TOSketchFestBlog

TOsketchfest20 – Programming updates

Performances Continue at TOsketchfest

The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival is closely monitoring the recent outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) and are following the guidelines provided by public health authorities. 

The events for Saturday, March 14 will continue as planned, with the guidelines provided by public health strictly in place. We have postponed the Best of the Fest Award Show and the IBPOC Comedy Writers workshop previously scheduled for Sunday, March 15 until a later date. TOsketchfest will properly honour the award winners and rescheduled workshops later this year. 

In reaction to these unprecedented circumstances, we have reduced venues capacities in all venues by 50%, and spaced seating to allow for “social distancing.” We are working closely with our venue partners to ensure our spaces are clean. We are providing the tools for good hygiene and encouraging best practices from our audiences, performers, and staff. We are asking all participants to stay home if you are sick or have been in contact with someone who is sick.

TOsketchfest is a small charity, and one of Canada’s only charities dedicated to supporting comedic voices. In keeping with our core values, we have honoured our commitment to pay our artists, staff, and venues. Ticket sales for our final festival weekend are a huge part of our annual revenue and we ask ticket holders for their partnership in helping us continue to support comedians in these exceptional circumstances.

Should a ticket buyer choose to no longer attend, we ask you to please consider converting your unused tickets into an equivalent charitable donation to the festival – which gives you a charitable receipt – or we will credit the value of your ticket purchase to your account to be used for any future TOsketchfest event. Any questions about unused tickets can be directed to boxoffice@torontosketchfest.com.

We acknowledge this situation affects the arts community as a whole, and we stand committed to supporting the career development of Canadian comedic writer performers.

Currently all TOsketchfest shows and events to March 14 are moving ahead as planned, and we will continue close contact with authorities in the coming days. We are committed to making the final day of the Festival fun, comfortable, and safe! We thank you for cooperation.

Socially distancing?

We’ve got you covered. We have reduced venues capacities in all venues – plus we’re offering a FREE Facebook Live stream for select performances! Get over to the TOsketchfest Facebook Page and sit in on the fun!

Live Stream Tonight

Live stream the March 14 performance of Same Boat Comedy and Tom Hearn at 9pm on Instagram at @isthattomhearn 

Updated Performance Lineups

Due to concerns with international travel, performances by our friends in Spooky Dookie, Milwaukee! and Gary From HR will not be joining us this year. Please note the following programming changes:

Saturday, March 14

4pm – Directors Panel – POSTPONED
7pm – Dang Dumb and Definition of Knowledge – Comedy Bar Mainspace
8pm – JOVANI / The Wow– Theatre Centre (Franco Boni)
9pm – Gender? I Hardly Know Them / Carson & Taylor Promise to do a Bunch MORE Flips– Theatre Centre (BMO Incubator)
9:30pm – Meg MacKay / Anna Smith (Comedy Bar Cabaret) – CANCELLED
10pm – Palcoholics / Lil’ RasGALS – Theatre Centre (Franco Boni)

Sunday, March 15

8pm – The Best of the Fest Award Show – Theatre Centre (Franco Boni) – POSTPONED