comics is the venerable and long running “New Talent Night” at Yuk Yuk’s and Absolute Comedy’s “Pro-Am Night”.

The side rooms are a different animal. The rooms are run by comedians, for comedians who love comedy at a different level. A microphone, a basic sound system and a willing proprietor and you’re set. A stage and lighting are nice, but purely optional. “It’s good to get used to playing any kind of room,” says Chan.

“The audience for side rooms are either there for the show or they’re not there for the show,” says Dave Atkinson, a full-time university student and regular performer. “It makes it harder, but it’s a nice challenge: changing people’s plan for the night. ‘Surprise! You have to listen to comedy now. Bet you weren’t expecting this!’
  

Side rooms provide newer comics with much-needed stage time (the only way to learn comedy). Professionals have hundreds of hours of stage time. In Ottawa, amateurs who rely on spots at established clubs get 6-12 minutes of stage time a month. “Doing new talent night at the clubs is supposed to be a learning experience, says Chan, but it’s really an audition. Mangers and money people are watching. With all that pressure, it’s not the best place to learn.” 

The side rooms are quickly becoming a showcase for Ottawa’s best new talent as well as a forum for the city’s burgeoning “alternative” comedy scene. Local professionals can break away from their tired-and-true material and audiences can see new and established acts in an intimate, informal setting.

Side rooms are edgy, exciting and often exhilarating. And isn’t that what comedy’s supposed to be about?

Ottawa Side Rooms:

Shanghai Comedy Night  
651 Somerset Street W (3 doors East of Bronson)

Broadway’s LOL Mondays 
1615 Orleans Blvd.

Whispers Bar & Restaurant 
249 Richmond Road

Finnigan’s Pub-Unknown Comedy Show  
1074 Joliet Street

or visit ottawacomedyresource.com for everything you ever wanted to know about comedy in Ottawa.