Four nights of laughs in store for Garden City Comedy Festival
His occupation may read “comedian,” but David Green feels more like a juggler these days.
For the annual Garden City Comedy Festival, he’s booking the acts. He’s securing sponsors. He’s dealing with venues. As he shows up for a Thursday morning interview, he has his one- and three-year-old daughters with him.
When you’re a festival organizer, being a dad is just one more job to manage.
“It’s frustrating a little bit, because so much work and effort goes into organizing this,” says the veteran Niagara comedian. “I’m having nightmares about it every night. Something’s going wrong in the dream and I’m responsible for it.”
But every year, it’s worth it. And every year, the festival’s reputation grows.
While it’s still a long way from the international status of the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, it has earned respect among the Canadian comedy community since it began six years ago, says Green.
“It’s thriving right now. It’s got a great reputation because of how everyone’s so friendly … there’s no ‘cliqueiness’.”
This year’s festival runs today to Saturday at various venues in downtown St. Catharines.
Tonight Mahtay Café (241 St. Paul St.) features talent from the festival’s new Grassroots Comedy Course graduates. It’s hosted by Jimmy England, with Larry Smith as headliner.
The second night features Niagara’s Monsters of Schlock at The Green (Oddfellows Temple), 36 James St.
Friday will be the festival’s fundraiser night with Heather Fudge, Rebecca Hardy, Silvi Santoso and host Deanna Jones. Keesha Brownie will be headliner. It’s again at The Green.
The festival’s gala final night Saturday is at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (250 St. Paul St.) and features Kate Davis, Simon Rakoff, Crystal Ferrier and Thomas Calnan, hosted by Green. It will be headlined by Derek Edwards.
“He’s one of the pinnacles of Canadian comedy,” says Green.
Green’s long-term goal for the festival is to have multiple events happening the same night, giving people a choice what type of show to attend.
But he doesn’t want to add comedians just for the sake of making the festival bigger. That’s how you attract names like Bill Burr or Patton Oswalt.
“The main thing to focus on right now is not so much the star name and talent, I want the shows to be high quality,” Green says. “You know when you come into the show, from the opening act to the end act, it’s (top notch) — from start to finish.”
For tickets, go to gardencitycomedyfestival.com.