Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL REVEALS A ROSTER OF NEW ARTISTS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMMING ADDED TO THEIR 41ST EDITION
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL LINEUP WAS DONE…
Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL
REVEALS A ROSTER OF NEW ARTISTS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMMING ADDED TO THEIR 41ST EDITION
The prestigious JFL Awards Show will honour
Actor, Rainn Wilson
who will be in attendance to accept the Comedy Impact Award and will give a Keynote Address not to miss!
Joining the Awards festivities, presenters include
Neal Brennan, Carolyn Taylor, Ramy Youssef, Rachid Badouri And hosted by the master of Award Shows, Comedian, James Davis
Back by popular demand, the one-of-a-kind crowd work series,
SURROUNDED
With comedic heavyweight headliners,
Mae Martin, Marlon Wayans, Jess Hilarious, Sam Morril, Fortune Feimster
Joining these headliners,
Chris Redd, Jay Pharoah, Sasheer Zamata, Brad Williams, Steph Tolev, Che Durena, Hannah Berner, Preacher Lawson, Joel Kim Booster, Brian Simpson, Rosebud Baker, Nate Jackson, Felipe Esparza, Dan Soder, and Annie Lederman.
ComedyPRO’s Live All-Star Cast Read of the iconic film,
“Airplane!”
Directed by David Zucker
Cast will include,
Jack Whitehall, Sasheer Zamata, Craig Robinson, Brad Williams, Joel Kim Booster, and many more surprises
Keynote Address with Rainn Wilson, Canadian Pie: Keynote Address with Steph Tolev, The State of the Industry Address with Jessica Kirson And an All-Star TikTok Panel with Jonathan Van Ness, Hannah Berner,
and more!
New solo shows added include,
Marlon Wayans, ALOK, Trey Kennedy, Alingon Mitra, Noel Miller, Ali Macofsky, Sydnee Washington, Robby Hoffman, Dulcé Sloan, Debra DiGiovanni, Josie Long, Nimesh Patel, and a special podcast recording to commemorate The Comedy Store’s 25th Anniversary!
The festival runs from July 14th to July 29th, 2023
Tickets for Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL can be purchased at www.hahaha.com
MONTRÉAL July 13, 2023 - Just For Laughs is excited to announce a whole new roster of artists who have joined the 41st edition of the festival.
JUST FOR LAUGHS AWARD SHOW - Friday, July 28 2023 | DoubleTree by Hilton, Grand Salon Ballroom | 3:00 PM
Hands-down, the funniest celebration with the biggest stars in comedy is the Just for Laughs Award Show! Don't miss the raucous festivities and sincere camaraderie as friends, mentors, and
fellow comics honour the comedy stars who made us laugh the most in 2023.
This year’s recipient:
Comedy Impact Award – Rainn Wilson
Award-winning actor, writer, producer, and NY Times Best-Selling author, Rainn Wilson is known for his diverse comedic and theatrical roles. He gained recognition in HBO's "Six Feet Under," which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award. However, his most iconic role was the unforgettable "Dwight Schrute" on NBC's Emmy-winning comedy "The Office," which earned him three Emmy nominations. As an author, Wilson's most recent NY Times best-selling book dropped last spring titled, “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution”. In the book, he explores the
possibility and hope for a spiritual revolution to address today’s greatest issues – mental health, racism and sexism, climate change, and economic justice. Wilson's digital media company,
SoulPancake, has over 3.5 million subscribers and explores various topics such as religion, art, science, philosophy, and culture. In 2020, Wilson hosted a six-part docuseries, “An Idiot’s Guide
to Climate Change” on YouTube that he created with SoulPancake. In the series, Wilson embarks on a quest to better understand climate change basics and how individuals can help combat its
dangerous effects on the planet. Most recently, Wilson hosted a six-part travel docuseries “Rainn Wilson and The Geography of Bliss” in which he travelled around the world to discover how
different cultures find happiness. In addition to his artistic endeavours, Wilson co-founded the non-profit organisation "The Lidè Foundation," providing arts and literacy education to at-risk
adolescent girls in Haiti, alongside his wife, author Holiday Reinhorn.
