Just For Laughs Awakens The Ladies

The Just For Laughs Festival, presented by Videotron in association with Loto-Québec, continues to roll out the biggest names in comedy as they add even more star power to the 80-plus shows already announced for Montreal this summer.

Just For Laughs is thrilled to announce that the legendary Carrie Fisher will be hosting a multi-comic televised Videotron Gala presented by Air Canada this summer in Montreal. Award-winning actress and bestselling author, Carrie is a true cultural icon. She is best known for her role as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, a role which she most recently reprised in the record-breaking box office hit Star Wars: The Force Awakens in December 2015. Her autobiographical one-woman Broadway show, Wishful Drinking, was filmed for HBO and received an Emmy Award nomination, while her award-winning bestselling novel, Postcards from the Edge, was made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Shirley MacLaine and Meryl Streep. Her appearance on 30 Rock was nominated for an Emmy Award and she can also be seen in the critically acclaimed Amazon series Catastrophe. The Carrie Fisher Comedy Gala will take place July 31, 7:00 pm, at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier in Place Des Arts.

Two-time Emmy Award winner Sarah Silverman joined Saturday Night Live in 1993 as a writer and feature performer and has not stopped working since. She continues to lend her voice to the Fox animated series Bob’s Burgers and has a recurring role on the Golden Globe–nominated Showtime series Masters of Sex, which will return for its fourth season this year. She was most recently seen as the star of I Smile Back, for which she received much praise and a 2016 Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for “Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role.” She debuted her hour-long, critically acclaimed HBO stand-up special in 2013, Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles, and can be seen next in The Lonely Island’s Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Silverman continues to cement her status as a force in stand-up comedy, and you can catch her live in Montreal for one night only on July 30, 9:30 pm, at Maison Symphonique in Place Des Arts.

Founded in 2011, Harmontown is a near weekly live podcast by Dan Harmon, Emmy-winning creator/executive producer of the comedy series Community as well as the co-creator/executive producer of Adult Swim’s Rick & Morty, and features co-host “Comptroller” Jeff Davis (Whose Line Is It Anyway?). In 2014, Harmon starred in the documentary Harmontown which chronicled his 20-city stand-up/podcast tour of the same name. The film premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and was released theatrically in October of 2014. Catch Harmontown Live with Dan Harmon on July 30, 2:00 pm, in the Hyatt Grand Salon Opera.

George Wallace, veteran radio personality, beloved stand-up comedian and bestselling author hosts New Faces: Unrepped presented by PYPO. Dubbed “The New Mr. Vegas,” Wallace headlined his own show at Las Vegas’ The Flamingo Hotel for 10 years straight before touring North America in 2014. Catch him hosting this showcase that introduces the best up-and-coming stand-ups scoured from across the USA as they are introduced to industry and fans alike on the big festival stage. Commission-free comedy at its best! On July 28, 11:00 pm, at 5e Salle in Place des Arts.

Barry Katz hosts the Industry Standard Podcast, a one-of-a-kind insider look at Hollywood through the eyes of a comedy manager/producer. The live taping of the podcast takes place July 29, 12:00 pm, at the Hyatt Regency Ovation Room.

OFF-JFL IN COLLABORATION WITH PABST BLUE RIBBON ADDS NEW SHOWS

Finesse Mitchell hosts The Masters, a show featuring seasoned pros and stand-up legends doing what they do best. These comedians are at the top of their games; you won’t see more solid stand-up than this! Performances at OFF-JFL from July 27-30, 10:30 pm, at Katacombes.

After receiving four standing ovations at the Neil Patrick Harris: Circus Awesomeus Galas last summer in Montreal, Brad Williams brings his new show, Daddy Issues, to OFF-JFL. It’s an extraordinary show that riotously tackles political correctness, dwarfism and race, as well as how his father raised him to deal with adversity, July 28-30, 7:00 pm, at Theatre La Chapelle. Brad also stars in The Nasty Show from July 20-30 at Metropolis.

Iliza Shlesinger is a triple threat at Just For Laughs this summer with two solo show performances, a live podcast and her just-announced OFF-JFL show, Girls’ Night in with Iliza. The evening is meant to give girls a fun place to come and bond over the insanity that is being a woman. This show is going to get personal, ugly and beautiful all at the same time and it’s ONLY for girls. Don’t miss her show at Theatre La Chapelle, July 29, at 11:30 pm.

With a career spanning over 30 years, iconic comedian Louie Anderson is a two-time Emmy Award Winner, star of his own stand-up specials and sitcoms, bestselling author, and was named one of the “100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time” by Comedy Central. Don’t miss your chance to see a true comedy legend as he adds a third performance on July 24, 9:00 pm, at Theatre Sainte-Catherine along with his already announced OFF-JFL shows on July 25 and 26 at Salle Claude-Léveillée in Place Des Arts.

Stars of The Ethnic Show, Jessica Kirson, Gina Brillon and Yannis Pappas are set to take over OFF-JFL and Theatre Sainte-Catherine on July 25 with solo performances. Jessica, named “Best Female Comic” by the MAC association and recent recipient of the Nightlife Award for “Best Stand-up Comedian” in New York City, will perform her solo show Talking to Myself with Jessica Kirson at 7:30 pm. A delightfully hilarious Just For Laughs New Face alumnus, Gina will perform at 9:00 pm, and Yannis, host of AOL’s Original Series 2 Point Lead, will perform his solo show Let Me Be Yannis at 10:30 pm. The Ethnic Show runs from July 13-28 at Club Soda and Metropolis.

The Just For Laughs Festival runs from July 13 to August 1, 2016 and OFF-JFL runs from July 21-30, 2016 in Montreal, Canada.

Presale for each show begins today at 10 am. Public onsale starts June 3, at 10 am.

Early Bird prices are now in effect for JFL ComedyPRO industry members (you know who you are) until June 17, 2016. JFL ComedyPRO runs from July 27-30, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Montreal, Canada.

Visit hahaha.com for more details on comics, show dates and times, early bird tickets, and more!