Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival 2009 Preview
The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival will feature Hot Thespian Action, Statutory Jape and other witty double entendres in this, its fifth annual celebration of sketch comedy.
The LOLs start Tuesday night at 9 p.m. with a big show and party at Theatre Passe Muraille. Over six nights and with 48 troupes from all over North America -- including five Canadian provinces -- it's hard to know just where to start. If last year's festival is any indication, you're in for a great variety of shows.
I've chosen some personal picks from the SketchFest this year that will likely make you ROTFL....
The line-up for SketchFest 2009 includes hilarious troupe names such as Deadpan Powerpoint, The Lusty Mannequins (both from Toronto) and the aforementioned Hot Thespian Action (from Winnipeg).
Some of the troupes I especially look forward to seeing include Toronto's own Falcon Powder and Smells Like the '80s. And then there's Frankenmatt (pictured in photo), a comedy duo made from Los Angeles, comprised of Second City Chicago Alumni Matt Craig and Frank Caeti, who also starred in MADtv.
Other locals sure to please are Approximately 3 Peters and The Boom.
Mike Clattenburg, the creator of Trailer Park Boys, is going to be a celebrity judge for "Some Conditions Apply: A Night of Commercial Parodies" on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m at The Comedy Bar.
And I just heard that Ben Mulroney is confirmed for the Sunday Night Live! show (featuring five-year SketchFest veterans, The Sketchersons) on Nov. 15 at The Comedy Bar.
To keep up with SketchFest updates this year, you can also follow them on Facebook or Twitter.
Tickets to all events are just $12, with a four-show SketchFest passes ($36... it's like getting a show for free) and full festival SketchFest passes available for $50, with limited quantities available at Theatre Passe Muraille and Comedy Bar or online.