Joining the Awards festivities,
Rachid Badouri – who will present to Ronny Chieng
Neal Brennan – who will present to Bert Kreischer
Carolyn Taylor – who will present to Mae Martin
Ramy Youssef – who will present to Quinta Brunson
Hosted by the Master of Award Shows,
Comedian, James Davis
SURROUNDED - Tuesday, July 25, 2023 – Thursday, July 26, 2023 | Studio Hydro-Quebec | 7:30 PM & 10:00 PM
Join us at Surrounded, an electrifying comedy show where the audience is the material. Today's best comedians take the stage with nothing more than the mic and their wit, turning everyday
interactions into memorable punchlines. In the intimate venue, anyone surrounding the comedian is fair game. It's all about the unexpected! With no script or pre-planned jokes, we guarantee night of hilarious improvisation, one-of-a-kind moments, and uproarious laughter. Because each show is 100% crowd work, all six shows will be completely different! Get ready to be "Surrounded" by today's best comedic talent and have a chance to become a part of the action!
Star-studded lineup includes Mae Martin, Marlon Wayans, Jess Hilarious, Sam Morril, Fortune Feimster, Chris Redd, Jay Pharoah, Sasheer Zamata, Brad Williams, Steph Tolev, Che Durena, Hannah Berner, Preacher Lawson, Joel Kim Booster, Brian Simpson, Rosebud Baker, Nate Jackson, Felipe Esparza, Dan Soder, and Annie Lederman, with more names to be announced on the website shortly!
COMEDYPRO SPECIAL EVENT
AIRPLANE! Live All-Star Cast Read directed by David Zucker - Thursday, July 27 2023 | DoubleTree by Hilton, Grand Salon Ballroom | 4:00 PM
JFL celebrates the 43rd anniversary of the ground-breaking and legendary comedy film, AIRPLANE! with a raucously fun live staged reading of select scenes from the original script, by
an All-Star cast of comedians including: Jack Whitehall, Sasheer Zamata, Craig Robinson, Brad Williams, Joel Kim Booster, Chris “Shockwave” Sullivan and more surprise guests. Lead by Writer-Director David Zucker the reading will be followed by an "In Conversation" revealing candid insights and true stories from his upcoming book, “Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! “
Rainn Wilson Keynote Address - Friday, July 28 2023 | DoubleTree by Hilton, Grand Salon Ballroom | 11:30 AM
Rainn Wilson delivers the American Keynote Address at this year’s ComedyPRO.
Canadian Pie: Steph Tolev Keynote Address - Wednesday, July 26 2023 | DoubleTree by Hilton, Inspiration Room | 2:00 PM
Comedian Steph Tolev delivers the Canadian Keynote Address at this year’s ComedyPRO.
State of the Industry Address with Jessica Kirson - Friday, July 28 2023 | DoubleTree by Hilton, Inspiration Room | 4:45 PM
Jessica Kirson is being hailed as an overnight success...even though that night has been 24 years in the making. And now the next milestone, Jessica Kirson is taking the reins of one of most anticipated and (for some) dreaded Just For Laughs traditions, the annual State of The Industry Address. Previously delivered for 20+ years by Andy Kindler (and once by his hologram) the State of the Industry has always been a comic's comic event. Come this year to hear a new perspective—some roasting, a sear, and some low simmer pot stirring from one of the industry's
funniest members.
Building Your Comedy Audience Up Close and Vertical, presented by TikTok - Saturday, July 29 2023 | DoubleTree by Hilton, Inspiration Room | 2:30 PM
This timely panel brings together popular comedy creators Hannah Berner (@hannah_berner), Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn_official), and Zarna Garg (@zarnagarg) who’s dedicated and engaged followers on the platform have empowered them to find new paths to success. Join moderator Darcy Michael (@thedarcymichael) and TikTok's Head of Entertainment, North America, Catherine Halaby, as they delve into the role of entertainment platforms in the future of the comedy industry, successful social strategies, the connection between on-platform community and IRL audiences, and how the platform will continue to shift comedy culture.
Panel Features:
Darcy Michael (Moderator)
Hannah Berner
Jonathan Van Ness
Zarna Garg
Catherine Halaby (TikTok Head of Entertainment, North America)
Hulu presents The Out of this World cast of Solar Opposites - Saturday, July 29 2023 | DoubleTree by Hilton, Grand Salon Ballroom | 2:00 PM
Join stars Thomas Middleditch and Sean Giambrone as they crash land at JFL for a fun and
insightful trip through the world of "Solar Opposites." In anticipation of its season 4 launch they’ll
share sneak peeks clips, discuss their characters’ otherworldly chemistry, and reveal if we really
are all just bricks in “the Wall.” Season 4 of Solar Opposites premieres Aug. 14 on Hulu.
