A local theatre is raising donations and awareness for an important issue among Langley youth, one laugh at a time.
On Sunday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m., the Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort Langley is presenting LOL For Life, a night of comedy in support of Suicide Prevention, Education and Counselling (SPEAC).
LOL For Life will feature some of Vancouver’s finest comedians including Patrick Maliha, Kyle Bottom, Sophie Buddle and Kevin Foxx, as well as an appearance by Toronto’s Michelle Shaughnessy.
Originally created by Chief Sepass Theatre Manager, Kevin Statham, this year’s show will be the third LOL For Life comedy event.
“I just knew I needed to contribute in some way,” Statham said. “When Robin Williams passed away a few years ago, I saw a lot of people voicing their sadness through social media. I did that as well, but I wanted to do something more than post a photo on Facebook with a sad emoticon. In that moment, I decided to create something that will hopefully have a positive effect on a local level.”
The SPEAC program is part of Options Community Services — a large multi-service non-profit organization that serves Surrey, White Rock and Langley children and youth. The program provides suicide risk assessment, urgent response and short-term counselling for children and youth.
“We are very thankful to be involved in this event,” said senior program manager, Nancy Orlikow. “It helps to promote and spread awareness of the significant need for more resources for our children and youth in our communities who are affected by or are at risk for suicide. It is very important that people understand the scope of the need, but also that prevention of suicide is entirely possible and that programs like ours do save lives.”
Tickets for the show are $20 with proceeds going to SPEAC. Purchase in advance online at www.brownpapertickets.com, or in person at Wendel’s Books & Café in Fort Langley and the Langley Fine Arts School.
ABOUT THE COMEDIANS
Kyle Bottom
A regular at his home club The Comedy Mix, Bottom has appeared at the Vancouver International Comedy Festival, on XM Sirius Satellite Radio, was twice featured on the T.V. show Talent Time (2010 & 2012) and has performed all over the world…of warcraft. A nerd in a slacker’s body, Bottom captivates audiences with his unique voice, engaging personal stories and hilarious commentary. He continues to make a name for himself throughout Canada with his blend of raw confession and comic observation. He also grows one heck of a moustache (it’s a blessing and a curse).
Sophie Buddle
Buddle is one of the fastest rising stars in Canadian comedy. Fresh off her second stint at the world-famous Just For Laughs festival in Montreal, she is also a fan favourite at The Comedy Mix in Vancouver, and tours all across North America with her clever and hilarious stand-up act.
Patrick Maliha
Maliha is the world record holder for most impressions in one minute — beating out the previous record holder, Dana Carvey. His act has been described as Ray Romano meets a 21st Century Don Rickles. Maliha co-hosted The Afternoon Buzz every Monday to Friday on Talk 1410 Radio for which he won numerous awards including, Favourite Afternoon Radio Show. His love of television and film has led him to become a voting member of the Vancouver Film Critics Circle, one half of The Movie Guys on the TV show Urban Rush, head writer and producer for the KVOS television show Off Centre Television, host of UR at The Movies and the nationally syndicated television show The New Driver’s Seat. He has been featured on CBC radio, XM and Sirius satellite radio’s various comedy programs. His one-hour Comedy Now special aired in the fall of 2011 on both CTV and The Comedy Network.
Michelle Shaughnessy
Shaughnessy began her show biz career at the young age of 18 moving from small town Ontario to the metropolis of Toronto. She was quickly playing comedy clubs nationwide and soon landed on television appearing on The Comedy Network and W. Shaughnessy is widely considered one of the funniest young comics in Canada, something she proved by beating out hundreds of other comedians from Canada, Ireland, South Africa, and the United States to make it to the finals of Yuk Yuk’s The Great Canadian Laugh Off. She has an almost confessional style of comedy that appeals to both men and women and always leaves her audience screaming for more.
Kevin Foxx
From the smash success of his funny and irreverent radio show, The Kevin Foxx Show, on Toronto’s hit radio station CFRB to nightly shows at comedy clubs and corporate stages, Foxx is a versatile performer. His comedy pursuits have been featured on numerous television programs including a pilot for Showtime written by the late Richard Pryor. He wrote and starred in his own one-hour comedy special on CTV and The Comedy Network and has been a featured writer for This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Foxx has appeared at almost every major comedy festival there is, including the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, The Chicago Comedy Festival, The Global Comedy Festival and many others.