Special Guest: Sandra Shamas

Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Sandra studied improvisation at Second City in 1982, and joined its touring company in 1984. She came to national attention in 1987 with the Edmonton Fringe Movement performance of My Boyfriend’s Back and There’s Going to Be Laundry.

Among her other works are: The Cycle Continues, Wedding Bell Hell (all published under the title: My Boyfriend’s Back and There’s Going to Be Laundry and subsequently nominated for the Stephen Leacock Award and the Governor General’s Award) and Wit’s End (1998). She has toured across the country and the US and Great Britain.

She is premiered her highly-anticipated new show, Love Life, in February 2011, and takes it to Ottawa’s National Theater Center this April.

In her own words, “Love Life is the last in the Wit’s End trilogy. It’s about threshing through the first 50 years of my life, deciding what to keep, what to change and what to let go of, in order to move into the second half of this big adventure, I call Life. I’m 50, I’m blowing hot and cold, and I want what I want … and I really like it! They don’t call it ‘The Change’ for nothing!”

Special Guest: Dawn Whitwell

Recently rated one of America’s Funniest Lesbians by Curve Magazine, Dawn took her “subversive, slacker-next-door wit” on the road, as a featured performer at the LA Comedy Festival. A regular on The Jon Dore Television Show, Dawn has also performed standup throughout the UK, including the Edinburgh Festival. She has also appeared at Gotham and Comic Strip Live in New York, and is the founder of Comedy Girl, an all-girl standup class. Dawn debuted her live show Dirty Rotten Egg to sold out audiences at 2008′s We’re Funny That Way Festival. It has recently been published in the anthology And Baby Makes More: Known Donors, Queer Parents and Our Unexpected Families (Insomniac Press 2009). Most recently Whitwell wrote and performed Proud Larrys, with comedy partner Mae Martin, which was featured as part of Buddies In Bad Times 2010 Pride Program.

“But in this case some of the performers were sensational. Special mention has to go to Dawn Whitwell whose deadpan delivery is spot-on and who took some amazing risks.”
Susan G Cole NOW Magazine

Rhiannon Archer

Although Rhiannon Archer hasn’t been on the scene long, she is quickly becoming a favorite at venues across the country. She was born near a river and was raised by a family of trout, who she insists has not influenced her comedy in any way. Dreaming of the bright lights of show business, she packed her bags very young in life, said goodbye to her parents, and made the long swim down river (she’s wasn’t raised by filthy salmon) to the big city.  Rhiannon has already established herself to the point where she has appeared in many of the hugely successful Nerdgasm shows, preformed in the very popular Bitch Salad shows, is a part of comedy collective, StandUp For Your Sisters, and recently performed in the Brantford Comedy Festival.

For more information go to www.rhiannonarcher.com

Becky Bays

In addition to possessing the best name in show business, Becky Bays has an acerbic comedic style that has left Toronto audiences in stitches. Becky’s quirky observations of life are not only dead on, but fun and hilarious.

Great for corporate events, clubs or anything in between, her clean, smart humour wows every audience. She has also appeared in numerous theatrical productions, including Beauty and the Beast, Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding and the one-woman show See Bob Run. From Vancouver to Toronto, Becky has made audiences sit up and take notice. She is definitely one to watch! You can see Becky next at Absolute Comedy Ottawa from February 24 to 27.

Shelley Kidwell

On or off the stage, Shelley Kidwell is a comedic performer you just instantly love.  This buxom, blonde, Texan beauty has captivated audiences and critics alike with her witty observations, comedic timing and southern style. Taking centre stage Shelley flamboyantly shares her stories of love, life and her desire to live in a bedazzled world.

Appearing on MuchMusic, Party Mama’s and the popular SmoberUp web series along with stand-up performances on countless stages are only a few of the accolades Shelley has notched into her rhinestone belt.  Whether she is bringing to life her over-the-top character Tammi Starr or leaving audiences in stitches in The Full Bawdy Comedy Show, Shelley Kidwell is someone you will want to see again and again.  Bold, brassy and brilliant…bless her heart!

Lianne Mauladin

Lianne is an Aquarius who loves rock stars and old people. She’s a relative newcomer to the stand up scene and her take on life is definitely unique. She’s performed at the Comedy Bar, Second City, Yuk Yuk’s, Absolute Comedy, The Rivoli and several other comedy clubs in and around Toronto. She has also performed in Tampa, San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Cruz, The Comedy Store in West Hollywood and Comic Strip Live in NYC. Lianne was nominated for and performed in “Fresh Meat 2010” at Second City for the Tim Sims Encouragement Fund.

Her comedy has been recorded for broadcast on CBC radio and XM Satellite Radio’s Laugh Attack and televised on Bite TV.

Lianne has studied Improv and Stand-up at the Second City Training Centre and taken Stand Up Comedy workshops with Dawn Whitwell. She has performed with such comics as Jason Blanchard, Evan Carter, Martha Chavez, Shelley Marshall, and Elvira Kurt.

Heidi Mole

Heidi’s largest accomplishment in life thus far has been acquiring self-esteem and “Brady Bunch” memorabilia.

After surviving life in a small village with a highly dysfunctional family Heidi turned to stand-up comedy as a form of therapy.

When not performing, Heidi enjoys swing dance, hula-hooping, and judging people.

Muniza Rauf

In 2008, Muniza took a standup class and unknowingly got herself mixed up with some pretty die hard broads!  She doesn’t regret a thing and thanks her standup sisters for all the encouragement and support while she travels down the funny road.

Daniela Saioni

Daniela is the shyest extrovert you’ll ever meet.  In high school her nickname was Brainiac, but her IQ never stopped her from making incredibly unwise and impulsive decisions.  Her distinct blend of smart and subversive writing is directly inspired by the ridiculous twists and turns her life has taken.

Daniela is a gifted character actress who has appeared in several films and tv series, and is a burgeoning television writer.  She earned a film degree and a post-grad diploma in comedy screenwriting before training as an improviser at Second City, then turned to stand-up in 2008.  She has since performed all over Eastern Canada,  San Francisco and New York and was recorded for XM radio.  She produces this and other comedy events, including West End Girls, Best of West End Girls and Bocche Fresche: a festival of new Italian Canadian comedy.

Marilla Wex

Marilla Wex has finally, after two years of stand-up, graduated to paying gigs. This makes her (and her long-suffering husband) very happy.

She recently came second in the Rising Star Showcase at the Brantford Comedy Festival and a movie she co-starred in was nominated for three Geminis. This is also quite happy-making.

Marilla came by stand-up honestly. An actress from the age of four she has arsed about to get attention all her life. Thank God it paid off. You can see some of her more recent arsing about here: www.marillawex.com