Panel Features:
Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley)
Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs)
NEW SOLO SHOWS ADDED
Marlon Wayans - Thursday, July 27, 2023 | Le Studio TD | 9:30 PM
Marlon Wayans is an actor, producer, comedian, writer and film director. His films have grossed more than $736-million in domestic box office and $1-billion in global box office. As a stand-up comedian, he is selling out nationwide and adding shows every weekend. His newest stand-up special, God Loves Me, premiered on HBO Max in March 2023. Wayans can most recently be seen on the big screen in Ben Affleck’s Nike drama AIR for Amazon Studios. Wayans is commonly recognized for his role as Marcus Copeland in Columbia Pictures’ 2004 hit comedy White Chicks. He also starred in the horror comedy spoof films Scary Movie and Scary Movie 2.
Mae Martin & Friends - Thursday, July 27 & Friday, July 28, 2023 | Théâtre Sainte- Catherine | 11:59 PM
Award winning comedian, actor, writer, and producer, Mae Martin is seeing their star rise to fame at record speed. Their hit Netflix series, Feel Good is a scripted, semi-autobiographical comedy drama series, which they also created and co-wrote continues to collect international awards and nominations, making it one of the most trending series on the platform. They are also an accomplished author of Can Everyone Please Calm Down?: A Guide to 21st Century Sexuality, published in May 2019 by Hachette imprint Wren and Rook. Their standup specials have garnered rave reviews. First, Netflix’s Dope, which focuses on addiction; and most recently, Netflix’s SAP that continues to rake in high praise from critics and fans. The festival is honoured to have them return this year to accept the JFL Award for “Rising Comedy Star of the Year”.
ALOK – Saturday, July 29, 2023 | Salle Ludger-Duvernay – Monument-National | 7:00 PM
ALOK (they/them) is an internationally acclaimed author, poet, comedian, and public speaker. As a mixed-media artist their work explores themes of trauma, belonging, and the human condition. They are the author of Femme in Public (2017), Beyond the Gender Binary (2020), and Your Wound/My Garden (2021) and the creator of #DeGenderFashion: an initiative to degender fashion and beauty industries. Over the past decade, they have toured in more than 40 countries, most recently selling out their runs at the Soho Theatre in London, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the Kennedy Performing Arts Center. On television, they can next be seen in the critically acclaimed series SORT OF opposite Bilal Baig. They have also appeared on Hulu’s Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne, ABC’s PRIDE: To Be Seen – A Soul of A Nation, Netflix’s Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness and The Trans List.
Trey Kennedy: Grow Up – Saturday, July 29, 2023 | Club Soda | 9:30 PM
Trey Kennedy never expected to enter the entertainment industry. While attending college at Oklahoma State University, Kennedy found fame on the mobile app Vine, amassing more than 2.5 million followers. He was a top creator on the app for more than three years and, through this experience, discovered a passion for entertainment. He has now continued his social media success on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok where he has a combined 12+ million followers. He currently has a podcast titled Correct Opinions and just concluded a sold-out comedy tour selling out cities across the United States. Trey’s self-produced comedy special Are You For Real? can now be streamed on YouTube. He hopes to continue creating fun and relatable content in order to deliver some joy where it's needed and help people find some common ground through comedy.
Alingon Mitra – Tuesday, July 25, 2023 | Le Studio TD | 9:30 PM
Alingon Mitra is a stand-up comedian and comedy writer living in New York. He has written for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and was also staffed on TruTV’s Adam Ruins Everything. He has performed stand-up on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CONAN, Late Night with Craig Ferguson, and Adam Devine’s House Party. After becoming a semi-finalist on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Mitra won the coveted “Comic Comeback” award to appear in the season finale. He was selected for the prestigious honour of being named a “New Face” at Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal in 2015. He graduated from Harvard, where he was a writer for the illustrious Harvard Lampoon.
