Braxton Comedy Festival Aims to Keep Professional Comedy Alive in the Province

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The third annual Braxton Comedy Festival will take place August 13th to 17th at the LSPU Hall. The festival will showcase The Unpossible Stand Up Challenge Gala, The Nickel Film Festival Comedy Challenge, improvised theatre from Stanley Braxton Improv, and some of the best stand-up comedians in Newfoundland and Labrador. All in all providing emerging and seasoned talent on the island with a platform to do what they do best.

The festival is spearheaded by local comedian and improviser, Mike Hammond, in efforts to keep professional comedy alive in St. John’s. Since the closing of Yuk Yuk’s and discontinuing of the Screech Comedy festival there have been few professional opportunities in the city. The festival highlights some incredible local talent including Sarah Walsh, (Screech Comedy Festival, Yuk Yuk’s), Nicole Downton (Yuk Yuk’s) Stanley Braxton Improv Co. (*blank* The Musical, St. John’s Short Play Festival), The Unpossible Stand Up Challenge Gala, The Nickel 48 Comedy Challenge, and the gala headliner Ryan Dillon (Just for Laughs, Serious XM Radio, Kevin Hart’s Laugh out Loud, CBC, JFL42, Yuk Yuk’s).

This will be Ryan’s first time home in since recording his new album “Violently Nice”. “I got my comedy career started in Newfoundland. To come back and headline The LSPU Hall, my favourite venue in Canada, with the hilarious folks in Stanley Braxton, who helped become who I am today, is just too cool. I can’t wait to laugh my stupid head off all week.”

For more information on the festival you can go to www.braxtoncomedyfestival.com