TORONTO’S STAND-UP COMEDY SCENE

A microphone on a stage.

Stand-up, an artform popular in the United States for decades, finally crossed the border and caught on in Toronto in the 1980s. The ecosystem has grown exponentially since then, so what’s next in store for this talented but underrated community?

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TORONTO’S STAND-UP COMEDY SCENE

Despite our flourishing stand-up comedy ecosystem, Toronto is better known for other artistic exports — from musicians like The Weeknd and Drake, to movie-related events like the Toronto International Film Festival. When the average comedy fan thinks of comedic hotspots, why do other North American cities like New York City and Los Angeles come to mind first over Toronto?
In his three-part feature, comedian and journalist Scott Martin explores whether or not open mic nights here are effective platforms for aspiring comedians, dives deep into how comedians of colour are dominating the city's stand-up scene and looks at why American stand-up still casts a long shadow over Toronto.
Party with The Green Line at an outdoor comedy roast battle under the stars in Riverside's Queen Garden Cafe, featuring 4x Canadian Screen Awards winner and Kim's Convenience star Andrew Phung.
Your Hood's A Joke roast battle comedians identified solutions for supporting Toronto's comedy scene, including self-produced shows, greater pay transparency and more.
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