Noel Miller – Friday, July 28, 2023 | MTELUS | 7:00 PM
Noel Miller's biting one-liners and topical social commentary has made him a force to be reckoned with in the comedy world. Between directing, touring, podcasting, music and streaming, Noel's rise has been nothing short of meteoric. In addition to starring in popular YouTube series That's Cringe, and comedy duo + podcast Tiny Meat Gang with fellow comedian Cody Ko, Noel has created successful series on his own including his format around hit British Reality show, Love Island. His broad reach has landed him deals with companies such as SeatGeek and Old Spice, as well as solo comedy gigs across the country. Miller has also found success as a filmmaker, being the creative mind behind Tiny Meat Gang's hit music videos including Walk Man, which has garnered over 19 million views, and their recent releases, Broke Bitch, Daddy and Sofia, which have collectively gathered 20M+ views. Outside of music, he recently released his first short film, Suki, a dark comedy about a relationship between a detective and a serial killer. Additionally, he has recently leaned into streaming, resulting in a rapidly growing Twitch following.
Ali Macofsky – Saturday, July 29, 2023 | Théâtre Sainte-Catherine | 8:30 PM
Ali Macofsky is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer who began her comedy career at the age of 7 when she would join Ryan Seacrest on KIIS FM every weekday morning and prank call
listeners as her character “Lil Ally” and has continued to pursue comedy ever since. Shortly after high school, Ali quickly established herself in the L.A. comedy scene where she became the first regular to perform on over 100 episodes of the Comedy Store’s weekly Kill Tony podcast. Soon after, she started to open for huge names in the comedy world like Russell Peters and Joe Rogan. In 2022, Macofsky was named a “New Face of Comedy” at the Just for Laughs Comedy festival in Montreal. Ali’s stand up has been featured on Just For Laughs digital receiving over 3 million views and her stand up has been seen on TikTok over 10 million times. She has a popular series on her Instagram where she talks to strangers online and she hosts a weekly podcast called Resting Bitch.
New OFF JFL performances have been added featuring, Sydnee Washington, Robby Hoffman, Dulcé Sloan, Debra DiGiovanni, Josie Long, Nimesh Patel, and a special live podcast to commemorate The Comedy Store’s 25th Anniversary!
Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL would like to thank its sponsors without whom this edition would not have been possible: Beneva and Chevrolet. We would also like to acknowledge the exceptional help and support of our public partners: Government of Canada through Canada Economic Development and Canadian Heritage, the Gouvernement du Québec through the ministère du Tourisme, the Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine and the SODEC, as well as the City of Montréal, Tourisme Montréal and Montréal centre-ville.
TICKET DETAILS:
Tickets are available at www.hahaha.com
Looking for the best way to experience Just For Laughs MONTRÉAL? Get a JFLMTL Pass!
Passes available include: the JFL 2-Show Pass for $115.00 + tax, 3-Show Pass for $155.00 + tax and 5-Show Pass for $235.00 + tax. Each pass includes up to 12 free tickets from July 14 to July 29, 2023 (some restrictions apply).
PRESS MATERIALS: To download high-resolution images of festival artists, click here
Join us on social media:
#JFLMTL
Facebook: Just For Laughs
Twitter: @justforlaughs
Instagram: @justforlaughs
ABOUT JUST FOR LAUGHS GROUP
Global leaders in comedy, Just For Laughs Group has been launching and championing top comedic talent - from Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Ali Wong, Hasan Minhaj, Trevor Noah, and countless others for close to 40 years. Founded in 1983, the company is a vertically integrated international powerhouse in the creation of multiplatform comedic content. Every year, millions of spectators are entertained at its worldwide festivals, from Montréal – the biggest comedy event in the world – to Toronto and Vancouver, Canada; Austin, U.S.A.; London, UK; and Sydney, Australia; featuring thousands of Canadian and international comedians - from wellestablished artists to aspiring up-and-comers. With concentrated growth on television development and production, the Group’s digital and televised content is shown in over 150 countries and followed by an online audience of over 14 million. In addition, the Group produces touring shows, stages its own musicals, provides talent management services for Quebec artists and is the originator of the ComedyPRO and JPR Pro industry conferences together with the daytime, fan centric, ComedyCON event. For more information, visit www.hahaha.com
Press contacts:
C2C Communications
Charlene Coy
[email protected]