Comedy Awards may signal a golden age for improv in Toronto

Comedy Awards may signal a golden age for improv in Toronto

What happens when you put several hundred of Canada’s funniest people together in the same room for an evening? A lot of congratulatory mutual back-patting for being generally hilarious, it would seem. That was the scene at last night’s Canadian Comedy Awards, which took place in Toronto for the first time in seven years.

This was the 11th edition of the awards gala, which honours excellence in Canadian comedic performance in a range of genres including film, television, stand-up, theatre and improv. Long recognized as a Canadian improv mecca, Toronto proved it’s still at the top of the pile by totally cleaning up in the improvised comedy categories. Naomi Snieckus of Carnegie Hall Show and Impromptu Splendor took home a well-deserved award for best female improviser, while Sean Tabares of Impatient Theatre Company was awarded best male improviser. The Second City’s 0% Down, 100% Screwed won best comedic play or revue, and The Imponderables, also of Toronto, were awarded best sketch troupe.

Comedy Awards honour late stars [Toronto Star]