Garden City Comedy Festival Returns
By David DeRocco dave@gobeweekly.com https://twitter.com/?lang=en
An all-female show, two rooftop performances under the stars, and a new night of musical comedy are just a few of the highlights being featured this year at Niagara’s funniest event, the GARDEN CITY COMEDY FESTIVAL.
Founder and performer David Green has once again put together four nights of exceptional talent with a different focus each night to satisfy the comedic tastes of local comedy connoisseurs.
“This is our seventh year for the festival and the fifth annual gala after missing a couple years due to COVID,” said Green, who recently appeared on Canada’s Got Talent. “This year’s gala event is probably the best line-up we’ve ever had for that show.”
Happening May 27th at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines, the Gala grand finale will be hosted by Niagara’s own Joe Pillitteri and will include performances by Mark Little, Evan Carter, Cathy Boyd, Joze Piranian, and headliner Martha Chaves, who describes herself as “the most famous Nicaraguan-Canadian LGBTQ+ standup comedian in the world.” Also new to this year’s festival is Jukebox Jokers, a night of musically themed comedy performance. Hosted by My Son The Hurricane’s MC Jacob Bergsma, Jukebox Jokers includes headliner Badunkabunk along with Niagara’s Levi Mann, Rebecca Hardy and Joel Van Vliet delivering musical comedy incorporating various instruments, songs, and more.
“It’s the first time we’ve done something like this,” said Green. “We always try to do something new each comedy fest.”
May 25th, Green will be hosting Comedy All-Stars Under the Stars, another unique showcase of top local talent on the rooftop patio at Niagara Artists Centre. An all-female night of comedy rounds out the schedule Friday May 26th. Host Brie Watson will MC the fundraiser for Birchway Niagara featuring headliner Crystal Ferrier along with Amy Sloan, AlicJa Mencel, and Allie Moore.
According to Green, the growth of the festival continues to have an impact on the proliferation of venues hosting comedy and the number of home-grown comics emerging from Niagara.
“I’d like to think we’ve had an impact on promoting comedy in the region. Since we’ve been doing the comedy festival each spring, there have been shows popping up all over the region each year which is exciting. Last year for example Tim Meadows and John Cleese were in town at the same week. This week we have Harland Williams down at Showtime. The fact all this world class comedy is coming to Niagara all at the same time is beautiful to see. It keeps growing. The more comedy the better.”
For more information on this year’s festival visit gardencitycomedyfestival.com
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