Host: Martha Chaves

Martha Chaves was born and raised in Nicaragua. At the age of 17, her parents shipped her off to Montreal with the excuse that they wanted her to learn a second language, but it was really because they feared that she would join the revolution. She wouldn’t anyway – she hates wearing cargo pants everyday, assembling and disassembling things that shoot and, especially, blood.

Her parents and siblings were forced to leave the country a year later and they have since lived in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Martha eventually became a Canadian citizen and has lived here most of her life feeling uprooted, cold and confused about her identity (which, incidentally, is what makes her a true Canadian!).

She began her stand-up career in 1993 in Montreal and, considering her background and her existential angst, this was the only career in which she could thrive.

Now based between Toronto and Ottawa, Chaves is one of the top headliners at Yuk Yuk´s Komedy (www.yukyuks.com) clubs across Canada and is also a favourite at the Comedy Nest in Montreal. She has been nominated for six Canadian Comedy Awards in the category of Best Female Stand-up, and won a Soul’d Award in the same category.

Martha has appeared in numerous festivals around North America and countless humanitarian fundraising events. Her stand-up TV credits include her gala appearances in the Montréal Just for Laughs International Comedy Festival (where she has been featured not less than ten times), and her national comedy specials “COMICS!” on CBC and “Something about Martha” on CTV and The Comedy Network. She has made multiple appearances on the CBC Radio’s Madly off in All Directions, Accent on Toronto and The Debaters, and was a staff writer for The Toronto Show and Prime Tonight with Eric Tunney.

Chaves is multilingual and is one of the few comics in the world that has the rare gift of doing comedy in a second, third, and a fourth language. She has entertained audiences from every culture and background on stages all over the world, including the U.N. Peacekeeping Troops in the Middle East, Germany and Alert.

Martha has been the opening act for such Latin luminaries as Gloria Estefan at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto (1997) and Tito Puente at the Club Metropolis in Montreal (1996) and the award-winning poet-novelist, her compatriot Gioconda Belli, at the Teatro Nacional de Nicaragua (2005)

She has shared the stage with Brett Butler, Margaret Cho, Wendy Liebman, Chris Rock and Wanda Sykes, among others.

In her film and TV career she has worked with Oscar winners like Denzel Washington (John Q) and Whoopie Goldberg (Strong Medicine) .She also worked with Portia de Rossi (American Prince), Chris Rock and Wanda Sykes (Down to Earth), and with award winning directors like Nick Cassavetes and Jim Sheridan.

Headliner: Jo-Anna Downey

Jo-Anna Downey is a natural storyteller, and her act has been described as fearless and frank. She has entertained audiences across Canada.

A veteran of the Toronto comedy scene, Jo-Anna who is affectionately referred to as “mama” hosts two successful weekly shows. Her interactive style, encouragement of audience participation, and her quick wit, will shock and delight everyone in the room.

Jo-Anna has been seen on CTV, CBC, The Comedy Network and The Discovery Channel. She has also been heard on various radio programs, including most recently, CBC The Debaters.

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!”

Guest: Sandra Battaglini

In 2005, Battaglini was nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award for her solo show, A Small Battalion of Soldiers, directed by Mark Andrada. It first debuted in Toronto in 2003 and to rave revues in Chicago in 2004. Battaglini’s latest tour de force, Hard Headed Woman, also directed by Andrada, premiered at the Diesel Playhouse in October 2006 to sold out houses and will travel to the LA Comedy Festival this October. Sandra won a Canadian Comedy Award in 2007 for Hard Headed Woman in the category of best solo show.

Past performances include, The Upside Down Widow, 2005 Chicago Improv Festival and Hangin with Jesus, Toronto Festival of Clowns 2007. She is one-half of the comedy prank duo, the drug and alcohol awareness task force, was part of the 2005 Toronto production of the Vagina Monologues with Shirley Douglas and Rachel McAdams and Bellweather’s 2007 production of Mambo Italiano.

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. Although a relative newcomer to the stand-up scene, she has performed at the Diesel Playhouse, Second City, Yuk Yuk’s, Absolute Comedy, The Rivoli and several other comedy clubs in and around the City. She has also performed in Tampa, San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Cruz and at the Comedy Store in West Hollywood. Lianne came second in both Hamilton and Barrie in the Great Canadian Laugh off and held the title of Stand up Show down champion at the Comedy Bar. Her performance has also been recorded for broadcast on XM Satellite Radio’s Laugh Attack and also televised on Bite TV. Lianne has studied Improv and Stand-up at the Second City Training Centre under the instruction of such comics as Dawn Whitwell, and Elvira Kurt.

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.

Shelley Kidwell

Shelley has made people laugh her whole life. She grew up in Houston,Texas and got her BA in theatre/communications. In Canada, Shelley has been seen on the Slice Network’s show Party Mamas. She has also been seen performing with The Oakville Players, The Hamilton Player’s Guild, and Theatre Burlington. She will soon be a graduate of Second City’s conservatory program and looks forward to making as many people laugh as possible. Laughter is what brings people together in love! So laugh and love!

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

Marilla Wex

Marilla Wex has been doing stand-up for over a year and is apparently getting quite good at it since she seems to have graduated to hosting some shows which is even harder than just doing stand-up. She’s even got paid for doing it, which is nice.

When she’s not writing jokes she builds websites for other people that write jokes. And other actors (she’s also quite good at acting and gets paid for that too).

You can see what else she gets up to (writing, voice work, movie appearances) on her personal website.

Laura Salvas

Laura Salvas is pretty effing wonderful so please read carefully. Laura’s been doing standup for, like, a year now. So far, career highlights include her spot as a finalist in the 2009 Toronto Comedy Brawl and this thing you’re at tonight. Laura also does lots of sketch comedy as part of her troupe Warm Summer Hotness and is currently training as part of The Second City conservatory program and through Impatient Theatre Co. Laura has been part of various improv show casts, including (currently) Vanguard School of Comedy’s Jenkins Syndrome and (previously) Kingston’s Saturday Night at the Improv and The Improv Show. She directed the improv troupe at Ryerson University, where she earned her journalism degree, and has been involved with the Canadian Improv Games national high school tournament for more than a decade as a player, trainer and judge. Don’t let the third person fool you – Laura wrote this bio herself. Thank my $40,000 Ryerson journalism degree for the impeccable grammar.