Crackin’ Up!
Canadian Mosaic Comedy Night
Wednesday, December 16
Doors 7 PM | Show 8 PM
$12 at the door
The Rivoli, 334 Queen Street West
The best cultural comedians in town take on their mixed-up multicultural background and the cracked concept of the Canadian mosaic. Don’t miss this hysterical look at Toronto’s most prized possession: diversity.
Bringing together the World’s Whitest Black Comedian, the most recognizable Asian comedian in Canada, “the Bishop” from Uganda and two Jewish comedians (what, who ever heard of Jewish comedy?), it’s a “Festivus for the Rest-of-Us” as the Koffler’s comedy night takes over the 6th night of Hanukkah.
WITH THESE FUNNY FOLKS
Ron Josol
Simon Rakoff
Arthur Simeon
Daniel Woodrow
and Lori Pearlstein as host
Presented together with the Birthright Israel Alumni Community as part of Eight Crazy Nights, more info at www.bactoronto.com
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ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
RON JOSOL
Ron Josol is a professional stand-up comedian performing across the globe. In 2000, Ron won the Craven A's funniest home grown competition for the Just For Laughs comedy festival in Canada's search for funniest new comer. Indubitably, the most recognizable Asian comedian in Canada, Ron achieved a lead in his own comedy special entitled, Comedy Now, which aired on CTV / Comedy network and later that year was featured in the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and The Orange County Comedy Festival. CBC's Bill Cameron hosted a short documentary called Different But the Same, which covered Ron's life as a comedian and the challenges he faced as a minority in the television industry. Ron has written and performed on the Gemini award winning show, The Buzz and has hosted a television series on the new omni2 Network called, FLIP. He has produced, co-wrote and starred as the lead of a short film based on his true story entitled Rolling Longaniza, which aired on the CBC. Currently, Ron is a writer and performer on the Much Music hit show, Video on Trial.
http://www.myspace.com/ron_josol
LORI PEARLSTEIN
Lori regularly hosted a hit comedy show in New York for two years with top comedians who performed on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, and Comedy Central’s Chapelle’s Show. While there, Lori wrote, performed, and produced a one-woman show, It’s About Time… One Immigrant’s Journey to her American Dream. She has also performed stand-up and with a rock-and-roll band. Now back in Toronto, Lori received critical acclaim for her performance together with Shannon McDonough in the 2009 Toronto Fringe Festival production, Build a Bridge and Get Over It. NOW Magazine voted Lori Pearlstein and Shannon McDonough one of the best ensembles at Fringe. Lori was nominated for a Pixie Award for her performance in The Briss.
http://www.lorip.ca/index.htm
SIMON RAKOFF
Simon Rakoff has been performing stand-up since 1978. Considered one of the quickest minds on the scene, Simon is a veteran who performs with the enthusiasm of a newcomer. He is widely regarded as one of Canada's top MCs and has appeared at all the major Canadian comedy festivals as well as clubs, pubs, campuses and corporate events across Canada and in the US. Simon's act is carefully crafted and full of thought-provoking, hilarious routines. He covers religion, relationships, stupidity and man in the modern world. On television, Simon has appeared on Just For Laughs, The Winnipeg Comedy Festival, CBC's Comics!, The Halifax Comedy Festival and holds the record for appearances on Open Mike With Mike Bullard. He was also a regular contributor of humorous commentary on the CBC Evening News. On radio, Simon is or has been a contributor to CBC's The Debaters, As It Happens, Definitely Not The Opera and Go! Simon has also been seen as an actor in commercials and parts on This is Wonderland, The Rick Mercer Report, Queer As Folk, The Associates, Switchback and the film Prescription For Murder. He is also a voice-over artist in commercials and cartoons such as Carl Squared.
http://www.simonrakoff.com/
ARTHUR SIMEON
Comedian Arthur Simeon aka The Bishop is that African Guy on stage and off it. Arthur was born and raised in Kampala, Uganda and draws on most of his experiences to inspire his Stand-up material. Tall dark and really, really weird, Arthur takes you to the funny side of being an African in North America. He is the consummate performer and has been seen on stages across Canada. Having moved to Canada as a teenager, Arthur fell in love with comedy and one day stepped up to the challenge at Amateur Night at Toronto's Yuk Yuks Comedy Club. He has since performed on many different stages including the annual Accent on Toronto series for CBC Radio, Mother's Day International Comedy Clash. In 2007, he became the youngest headliner of the All Black Comedy Show in Toronto and was also a finalist for the Cream of Comedy competition that celebrates Toronto's young comedians. He is the host of the very successful Princes of Comedy series. His young career continues to rise as he earns the respect of peers and the laughs from the audience.
http://www.myspace.com/bishopcomedy
DANIEL WOODROW
Daniel Woodrow - The World’s Whitest Black Comedian - has been fighting hard to bring laughter to audiences all over the world. Performing for every audience in his path, his observational calls-it-like-he-sees-it humour, and sarcastic slurs, will make you wish you were his best friend. Daniel has been making a statement in comedy in the short time he's been at it, performing everywhere from Yuk Yuks, and Absolute Comedy, to opening for names like, Jason Rouse, Jon Dore, Rob Pue, and Debra DiGiovanni. Daniel is quickly becoming a destination in comedy. He can be seen performing at events all over: award ceremonies, comedy clubs or even church services, his clean but slightly offensive humour can be seen there. If you don't like the feeling of bending over uncontrollably with laughter then this man’s show is not for you.
http://danielwoodrow.com/