BOOKS & LIT | WordSpell Spoken Word Showcase
The folks at WordSpell Collective and Cytopoetics present this special showcase tonight featuring some of TO's most promising and established female poets and spoken word artists. The Wordspell Collective is a new organization that just came together last year, and is hosting events like this on the first Wednesday of the month, six months of the year. Tonight, Lillian Allen will be a featured performer, and she is very well-known in these parts, having a long history as a dub poet, performer, playwright, Juno Award winner, and professor. Emilee Nimetz, an emerging performer, is also part of tonight's lineup, and together they will both be sure to give 2013 a strong start for WordSpell.
Free Times Cafe (320 College Street) Doors open at 7:30PM $6

COMEDY | John Hastings Headlining Yuk Yuks Toronto
Comedian John Hastings begins a short run of shows at Yuk Yuk's this evening. Singled out by The Canadian Comedy Network as one of five "comedians to watch," Hastings has made quite a splash in the last few years, from winning Best Newcomer Award at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal in 2010, to making it to the finals in the 2011 San Francisco International Comedy Festival, and this guy is just getting started. Come and find out what the buzz is about! Hastings will be at Yuk Yuk's until January 6th.
Yuk Yuks Toronto (224 Richmond Street West) 8PM $13-22

THEATRE | Memorial by Steven Gallagher
Steven Gallagher's Memorial opens tonight at The Factory Theatre as part of the Next Stage Festival. D Jeremy Smith directs this forward thinking story of a new relationship that intersects with a family situation. A solid cast supports this work, and brings it to live for your viewing pleasure. Memorial runs until January 13th.
Factory Theatre (125 Bathurst Street) 9PM $15

VARIETY | Reveal Me at the Rivoli - JANUARY!
Burlesque madness returns to The Rivoli tonight as Reveal Me delivers its monthly provocative showcase and party, loaded with entertainment, food and drink. Tonight will feature NYC's Calamity Chang, Lucky Minx, and Hamilton's Mz Kitty Demure, as well as first time performer at Reveal Me, Natalie Presty. If you are interested in joining the fun onstage, be sure to get in touch with the organizers (follow the event link for more info), as they are always on the lookout for fresh blood, so to speak.
The Rivoli (334 Queen Street West) 8PM $10

OTHER EVENTS ON OUR RADAR

Wednesday Comedy Night
TOP STAR debuts at THE FLYING BEAVER PUBARET
Nouveau Duo at the Festival of New Formats

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Photo courtesy of John Hastings