A laughing matter: comedy fest nurtures budding comics

While the comedy world reels from the cancellation of Montreal’s Just for Laughs festival, Winnipeg’s annual contribution to the bottom line of punchlines remains steadfast, ready to deliver six days of laughter from today to Sunday.

“What makes Winnipeg Comedy Festival special is that we elevate emerging and established Canadian talent,” says Dean Jenkinson, the festival’s artistic director.

“We don’t bring in big celebrities or millionaire Hollywood stars. Instead, we find those comedians that are crushing rooms of 100 or 200 people, and sometimes as low as 20 people, and give them their first television opportunity or in some cases multiple television opportunities.”

This year’s Winnipeg’s Comedy Festival is the 23rd, with a theme — All That Glitters is 24K Comedy Gold — that reflects both the festival’s longevity and the stellar talent it presents.

The 2024 lineup includes a diverse range of comedic voices, carefully curated by Jenkinson and his team. From established names like Second City Toronto alum Lauren Ash (NBC’s Superstore and ABC’s Not Dead Yet) to emerging stars such as Winnipeg-based comedian Emmanuel Lomuro, the festival aims to showcase the best of Canadian comedy.

“We viewed over 400 submissions from comedians all across Canada,” Jenkinson says. “We’re excited to welcome newcomers like Dan Duvall, whose set on our Your Next Act show promises to be a highlight.”

Among the festival’s shining stars is Kathleen McGee, a standup comedian renowned for her unapologetic humour and razor-sharp wit.

With nearly two decades in standup, Edmonton’s McGee has established herself as a comedic powerhouse, earning acclaim for her hilarious, bawdy performances. From her debut album, Deliciously Vulgar, produced by Grammy winner Dan Schlissel (Lewis Black’s The Carnegie Hall Performance), to her appearances at prestigious events such as Just for Laughs, and a 2019 Canadian Comedy Award nomination, McGee’s talent knows no limits.

However, behind the laughter lies a journey marked by challenges and triumphs. McGee, who began her comedy career at 24, after a bad breakup, initially grappled with doubts and insecurities.

“I remember I wanted to try it (comedy) when I was 18, but I had somebody at the time be like, ‘That’s crazy. Why would you do it?’ Then I was like, ‘That is crazy,’” says McGee, now 43.

“But then one day I finally just did it. If you are meant to be a comedian, you will fall in love with it and you’ll just spend most of your time doing it, so just do it and don’t listen to the people who say you can’t.”

Throughout her career, McGee has boldly confronted taboo subjects, resonating deeply with audiences, but her recent battle with Stage 4 cancer truly highlights her resilience and strength.

Despite facing a daunting diagnosis, McGee continues to take to the stage, using humour as a powerful tool for healing and self-expression.

“Since my diagnosis, I’ve been doing a lot of cancer jokes and they’ve been getting a pretty good response from most people,” she says.

“It’s a hard subject to talk about and joke about and there’s so many people that are dealing with it. I really want to be able to talk about it more and find the funny in the dark. That’s what I always try to do.”

As part of the festival lineup, McGee will be the subject of a special show on Saturday at the Gas Station Arts Centre at 9:30 p.m.: The Roast of Kathleen McGee, where she’ll be lovingly raked over the coals by friends and fellow comedians who know her best.

“I’m really excited about the roast; I can’t wait to see what they come up with,” she says.

Jenkinson says the roast is an opportunity to honour and celebrate McGee. “We’re all close friends of Kathleen’s, so we want to show her love, as we said, the only way comedians know how — with very tasteless jokes.”

McGee also performs at three other shows in the festival.

Shauna Fay, better known by her dazzling drag persona, Skirt Browning, joins the festival lineup as the host of the Drag Brunch on Sunday at noon at the GSAC, promising a blend of laughter and glamour. Fay says attendees can anticipate an unforgettable outdoor experience, featuring standup intertwined with lip-synch performances.

“I’m currently the only comedy queen in the city, so while other drag brunches focus on performances and lip-synchs, ours adds a special twist with a set of comedy. It’s an added bonus that sets us apart,” says the former winner of Next Up: Manitoba, a platform that showcases the province’s brightest amateur comedic talent.

“I actually started with comedy before transitioning to drag. Skirt Browning emerged as a way to combine my love for both, and I began writing my own jokes to add humour into my performances,” she says. “I think there’s a deep connection between drag and comedy.”

Skirt Browning pays homage to an iconic figure in Canadian figure skating, Kurt Browning, whom she met in 2019. Fay says the four-time World Champion has long been one of her life inspirations.

“My biggest career goal right now is to skate with Kurt Browning someday. It’s a dream I’m putting out into the universe.”

Joining Fay at the brunch are drag queens Ruby Chopstix, who was recently inaugurated as Rainbow Resource Centre’s first Drag Artist in Residence, and Kymera, who was crowned Entertainer of the Year 24.

In addition to the Drag Brunch, the Winnipeg Comedy Festival offers a diverse lineup of shows. From the televised Mega Shows — featuring such hosts as Kim’s Convenience star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, rapper Maestro Fresh Wes and the creator/star of CBC sitcom One More Time, D.J. Demers — to free programming on the patio at the Festival Hub at the Gas Station Arts Centre, there’s something for everyone. Inside the Gas Station — for which the festival acts as a major source of income — catch such shows as Laughing With the stars, a packed lineup of pros and amateurs, and the new one-man theatrical production The War Comic, in which Wawa, Ont.-born Pete Zedlacher explores his time entertaining the Canadian Armed Forces overseas.

Jenkinson says with such a rich lineup, Winnipeggers can expect an exceptional festival experience celebrating the best in comedy from across Canada.

tvera@Academic.rrc.ca