2021 Festival Performers

Aimée Beaudoin

Edmonton, AB

Aimée Beaudoin

Aimée is known for starring in the sketch comedy TV series CAUTION: May Contain Nuts (APTN) where she played over 70 different characters and was a co-writer for 26 episodes. Aimée was nominated for three Canadian Comedy Awards for Best FemaleTV Performance for Caution, in addition to three Canadian Screen Awards for Best Writing and Best Sketch Comedy TV Show Ensemble. Aimée has most recently appeared on television in Hell on Wheels (AMC), Tiny Plastic Men (Superchannel) and Wynonna Earp (Syfy).

Andrew Ivimey

Toronto, ON

Andrew Ivimey

Andrew Ivimey is a comedian, actor, writer, and co-creator of web phenomena The From Superheroes Network. You may have seen Andrew on TV shows like The Beaverton, or recognize his voice as the narrator of History by The Numbers. As a stand-up comedian he has performed at The Second City, NXNE festival, Just for Laughs, Edmonton Comedy Festival, JFL42, and can be heard nationally on SirusXM radio. His comedy album Casual Screams is available now on wherever music is sold/streamed.

Andrew Orporto

Toronto, ON

Andrew Orporto

Andrew Oporto is a stand-up, sketch and improv comedian from Toronto. He won Absolute Comedy’s “Prove You’re a Comic” Competition in 2019, was nominated for Best English Comedy at the Montreal Fringe Festival, has performed at JFL42, headlined New York City Sketch Fest, completed Second City’s Conservatory and appeared on Will Ferrell’s show: Funny or Die. He has built a sizable following online for his sketch comedy, both independently and with his troupe Live Dudes. This is his first appearance at the Edmonton Comedy Festival.

Angela Thurston

Toronto, ON

Angela Thurston

Angela studied Improv at the famous Second City in Toronto during the 90's and has since become a seasoned standup comedian touring across North America. She has appeared in countless Television commercials and Movies for film and T.V. making Angela a very recognizable face and voice. She has acted with Whoppi Goldberg, Rain Wilson (from the "Office") and Faith Ford ("Murphy Brown"). Presently Angela has a recurring role on "Odd Squad". This is her first appearance at the Edmonton Comedy Festival.

Brittany Lyseng

Calgary, AB

Brittany Lyseng

Brittany Lyseng is a nationally touring Stand-Up Comedian, Writer and Podcaster. Her comedy career began after 12 years as a tradesman with the desire to lift less and laugh more, and in turn has become one of the Canadian industry’s fastest rising stars. She has been seen on CTV’s Roast Battles Canada, CBC’s New Wave of Stand-Up Comedy, Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, and CTV’s The Stand-Up Show with Jon Dore, as well as making appearances on CBC Radio’s The Debaters.

Craig Fay

Toronto, ON

Craig Fay

Craig Fay is a Toronto based standup comedian who has appeared on CBC’s Laugh Out Loud, performed at the world famous Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal and is co-host of The Villain Was Right podcast which won “Outstanding Debut” and "Outstanding Comedy Series" at the Canadian Podcast Awards. Craig’s debut comedy album “Helicopter Rich” was praised as “observational and self-reflective…worth playing multiple times over” (Exclaim) and is available wherever you get your music. This is his first appearance at the Edmonton Comedy Festival.

John Wing

Los Angeles, CA

John Wing

A veteran of over 30 years in the comedy business, John Wing began in Toronto and moved to Los Angeles in 1988. He has performed on “The Tonight Show” six times and at the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival nine times. A regular performer on Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines, John has traveled the length and breadth of the North American continent, working in 36 states and 10 Canadian Provinces. Most recently he almost made it to the final ten contestants on America’s Got talent. He can be heard regularly on CBC’s the Debaters and is a regular contributor to Definitely Not the Opera.

Johnny Pogo

Lethbridge, AB

Johnny Pogo

Through his humour you will find that Johnny can make light out of the darkest situations and can also make dark out of the lightest. Tipping the scales at 300lbs (his hair weighs 30), Johnny has made a living out of making fun of himself, his wife or anyone he has come into contact with or on. Known to his friends simply as Pogo, he is both bouncy and a corn dog.

Kyle Caniff

Edmonton, AB

Kyle Caniff

Kyle Canniff was born and raised in Edmonton. He has performed across Alberta. Kyle runs a variety of shows within the city and loves to do his part to help build-up the Edmonton comedy scene. Blending a mix of lived experience and a silly delivery, Kyle continues to explore jokes about being adopted, his first nation’s identity, being on an only-meat diet and crafts that into an enjoyable act that is sure to bring the laughs. This is his first appearance at the Edmonton Comedy Festival.

Lamont Ferguson

Long Beach, CA

Lamont Ferguson

Award-wining, Emmy nominated TV Funnyman who has appeared on The Tonight Show, Comedy Central, and Comics Unleashed. His cranky, intelligent, honest, brand of unique humour has enabled him to become one of the more in demand comedians working in North America. His Amazon Prime comedy special, "You Had All Day" was rated in the "Top Ten" of comedy specials by folks that do that sort of thing. This is his first appearance at the Edmonton Comedy Festival.

