Coaches
PETER ANTHONY
Peter Anthony is fast becoming one of Canada's rising comedy stars. You may have caught him at a comedy club, a college, a corporate function or on television. It seems lately, this 2008 Canadian Comedy Award winner for "Best New Standup" is everywhere!
On the club scene, Peter continues to push the envelope and develop his distinctive, hilarious point-of-view. He has graced the stages of comedy clubs throughout Canada, the US, and in the UK. Peter's club work has garnered him countless credits. In his first year, Peter was chosen as a finalist in Yuk Yuk's Search for Canada's Funniest New Comic. As his career began to take shape, Peter began to tour relentlessly and has since performed at the Halifax Comedy Festival, the Calgary Comedy Festival, the Seattle International Comedy Competition, and twice at the Canadian Comedy Awards and Festival. Recently, Peter entered the $25,000 Great Canadian Laugh-off Competition and took 3rd place overall! He has worked alongside the best in the business including Howie Mandel, Russell Peters, and Harland Williams to name a few.
If you haven't seen Peter's live show, you may recognize him from his numerous television appearances including CTV's "Comedy Now,"CBC's "Halifax Comedy Festival," or various appearances on The Comedy Network.
Alongside standup comedy, Peter's writing career continues to flourish. He has written for the smash game show "You Bet Your Ass" on The Comedy Network, "TKO" for Global TV, "Talking Funny" for CBC Radio and has penned countless hilarious promos for several Canadian networks including Showcase, the Food Network, and HGTV.
Comedian Peter Anthony currently lives in Toronto, but is admittedly and happily a "small town boy" from Pictou, Nova Scotia. And he hardly ever complains.
IAN SIROTA
This two time Gemini nominee is a force to be reckoned with. Nominated for best comedy performance this sharp-tongued comedian takes no prisoners. He can take a one-word answer and turn it into a fifteen-minute farce. He's smart, funny and his improv skills are considered among the best. Ian's stand-up ranges from: observational, to self-deprecating, to one-liners and always with the audience in mind. "People want to be part of the show and it's my job to do that but never at anyone's expense. It's all in good fun and everyone leaves with a smile on his or her face. Jake Mckinnon of Bravo magazine described Ian as, "A cross between Denis Leary and Don Rickles."
In New York he regularly frequented the stages of "Stand-up New York" and "Caroline's". Ian has performed and written for comedy shows on the Comedy network and CTV. Comedy Inc, Nikki Payne's Fun Hour and The Jon Dore show are among his many credits. He also had his own Comedy Now special on CTV. Other highlights include: Gutterball Alley (Comedy Network), Sketch.COM (CBC), and opening for the likes of Norm Macdonald, Dennis Leary, Robin Williams etc…
ALLYSON SMITH
Allyson Smith has been tickling Canada's comedy scene from the moment she put down the chalk brush and picked up a mic. With her sassy blend of in-your-face stand-up and hilariously insightful commentary, playing to packed rooms is just another day at the office for this former high-school teacher, whose credits include CTV's Comedy Now, MuchMusic's Video on Trial, CBC's The Debaters, the prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and just about everywhere in between.
As a young'un, Allyson knew she was weird. While other little girls were flailing around in baggy ballet leotards, she was introducing her fellow sixth graders to power of a perfectly timed punch line. As talent shows grew into theatre and sketch comedy, Allyson's calling became clear: she was going to make people laugh. And laugh they did.
A natural born entertainer with the pipes to prove it, Allyson was soon leaving locals laugh-drunk in sketchy bars across the prairies. No room was too seedy for Miss Smith.
But it wasn't long before dodgy backroom deals turned into legitimate front-of-the-house bookings and a packed dance card of appearances at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, the Seattle Comedy Contest and Yuk Yuk's across Canada.
Today, the "embarrassingly varied" teacher-cum-comic is a sought-after fan favourite, headlining shows from coast to coast and popping up in living rooms wherever there's a cable signal...often uninvited but always charming (*wink*). Despite emerging as one of Canada's rising stand-up stars, Allyson has remained true to her talent show roots. Her down-to-earth nature and girl-next-door approachability have earned her the respect and friendship of fans and fellow comics alike. When she isn't smiling in the spotlight, you'll find her growing Canadian comedy from behind the scenes, hosting open mic nights, yammering with virgins or sniffing out dicey rooms that could use a few laughs. Now, who's ready for detention?
