The Toronto Comedy Community is Extraordinary.

comedy for haiti

On January 12th, 2010 the world was reminded once again of our precarious position on this Earth of ours when a catastrophic earthquake, measuring 7.0. MMS, hit Haiti and devastated this already impoverished and politically unstable country. Sources estimate that 150,000 people have been buried there in the past two weeks and that the aftermath of this earthquake is affecting about three million people in the region. On January 12th, 2010 the world was reminded that we are all citizens of this planet, we are all brothers and sisters of humanity and we are all vulnerable to Mother Nature’s whims and the natural phenomenon that occur within the Earth and in the galaxies beyond us. On January 12th, 2010 people from all across this planet made a conscious effort to come together in the spirit of love, empathy and humanity and to pledge their support and their allegiance to the people of Haiti. Since January 12th, 2010 people have begun to investigate this one country’s history and people are asking the pertinent questions: not only how can we insure that these people have access to clean water, safe housing, fresh food, health care and access to education tomorrow, but also, and more importantly, how can we insure that these people will always have access to the basic necessities of life? How can we, who have so much, help this country that we have neglected for so long become a thriving and self-sufficient place to live? What other countries have been passed over? How can the richest countries in the world spread our goodwill and our global consciousness to all those whose homes are devastated by disease, war and poverty?

People from all walks of life and all sorts of different communities have rallied around Haiti within the last two weeks and fundraising efforts have exploded across the globe. The theatre communities across Canada have been exceptional in their dedication to organizing theatrical events to raise money for Haitian earthquake relief, and Toronto has certainly proven to be one of the leaders in this regard. The biggest event that I have come across has come from Toronto’s comedy community, which has put together an impressive eight days of shows in venues across the city, with 100% of the box office proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.

This event began on Sunday evening, and I would encourage everyone who lives in Toronto who reads this blog to schedule at least one of the following shows into your plans for the upcoming week because not only are they sure to be spectacularly funny, but the comedy community deserves your patronage for being so generous and for organizing a massive event which is the ultimate in inspiring and sure to be an incredible success.

Here is the schedule:

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26

8PM – Shut Up and Show Us Your Tweets at The Second City (51 Mercer St.)

8PM & 930PM – ITC Harold Night at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W.)

9PM – Eton House Open Mike with Joanna Downey at Eton House (710 Danforth Ave)

9PM – Sketch Comedy Lounge at Rivoli (332 Queen St. W)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27

8PM – Yuk Yuks (224 Richmond St.)

8PM – Your Parents’ Basement (Comedy Bar – 945 Bloor St. W.)

9PM – Heart For Haiti at John Candy Box Theatre (Second City Training Centre – 70 Peter Street)

9PM – Spirits Open Mic Comedy at Spirits Bar & Grill (642 Church St.)

9PM – The Carnegie Hall Show at Bread & Circus (299 Augusta Ave)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28

8PM – Absolute Comedy (2335 Yonge St.)

8PM – Funny Friends Raising Funds for Haiti at The Groundhog Pub. (401 Bloor St. E – at Sherbourne)

8:30PM – The Workshop with Bruce Hunter at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W)

10PM – Rock Paper Jokes at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W)

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29

8PM – Globehead 2010 at Bad Dog Theatre (138 Danforth Ave)

8PM – Catch 23 at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W)

9PM – Clandestiny (670 Queen St. E)

10PM – Macro Neato at Bad Dog Theatre (138 Danforth Ave)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30

10PM – Hawkmail presents First Draft at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W)

11PM Punch Drysdale at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31

7PM – Ghost Jail Theatre at Clintons (693 Bloor St. W)

7:30PM – Right Now at Bad Dog Theatre (138 Danforth Ave)

8PM – Monkey Toast: The Improvised Talk Show at The Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen St W)

8PM – Etched in Sketch at Comedy Bar

9PM – Sunday Night Live at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W)

On January 12th, 2010 the human race took a huge leap and millions of people decided to be extraordinary. They decided that today was the day to save a life instead of buying an extra coffee. They decided that today was the day to think about the less fortunate instead of just celebrity gossip. They decided that today was the day to look outward into the world, to be unselfish, to become aware, and to reach out their hand and help a stranger. On January 12th, 2010 the people of the world were faced with a horrific, calamitous, crippling situation and were able to turn it into an opportunity for hope, for light and for love to shine through. We were able to strengthen our global community and mobilize in ways that are inspiring and invigorating. 2010 is a decade that began with humanity’s strength and a unifying force of empathy, charity and goodwill. In 2010 the world decided to be extraordinary and I hope that each morning, as many of us as possible will continue to make that choice and to live it every day. We live in a precarious time of economic hardship, political unrest, with global warming beginning to rear its ugly head. We still live in a time of stark injustice, rampant disease, poverty, wars and corruption that seems to blanket everything in our midst. In 2008 Barack Obama asserted, “Yes we can to justice and equality. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity… Yes we can repair the world. Yes we can.” Millions of people worldwide are not donating their money, their time, their prayers, and their love because they feel like it doesn’t make a difference or because they are cynical or dejected. Millions of people are choosing to be extraordinary because they know that they can. They know that every single person, every single penny, every single prayer, every single minute makes this world a better place. It’s 2010, a decade of hope and a decade of love. The time to be extraordinary is now.

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