Big Daddy Tazz
Often described as “one of the most talented comics in the business,” Tazz has been delighting crowds at fundraisers, corporate events, festivals and on television for more than a decade and a half. Known as the “Bi-Polar Buddha”, Tazz is equal parts comedian, and motivational speaker who likes to enlighten, educate and inspire. As a result, his one-man shows have drawn rave reviews and standing ovations from coast-to-coast. Tazz’ many national festival appearances have included the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, the Moncton Comedy Festival and the CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival, for which he annually multi-tasks as a writer, producer and performer. Tazz’ explosive Gala performances at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival over the years can be seen frequently on CBC Television and The Comedy Network. On April 1st 2008 Tazz set a record for the longest uninterrupted stand up comedy show at 8 1/2 hrs. Tazz is currently co-starring in the APTN comedy hit Mixed Blessings.
Aisha Alfa
A Nigerian, a Canadian, an online tv host and a Life Coach walk into a uterus…nine months later and you’ve got Aisha Alfa! A finalist in both the Winnipeg’s Funniest Person with a Day Job and the Winnipeg’s Gone Wacky contests in her first year of comedy, she’s been making a splash as a new funny female comedian in Winnipeg. Her style is observational, over the top and full of truths! Watch her and you’ll find yourself saying, “It’s funny cause I do that all the time”. A personable, charming and annoyingly positive person, Aisha will make you laugh, make you check yourself and make you want to see more.
Cara Lytwyn
Cara Lytwyn, originally from Flin Flon, Manitoba, is the 2008 winner of Winnipeg’s Funniest Person with a Day Job, an annual standup comedy contest held at Rumor’s Comedy Club and is the current title holder of Winnipeg’s Funniest Comic competition sponsored by the Winnipeg Free Press and Hot 103. She is the first and only female comedian to win either title. Armed with her quick wit and sassy self-deprecation, Lytwyn performs with a fresh attitude and dynamic energy. She has been reviewed as “Furiously Funny” by UMFM Radio.
In 2007, Lytwyn produced her own standup comedy showcase featured in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. For the last two years, she has been invited to perform in the celebrated Winnipeg show: Girls! Girls! Girls!, featuring a variety of female artists. Lytwyn performs standup comedy all over the city of Winnipeg and is a featured cast member of the popular alternative show Comedy Loser. This year she will be a featured guest speaker for the third consecutive year for the Red River College Comedy Writing Class. Cara peformed in the 2010 CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival in the Shock of the New Show hosted by Jon Dore.
Rachel Sommer
Comic by night, mild mannered Optometrist by day, Winnipeg comedian Rachel Sommer has been trying to spread both laughter and moderately improved
eyesight around Manitoba. As the producer and performer of Titters!, an all-female comedy show seen in the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2007, which won the coveted People’s Choice Award. Rachel has been privy to many perks such as lower priced car rentals. Her quick wit, sarcasm, and the ability to hog the spotlight have wowed audiences at her family gatherings for three straight decades. As the winner and runner up of the Australian Northern Territory Triple J Raw Comedy competitions in 2003 and 2004 and host of the Australian Northern Territory Triple J Raw Comedy competition 2005, she started her foray in stand up comedy as a Canadian living in Australia. In 2003, she performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and received rave reviews. Rachel’s Mom said: “Australians find you funny?” Her parents are kind and supportive, but don’t love her nearly as much as if she’d come home to their small Mennonite town and marry the local butcher.
Rachel has also been a comedy writer/performer for the Darwin Fringe Festival
2003/2004 and performed at various Adelaide comedy hot spots such as PJ O’Brien’s, Checkmates, The Rhino Room and Sky City Casino. Currently, she can be found performing in Winnipeg at The Winnipeg Comedy Festival 2008/2009, Shannon’s Irish Pub, Rumors Restaurant and Comedy Club, The Press Club, The Green Brier and The Cavern.
Chantel Marostica
Born and raised in Winnipeg Manitoba, Chantel Marostica has been on the Canadian Comedy Scene since 2002, starting out in Improv, at the age of twelve. Using said Improv skills, she portrayed endless characters in sketch comedy, that she both performs and writes. Chantel has honed her skills on and off stage, that add to her performance based comedic stand up timing and abilities. In 2004 Chantel moved her concentration from team based improv and sketch, to fly solo, all the way to Montreal, where she performed at any venue that would house her. In 2006, Chantel was the first female to perform both in the Just For Laughs Comedy Battle and Just For Laughs Montreal Show. Since than she’s done many other festivals including, Montreal’s Sketch Fest, The Thunder Bay Comedy Festival, and 2008′s Winnipeg Comedy Festival. Chantel performs locally in Winnipeg, and is just coming off her latest installment with the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, where she was featured in five Shows, including Shock of the New and The Trevor Boris Homecoming Show, featured as one of Winnipeg’s most celebrated local performers.
Heather Witherden
Heather Witherden is Winnipeg’s favourite wisecracking Mom. When she’s not busy performing stand-up comedy, she likes to spend time with her family because really, she wouldn’t have any material without them. If Heather were a toddler, she’d be deemed, ‘defiant’, or a ‘growing concern’, but luckily she’s a grown adult woman and so they just call her a pistol. As her character ‘Stella Starlight’, Heather hosts and co-produces shows for Moonlight Madness Burlesque, where her tongue-in-cheek delivery keeps the audience gasping but begging for more. A popular MC and host for Winnipeg events such as Girls!Girls!Girls!, she’s been featured on both CBC Radio’s, So You Think You’re Funny and XM Satellite Radio’s Laugh Attack and appeared at The Winnipeg Comedy Festival (2008) alongside Big Daddy Tazz.
