FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
LadyBits lures the mayor on stage for annual fundraiser
THIRD ANNUAL LADYBITS AND PIECES When: Monday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m. Where: Amigo’s
Tickets: $10
How do you populate your annual improv fundraising show? Take a cue from urban planning and add some infill.
In the case of the LadyBits, that means the mayor himself, Charlie Clark. His Worship is one of three guests at the Feb. 12 event at Amigo’s.
“We were really excited. I knew he had an interest in it last year, so it wasn’t a total shock. I also talked to his wife … and she said, ‘Yeah, he’d be really good at that,’ ” said LadyBits co-founder Jenny Ryan.
This year’s edition raises funds for Margaret’s Place, YWCA’s temporary housing for teenage girls.
It’s a special show. The threeperson improv troupe of Ryan, Marley Duckett and Courtney Lato usually includes only women.
They launched the group about four years ago after performing in other local improv outfits.
“We realized that women wanted to try improv, they wanted to try comedy but it can be somewhat intimidating if you walk into a room and there’s just, like, 12 men there.”
That said, for the February show, “We play on the whole idea of Valentine’s Day, so we invite boys on stage with us,” Ryan said.
The other two guests are experienced hands at improv: Andrew McDonald from the Saskatoon Soaps and Willem de Jong from the No-Nos.
Improv can be intimidating for newcomers, but Ryan says the supportive atmosphere will make things easier for the mayor.
“We’ll take it easy on him. He’s going to be on stage with five professional improvisers, so he really won’t have an opportunity to fail. In improv, your job is to make your guest look good.”
Also coming up for LadyBits is #WomenCrushWednesdays: A Monthly Comedy Open Mic for Women. It could feature anything from improv and standup to sketches and storytelling. It’s Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. at O’Brians. Tickets $10.