Lars Callieou

Edmonton, AB

Lars Callieou

Lars has appeared at comedy festivals all over the world from Las Vegas to Melbourne including, of course, Canada's prestigious Just for Laughs Festival. A 2-time Canadian Comedy Award Nominee, he can be seen on the Comedy Network and heard on CBC's Laugh Out Loud, CBC's The Debaters and Sirius/XM.

Jeff Halabey

Edmonton, AB

Jeff Halabey

Jeff is an AMPIA and Sterling Nominated actor and Gemini Nominated writer for television having starred in the sketch comedy TV show Caution: May Contain Nuts for the last 12 years. Caution was born from the original subversive sketch troupe Blacklisted, which was legendary in its day and Jeff was proud to be a founding member. Jeff is the co-owner/operator of Spotlight Cabaret which is his second time at the helm of a restaurant, he was part owner of Louisiana Purchase for several years as well as being a successful realtor before that.

Lisa Alvarado

Los Angeles, CA

Lisa Alvarado

Lisa Alvarado, “The Latin Queen of Comedy”, TV appearances include: NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”, Nick at Nite’s “Funniest Mom in America 2″, “Thou Shall Laugh” with Sinbad, “Comics Unleashed”, “Stand Up in Stilettos” on TV Guide Network, NuvoTV, and many more. Lisa also played Paul Rodriguez’s sidekick on 20 episodes of “Mis Videos Locos” on MTV3. Ms. Alvarado was voted “Best Up & Coming Latino Comedian” by The LA Comedy Festival and her jokes have been quoted in The New York Times. She was a staff writer on the comedy game show entitled “Funny You Should Ask” on over 120 episodes.

Monique Marvez

Los Angeles, CA

Monique Marvez

With an hourglass figure and a stopwatch wit, Monique has a knack for making powerful first impressions. She is the late-night host of his Miami television venture WAMI and star of three TV specials: Monique Over Miami, Not Skinny, Not Blonde and Lady Zings the Blues. Eva Longoria chose her to be one of the original members of the ongoing comedy troupe “The Hot Tamales Live”. Her one woman show had a six-week run at the venerable Pasadena Ice House. We’ve lost track of how many times Monique has performed at our festival.

Noah Brodeur

Edmonton, AB

Noah Brodeur

Noah is an up and coming comedian hailing from the sheltered suburbs of Edmonton Alberta. Through his comedy, Noah offers a naive and honest perspective on the world around him. Noah’s act has been described by audiences as “So dumb it’s somehow smart” and “Really nailing the ‘nerdy-guy’ thing,” both real things people have felt comfortable saying to Noah’s face. He thinks they were meant as complements.

Rory Gardiner

Toronto, ON

Rory Gardiner

This former country artist is a CCMA nominated song writer who has shared the stage with a number of great acts like Keith Urban. You've heard Rory Gardiner’s music on Television, starring SNL alumni like Kevin Nealon, or pro athletes like Chris Bosh & Arnold Palmer. His TikTok videos have been viewed over 100 million times across all social channels. His YouTube sketches have been featured on Funny or Die and America’s Funniest Videos. Rory’s 2021 musical comedy record “Modern Day Problems” is available on all streaming platforms. This is his first appearance at the Edmonton Comedy Festival.

Sunee Dhaliwal

Calgary, AB

Sunee Dhaliwal

Sunee is a national touring headliner who has graced stages around the world. He has performed in comedy festivals such as Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival, the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, the Halifax Comedy Festival and JFL Northwest. He has worked with such talents as Tom Segura, Jim Belushi, Bryan Callen, Tony Rock, Mike MacDonald, Jo Koy, Sugar Sammy and Charlie Murphy. Sunee can regularly be heard on XM Radio and has done his very own Comedy Now! special, which airs on CTV. This is his first appearance at the Edmonton Comedy Festival.

William Hannigan

Edmonton, AB

William Hannigan

Will Hannigan has been touring Canada since he started performing stand-up comedy at 18. He has a commanding, conversational presence on stage. He talks about family, working, practicing alcoholism and recovering from all that practice. He has had appearances at the Just For Laughs Northwest Festival, Grindstone Comedy Festival and has been featured on Sirius XM. This is his first appearance at the Edmonton Comedy Festival.

2021 Festival Performers

Aimée Beaudoin

Andrew Ivimey

Andrew Orporto

Angela Thurston

Brittany Lyseng

Craig Fay

John Wing

Johnny Pogo

Kyle Caniff

Lamont Ferguson

Lars Callieou

Jeff Halabey

Lisa Alvarado

Monique Marvez

Noah Brodeur

Rory Gardiner

Sunee Dhaliwal

William Hannigan

Spotlight Cabaret

ATB Financial Arts Barns

Yuk Yuk's Century Casino