Print TOSketch Fest Announces First Round of Programming

by BWW News Desk

The 8th Annual Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival (TOsketchfest) is pleased to announce their side-splitting lineup for 2013! TOsketchfest has officially moved from November to March, and will host over 40 troupes from across North America, March 7-17, 2013 at The LOT and Comedy Bar with special programming at The Second City.

The Sketcherson's Sunday Night Live will welcome an extra special host as part of TOSketchfest - the best host there is, the best host there was and the best host there ever will be - legendary wrestler Bret "The Hitman" Hart! The "Pink and Black Attack" will host Sunday Night Live on Sunday, March 17 at Comedy Bar and participate in sketches with The Sketchersons.

An exciting addition to the TOsketchfest line-up is the Canadian Featured Series including the return of Dance Party of Newfoundland with all-star members Jonny Harris (Murdoch Mysteries) and Susan Kent (This Hour Has 22 Minutes), the premiere of an all-new full-length show by Montreal's Uncalled For, Toronto's popular verbal smackdown show Rapp Battlez, Winnipeg's Hot Thespian Action and Vancouver's Peter N Chris (reigning TOSketchfest Audience Choice Award winners).

Returning this year are previous TOsketchfest award winners: The Steam Whistle Brewing Producers' Pick Award Vest of Friends (2011) and Jape (2008); and Sketch Com-Ageddon champions, Rulers of the Universe (2012), The Hooligans (2011) and Smells Like the 80s (2010).

The current Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival lineup (*TOsketchfest debut) includes:
2 Man No Show (Toronto), Approximately 3 Peters (Toronto), Beggars Canyon* (Toronto), British Teeth (Toronto), Carl's Backyard (Chicago), Charles (Seattle), CORY! (Toronto), Dance Party Of Newfoundland (St. John's), The Feeko Brothers* (Philadelphia), Fratwurst (Toronto), Fun Car* (Toronto), The Hooligans (Brampton), Hot Thespian Action (Winnipeg), Jape (Toronto), Kerpatty! (Chicago), The Ladies* (Toronto), Ladybusiness* (Toronto), Ladystache (Toronto), The Local Drysdales* (Toronto), Ned and Dave* (Toronto), Parker and Seville (Toronto), Peter N Chris (Vancouver), Pink Slip* (Toronto), Primo* (Toronto), Punch In The Box (Toronto),
Rabbit Rabbit (Chicago), The Reception (Toronto), The Rocket Scientists (Toronto), Rulers Of The Universe* (Toronto), She Said What (Toronto), Smells Like The 80s (Toronto), STAG* (Austin), The Short Form Richards* (Toronto), The Sketchersons (Toronto), The Templeton Philharmonic (Toronto), Tony Ho (Toronto), Two Weird Ladies* (Toronto), Uncalled For (Montreal), Vest Of Friends (Toronto) and The Weaker Vessels* (Toronto).

The Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival is the largest independent comedy festival in Canada, highlighting the best live, scripted comedy in North America. Since 2005 the festival has brought sketch comedy to wider audiences with ticketed and free performances showcasing hundreds of artists in troupes such as Sassy Gay Friend, FrankenMatt, Picnicface, Two Kids One Hall, Falcon Powder and This is That Live.

THE 8TH ANNUAL TORONTO SKETCH COMEDY FESTIVAL
Thursday, March 7 - Sunday, March 17, 2012
The LOT (Lower Ossington Theatre), 100A Ossington Avenue
Comedy Bar, 945 Bloor Street West
The Second City, 51 Mercer Street
4-Show Passes: $40+hst until January 31st, $50 thereafter
Single tickets will go on sale in February 2013
Advance tickets available online at www.torontosketchfest.com
Full schedule will be announced shortly.
www.torontosketchfest.com