Uncloseted Comedy, and The Staircase Theatre are excited to announce in recognition of Pride 2023; The Uncloseted Comedy Pride Festival, a weekend-long celebration of queer comedy, brought to you by Howl and Roar Records. June 16th - 18th!
Beginning as a Pride event June 2022, Uncloseted Comedy was born from enthusiasm around the show allowing it to evolve into a monthly showcase of your favourite local queer comedians. The festival features different comedy practices, various show formats, workshops, and events as we come together to celebrate queer joy. Uncloseted offers a social space for queer and ally-minded folks to connect over laughter. Comedy comes in all forms and you can find them at The Uncloseted Comedy Pride Festival!
This celebration of queer visibility, performance and strength is brought to by Howl & Roar Records you with the support of Hub of the Hammer Event Planning, 1UP Games and more of your favourite local businesses!
FRIDAY
4:30 PM - Doors Open
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Rad Carpet - Cafe
Dress to impress and join us on the Rad Carpet to kick off the festival. Available performers and media will be in attendance. Get your photo taken in front of our Uncloseted backdrop.
6:45 PM - 7:00 PM - Opening Ceremonies - Studio Theatre
Rae Lockdust starts things off in the Relay Cafe before the shows and events officially begin at 7!
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Interactive Social - Cafe
Hosted by Queer Coffee founder, Wolfe, start the festival off by building connections at this social event
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM- Uncloseted Comedy All Stars - Studio Theatre
Hosted by Rae Lockdust and featuring hit performers from Uncloseted Performances past! Including Joelle Bolton-South, Robert Watson, Ted Morris and opened by festival headliner Al Val.
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Improv Social - Elaine May Theatre
Make some friends and have fun through these interactive improv games hosted by Gabriel Mansour!
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM - Karaoke - Cafe
Sing your heart out! (We'll catch it) Hosted by Joelle Bolton-South
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Uncloseted Comedy - The Bright Room
Our classic format is hosted by Thempressor and features Heather Mariko, David Haddad, Sophie Hayes and is headlined by Bonez Poley.
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM - Uncloseted Dark & Dirty - Studio Theatre
Everyone likes to get a little dirty once in a while, right? Hosted by Kali Williams and featuring Steve DeGay, Keh Dee, Hillary Yaas and headlined by Rush Kazi
SATURDAY
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Board Games - Cafe
The Bard and Bear Games Cafe has curated a special selection of games either with a queer theme or designed to make you laugh out loud!
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM - Improv - Theatre
Al Val hosts a series of improv games with Kez & Rae, Bopit & Yuzu, and more!
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Uncloseted Gets Musical! - The Bright Room
Uncloseted comedy brings together our favourite queer musical acts!
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Drag Bingo - Cafe
Hosted by Hamilton’s own Noella DeVille, join us for a round of bingo you won’t forget!
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Being a Woman - Theatre
Dianne Skoll revives her one-woman fringe show to bring us on a journey of story-telling and standup comedy.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Intro to Burlesque with St. Stella - Elaine May Theatre
Always wanted to try burlesque but the opportunity never knocked? St. Stella is at the door and ready for you to get started!
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Tamara Shevon - The Bright Room
Warming up for Wining and Writing, Tamara Shevon delivers 45 minutes of laughs. Hosted by Rae Lockdust
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM - The Al Val Shenaniganza - Theatre
This may be the hardest description to write. We’re essentially letting Al Val loose on stage for an hour. Hosted by Levi Mann
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM - Open Mic - Cafe
It’s your turn to get on stage! Hosted by Joelle Bolton-South and starring YOU!
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Drag Me to the Stage - Elaine May Theatre
Hosted by Thempressor join drag and burlesque favourites on the stage with this Hybrid booked and signup show!
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Karaoke - Cafe
Sing your heart out! (We'll catch it) Hosted by Joelle Bolton-South
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Comedy Game Showdown - The Bright Room
Dan Donnelly brings us his hit show Comedy Game Showdown where comedians square off on conflicting topics!
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Wining and Writing With Tamara Shevon - Elaine May Theatre
Hilarious comedian Tamara Shevon runs a comedy writing workshop through wine-coloured glasses. (Wine is not included with the workshop but available at the cafe)
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Sad Boi Hours - Theatre
A lineup of the best and saddest comedians sharing jokes about mental health. Hosted by James O’Hara
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM - Uncloseted Burlesque Cabaret - The Bright Room
Hudson Bae gifts us with a burlesque cabaret one only dreams of! VIP pass first and second-row priority seating and gift bags
SUNDAY
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM - High Tea With The Queens - Cafe
The Relay Cafe invites you to join us for High Tea featuring drag performances!
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Improv Workshop - Elaine May Theatre
Learn the basics of improv in this workshop by Anders Yates
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Board Games - Cafe
The Bard and Bear Games Cafe has curated a special selection of games either with a queer theme or designed to make you laugh out loud!
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Feedback Mic - Elaine May Theatre
Get immediate feedback on a 5 minute set with Jason Dogleash
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Anders Yates is Going to Wear Very Tight Shorts - The Bright Room
An hour of sketch comedy with Anders Yates!
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Tricia Black & Tom Hearn Live! - Studio Theatre
Sensational performers Tricia Black and Tom Hearn create an hour of sketch and improv!
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Closing Performance - Studio Theatre
Rae Lockdust hosts the final Uncloseted event for the weekend! Features Kali Williams, Joelle Bolton-South, Jason Dogleash, and of course, closed-out by Festival Headliner, Al Val
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM - Uncloseted Comedy Pride Festival Closing Ceremony - Theatre
Rae Lockdust is going to get sappy while they thank everyone and shares highlights from the festival
Here are the different ways to buy day passes or singular events
Uncloseted Weekend Passes - Friday - Saturday and Sunday Passes can be purchased here
Uncloseted Friday Events - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-uncloseted-comedy-pride-festival-friday-tickets-647393660867
Uncloseted Saturday Events - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-uncloseted-comedy-pride-festival-saturday-tickets-647669114757
Uncloseted Sunday Events - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-uncloseted-comedy-pride-festival-sunday-tickets-647701260907
Separate Events Not Included in Day Pass
Uncloseted High Tea with the Queens (Drag Queens) separate event not included in the passes - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/high-tea-with-the-drag-queens-uncloseted-comedy-pride-festival-tickets-651372120547
Uncloseted Drag Bingo - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/drag-bingo-uncloseted-comedy-pride-festival-tickets-651442541177
Uncloseted Intro To Burlesque with St Stella - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/intro-to-burlesque-the-uncloseted-comedy-pride-festival-tickets-651305912517
Uncloseted Karaoke - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/karaoke-night-uncloseted-comedy-pride-festival-tickets-651500303947
****** PLEASE BE AWARE THE ENTIRE BUILDING IS NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE BUT IT WILL BE MADE CLEAR WHICH ROOMS ARE ACCESSIBLE ******
