Brett MacNeil - Episode 023
Canadianish Comedians!
Taylor Swift’s long-lost twin Brett MacNeil is a fabulous Toronto-based stand-up comedian hailing from the small town of Sydney, Nova Scotia. He recently completed his Master of Business Administration at the University of Fredericton, where he and his teammates dedicated their final graduation project to designing an app meant to help make the Toronto stand-up comedy scene a little more inclusive. We made a few references that were incorrect, but that's what life is all about... we do comedy people. ✌️
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Precious Chong - Episode 022
Canadianish Comedians!
Precious Chong is an award winning actress, writer and comedian living in Toronto. Her most recent credits include ‘Murdoch Mysteries’, Syfy’s ‘Chucky’ and CBC Gem’s ‘Homeschooled’. Other film and television credits include USA Network’s, “Falling Water” as well as the Hallmark Christmas movie “Love You Like Christmas” and “Northern Lights of Christmas”. Her web sketch series “Sex and the Single Parent” with fellow comedian Melissa Story (nominated for a 2015 CCA for Best Web Series and Best Female Performance in a web series) has over...
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Episode 021 Kyle Brownnigg
Canadianish Comedians!
Kyle Brownrigg is an undeniable presence in Canadian comedy. In 2019 he was a finalist in SiriusXM's Top Comic Competition, one of JFL42's New Faces, was selected for the prestigious Just for Laughs Homegrown show, and as a result he was awarded the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Breakout Artist. In May 2022 Brownrigg released his debut Just for Laughs comedy special 'Introducing Lyle' on Crave which was one of the highest trending comedy specials of the year. Kyle can be seen on many television series such as Roast Battle Canada, The Standup Show with Jon Dore, Comedy Night with...
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Janelle Niles - Episode 020
Canadianish Comedians!
Janelle Niles is a Black - Mi’kmaq woman from Sipekne'katik, Nova Scotia. Janelle’s comedy career began in Ottawa, Ontario and soon to follow with her indigenous comedy show called which expresses solidarity through humour. Janelle had the opportunity to perform on Just For Laughs, JFL42, Toronto in 2022 with Got Land? You can watch Janelle on CBC Gem’s New Wave Of Stand-up Season 2 (Canada Only). Janelle has also performed with Crack up Comedy Festival and Arctic Comedy Festival alongside her peers. Catch her appearance on Episode 1 of CTV’s Battle of the Generations...
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Keesha Brownie - Episode 019
Canadianish Comedians!
Keesha Brownie is an energetic, multi-faceted performer. She crafts her comedic recipe with a background in theatre, sketch, and music. Making observations about her Jamaican roots and Canadian upbringing, she punctuates punchlines with act-outs, parody songs, and sometimes even backup dancers. Behind that dynamic stage presence lies a fierce work ethic and an entrepreneurial mind. Brownie is a Second City alumni, independent show producer, and she keeps her fingers on the pulse by frequenting open mics all over Toronto. Brownie earned a Canadian Comedy Award nomination for Best...
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Mickey Dykeman - Episode 018
Canadianish Comedians!
We caught up with Mickey at their home in Toronto. Their bio reads as follows: The human equivalent of a golden retriever, Mickey Dykeman is a high energy, punch up comic. Through personal storytelling and silly word play Mickey's stand up covers topics such as relationships, religion and the Queer experience. They also do freelance script and screenplay writing, primarily comedy. They are a regular comic at the Comedy Lab and the booker and host for Black Sheep Comedy. You can follow Mickey on
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Kelly Zemnickis - Episode 017
Canadianish Comedians!
Kelly Zemnickis got her start in comedy at 17, cleaning toilets at a local Toronto comedy club. She eventually worked her way up to running the technical side of things, but it was only at the age of 37 when she took the mic for the very first time. In the 6 years since her first set, Kelly has shared the stage with comedians such as Kevin Farley and has been featured at the Burbank Comedy Festival (2020- best of the fest selection), Boston Comedy Festival, North Carolina Comedy Festival and L.A's Laugh Riot Grrl Festival. She has also graced the stages of The Comedy Nest...
