TORONTO, August 20, 2024 – Susan Waycik proudly announces Bestie Fest, a brand new three-day comedy festival for friends in Toronto. The inaugural Bestie Fest will take place September 27 – 29, 2024 at The Drake Hotel with headliners including Sabrina Jalees, Tom Hearn, Jackie Pircio, and Anesti Danelis. Bestie Fest will feature panels, parties and comedy shows with top performers in stand-up, sketch, music, drag and more.
“This is unlike any comedy festival you’ve been to before. With an emphasis on women, queerness and friendship, we’re making comedy festivals FUN again,” said Artistic Producer Susan Waycik. “Bring your besties, and your besties’ besties – there’s something for everyone.”
Cool Comedy Showcases!
Bestie Fest will host kewl showcases like: a headlining set from the ultimate bestie Sabrina Jalees (Farming for Love, Roast Battle Canada); BFF Variety Hour, MASHing the best of stand-up and sleepovers into one party show; The Laughy Hour, an unforgettable variety show that will have you in bed before 10pm; The Clique, a showcase of the new cool kids of comedy; The Weird Friend, a bunch of Toronto’s funniest alt-comedians; 2 FACED, the best sketch comedians bringing their funniest characters; and Laura Live!, a wild and weird variety show by Laura Cilevitz and a parade of special guests.
The 2024 Bestie Fest Line-Up includes:
Sabrina Jalees, Alex Kolanko, Anesti Danelis, Ava Val, Ben Sosa Wright, Bren D’Souza, Brandon Ash-Mohammed, Chris Sandiford, Courtney Gilmour, Erica Gellert, Gavin Pounds, Gillian Bartolucci, Isabel Zaw-Tun, Jackie Pirico, James O’Hara, Kyle Bergstresser, Laura Cilevitz, Luba Magnus, Makayla Couture, Meg MacKay, Melanie Dahling, Nour Hadidi, Paloma Nuñez, Rachel Manson, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll, Sarah Hillier, Tall Boyz II Men, Tamara Shevon, Tom Hearn, Tracy Hamilton, Tricia Black and Van Goth.
Comedy Panels
Bestie Fest will also feature two comedy panels where attendees can divine their future careers. Play The Record will demystify the process of creating and releasing comedy albums with a panel of professional comedians and industry experts from Howl & Roar Records. The Writers Room will feature a roster of top award winning comedians as they reflect on their journeys from live comedy to television writers’ rooms.
Artistic Producer of Bestie Fest is Susan Waycik
The Artistic Producer of Bestie Fest is Susan Waycik. She has produced several cabarets, plays, stand up, sketch comedy and variety shows. Susan aims to make comedy spaces feel more inclusive, and centers LGBTQ+ performers and women in the majority of her work. Producer credits include: “Chaos Menu: Disorder Up!”, “Welcome Back to the Future”, “Skyline’s the Limit” and “Home Sweet New Home” for The Second City. Independently, her producing credits include: “For Fox Sake”, “The BFF Variety Hour”, “Bi-Pandemonium”, “Laugh Riot”, “Hey There!”, “Slut Parade”, “Let’s Talk About Sex, Maybe?” and “Fresh Squeezed Comedy”.
Just the Details
Bestie Fest
September 27-29, 2024
The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West
$20 – $27
waycikproductions.com/bestiefest
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