Rise of the Comics to shine spotlight on standup comedians in Vancouver

by Jon Cranny on November 16th, 2016 at 4:00 PM

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Standup comedy in Vancouver has a rich and diverse scene that welcomes everyone from beginners to seasoned veterans onstage.

To showcase this hilarious community, Shaw TV Vancouver has produced Rise of the Comics, a program that takes viewers through what it takes to make it in standup comedy and what exactly makes comedians tick.

In each 30-minute episode, community access producer, Scott Aceman, who has created Rise of the Comics on Shaw TV 4 will sit down with local comics to talk about their inspirations behind their sets, how they got involved in comedy, and where they perform throughout the city.

There will also be a segment presented by a cast of characters, which will include three-minute amateur sets and hilarious panel chats. Another element of the program will be a competition wherein a winning amateur will earn a slot in a special showcase event.

Rise of the Comics' first guests will include comedians Wolve Thomas, Ryan Williams, Amber Harper-Young, Alex Sparling, Mark Nesbitt, and Ryan Lachance.

Following the premiere, a special live-performance of the program, Rise of the Comics LIVE, will take place at St. James Community Square Theatre (3214 West 10th Avenue) on February 11, 2017.

The lineup will feature Steve Letts, Harris Anderson, Jenny Toews, Yumi Nagashima, Ryan Williams, with special guest Chris Griffin. Ivan Decker will headline.