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Stephanie Herrera - Episode 016
Canadianish Comedians!
Stephanie Herrera is an Honours Graduate of the York University Theatre Playwright program and is currently a Writer’s Guild of Canada member, and award winner, writing for TV and Film, as well as for Kids Animation. Stephanie has written, directed, produced and performed in over 10 original dinner theatre shows that have toured Ontario. Her slate of work also contains dozens of sketch and comedy shows, including the Toronto Fringe Festival. She founded Durham Improv, where she produced hundreds of live comedy shows, two seasons of “Stephanie’s Comedy Chat” on Rogers TV, which...
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Jane Luk - Episode 015
Canadianish Comedians!
Jane Luk is an actor, improvisor, and writer. Jane’s favourite stage credits include years of Improv shows at Bad Dog Theatre, Second City, The Social Capital as well as many stages across Canada. Jane will also be joining the cast of Les Belles Soeurs in Stratford, August 2023, playing Gabrielle Jodoin (one of the sisters). Selected film and TV appearances include Handmaid’s Tale, Murdoch Mysteries, Kim’s Convenience, Anne With an E, The Clark Sisters, Saw lll, World Improv Championships (Just For Laughs Fest) as well as a few Hallmark holiday movies. She is currently playing...
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Joanne O'Sullivan - Episode 014
Canadianish Comedians!
Joanne has worked in the live Canadian arts scene for over 20 years, across many genres, including performing stand-up from Vancouver to Toronto. She has written and performed in three solo shows and her third, She Grew Funny, premiered to sold-out audiences at the Toronto Fringe Festival, where it was the Factory Theatre Studio Patron’s Pick and one of Now Magazine’s Outstanding New Plays. As a Screenwriter, Joanne’s selected credits include writing for CBC’s popular news parody show, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and as a contributing writer for...
info_outlineLisa Merchant is a highly sought-after improvisation instructor/facilitator/performer. She has been studying, performing and teaching the art of improvisation for 35 years.
Currently a professor at Humber College in the Faculty of Media & Creative Arts - teaching Improvisation for the Comedy Program.
Lisa is faculty at SoCap Theatre in Toronto and a 29 year Senior Faculty member at The Second City Training Centre and corporate facilitator with The Second City Works division and privately.
She is a multiple nominee and winner of 4 Canadian Comedy Awards, 3 for Best Female Improvisor. Lisa was a cast member of the Gemini nominated Joe Blow Show. Some television credits include: Murdoch Mysteries, Private Eyes, American Gods, Degrassi XV, Train 48...
Most recently she was invited to perform in the Artic Comedy Festival in Iqaluit, Nunavut. In addition to live performance around Toronto and across Canada, she has performed in David Shore’s Monkey Toast, the live improvised talk show, since its inception 19 year’s ago.
Some accolades:
Platinum Winner of The Toronto Star Reader's Choice Award - category of Best Theatre Instructor for 2019 and 2020
Awarded the 2019 Frank McAnulty Faculty Award
With Marcel St. Pierre won the 2019 World's Biggest Improv Tournament surviving 126 teams
"...a week of unbridled improv - at which she's peerless." NOW Magazine
“Taking improv with Lisa Merchant was a game changer for me. It not only helped me be a better communicator, it made me a better person. I learned fundamental ideas that I still apply to this day. Over ten years after taking that original class, I invited Lisa to come and speak to the 2012 Canadian Olympic team to give them a competitive advantage. Such is the value of what she has to teach.”
Mark Tewksbury, Olympic Champion and 2012 Canadian Olympic Team Chef de mission
“How does improv lead to insights into effective communication, greater creativity, and conflict resolution? Through the inspired teaching of Lisa Merchant. Thank you, Lisa, for contributing your wisdom to classes over the years.”
Leslie H. Macleod, B.A., LL.B., LL.M. (ADR), Principal of Leslie H. Macleod & Associates, Specialists in Conflict Resolution.
You can reach Lisa via her webite - LisaMerchant.com or on Instagram