COMEDY

SPRING ARTS PREVIEW Live comedy blossoms in Vancouver this spring

by Steve Newton

During the past couple of years, the pandemic has caused most Vancouverites to hold in their belly laughs. With COVID-19 waning and happier days on the horizon, it’s time to let those chuckles run wild.

East Van Laugh Riot (Rio Theatre, February 25) Charlie Demers hosts comedy performances by Yumi Nagashima, Jacob Samuel, Dave Harris, and Andrea Jin.

Trevor Noah (Rogers Arena, February 26) Just for Laughs Vancouver presents South African comedian and host of e Daily Show With Trevor Noah performing a standup comedy show as part of his Back to Abnormal Tour.

David Sedaris (Vogue eatre, February 28) Innovation Arts & Entertainment, MRG Live, and the Vancouver Writers Fest present American humorist, comedian, author, and radio contributor.

Bianca Del Rio (Queen Elizabeth eatre, March 8) American drag queen and comedian, winner of the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, performs on new comedy tour Unsanitized!

Maz Jobrani (Vogue eatre, March 25) Iranian-American comedian, also known as the Persian Pink Panther.

Kyle Kinane (Vogue Theatre, March 24) American comedian known for his appearances on Drunk History, Workaholics, Not Safe With Nikki Glaser, and Comedy Bang! Bang! performs a standup show.

Just for Laughs Vancouver presents Trevor Noah at Rogers Arena on February 26.

Ronnie Chieng: e Hope You Get Rich

Tour (Queen Elizabeth eatre, March 31) Just for Laughs Vancouver presents standup comedian, actor, and correspondent on e Daily Show With Trevor Noah.

Russell Howard (Vogue eatre, April 1) English comedian and actor best known for his TV shows Russell Howard’s Good News and e Russell Howard Hour, performs two standup shows.

Girls Gotta Eat (Vogue eatre, April 2) Comedic duo composed of podcasters Ashley Hesseltine and Rayna Greenberg.

Nikki Glaser (Vogue eatre, April 9) American comedian, actor, and podcast host performs a standup show.

Fortune Feimster (Queen Elizabeth eatre, April 10) Comedian and actor from North Carolina, known for her work on Chelsea Lately and e Mindy Project.

Heather McMahan (Queen Elizabeth eatre, April 1) American comedian, actor, and podcaster performs on her Farewell Tour.

Donnell Rawlings (Hollywood eatre, April 11) Comedy Here O en? presents the American comedian and actor, best known as a cast member on Chappelle’s Show, performing a standup show.

Kanan Gill (Massey eatre, April 16) Indian stand-up comedian, actor, and YouTuber performs on his Is is It? Tour.

Dave Chappelle (Rogers Arena, April 22 and 23) Controversial comedian, 2019 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, performs two standup shows.

T.J. Miller (Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, April 22 and 23) American comedian and actor best known for his roles in HBO’s Silicon Valley and the Deadpool lms.

Taylor Tomlinson (Vogue eatre, April 30) American comedian known for her Net ix special Quarter-Life Crisis performs two standup shows on her Deal With It tour.

Dave Attell (Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, April 26 and 27) Stand-up comedian, actor, and writer, probably best known as the host of Comedy Central’s Insomniac With Dave Attell.

Andrew Schulz: e Infamous Tour (Queen Elizabeth eatre, May 6) Just for Laughs Vancouver presents standup comedian from New York City performing two shows.

Laughter Is the Best Medicine (Red Gate Revue Stage, May 6) Charity improv show hosted by TMP Improv, with all proceeds to the Richmond Food Bank’s school meals program.

Whitney Cummings (Vogue eatre, May 7) American comedian, known for her standup-comedy specials for HBO and Net ix, performs on her Touch Me Tour.

John Cleese: An Evening of Exceptional

Silliness (Queen Elizabeth eatre, May 17) Legendary British comic, best known for his work with the famed comedy troupe Monty Python and for his starring role in the TV series Fawlty Towers.

Sebastian Maniscalco (Queen Elizabeth eatre, May 19 and 20) American standup comedian and actor, known for the 2019 comedy special Stay Hungry.

Just for Laughs Comedy Night in Canada (Orpheum eatre, May 21) Rick Mercer hosts standup comedy by Ramy Dave Merheje, Eman El-Husseini, and Ivan Decker.

Just for Laughs Vancouver (various Vancouver venues, May 25 to 29) Comedy festival features performances by Nicole Byer, Andrew Santino, Marc Maron, Maria Bamford, Natasha Leggero, Moshe Kasher, Jimmy O. Yang, and Chris Redd. g