MORE QUEER COMICS AT JUST FOR LAUGHS 2018
Beside Todd Glass and Matteo Lane, here are some queer comics appearing at this year’s edition of the Just For Laughs Festival: Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby created a global phenomenon with her masterpiece, Nanette, which earned her Australia’s most prestigious comedy award ‘The Barry’ for Best Show at the 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, as well was the world’s biggest prize for live comedy, the Best Comedy Show award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The show went on to sell out two seasons in London and a three-month run in New York where it was described by the New York Times as “a riveting New York debut at SoHo Playhouse that announces a major new voice.” In 2018, Nanette will be released on Netflix worldwide, and her visit to Montreal for Just for Laughs will be the last time Hannah performs Nanette on the stage. Her last live performance of this acclaimed show will take place at JFL on July 26 at the Maison Theatre. Fortune Feimster is a writer, comedian and actress who made her TV debut on NBC’s LastComicStanding in 2010. Between 2015 and 2017 she starred as Colette on The MindyProject, as well as created and starred in the Tina Fey-produced pilot FamilyFortune for ABC. Feimster stars in her solo show at JFL from July 25 to 28 at Salle Claude-Léveillée at Place des Arts. Los Angeles-based Toronto native Sabrina Jalees got her start on Canadian shows such as MuchMusic’sVideoOnTrial and YTV’sInRealLife, has toured North America, England, South Africa, and performed at Just For Laughs several times. She brings her solo show to JFL at Katakombes from July 23 to 28. Comedian, actor, and New York Times Bestselling writer, Tig Notaro, is performing at Just For Laughs this summer. Notaro is recognized for her critically acclaimed semi-autobiographical Amazon series, OneMississippi, which she wrote, produced, and starred in, as well as her second Netflix special, Happy ToBeHere, released to high praises last month. The Grammy and Emmy nominated comic is returning to JFL for the third time in her decorated career, with her new one hour show at L'Olympia on July 25th. 6 RICHAR BURNETT
The Just For Laughs Festival runs from July 11 to 29. For more information and tickets, visit www.hahaha.com. Read Richard Burnett’s national queerissues column Three Dollar Bill online at www.bugsburnett.blogspot.com.