Rosalie Vaillancourt, Erich Preach, Pierre-Yves Roy-Desmarais, Kevin Hart are top billing at the upcoming Just for Laughs and Just for Laughs festivals. For his 40e anniversary, from July 13 to 31, the big comedy event is doing things big and expanding its territory.
Posted at 1:40 p.m.
While the indoor shows have been unveiled over the past few weeks, the Just for Laughs family gathered on Wednesday morning to announce the outdoor lineup. More shows will be offered throughout the summer to Montrealers and visitors, including dozens free in the streets of the metropolis.
The festivities this year will extend from the Quartier des Spectacles to the Esplanade PVM of Place Ville Marie to Saint-Denis Street. The outdoor shows will also be launched with the evening of La Fureur, hosted by Elyse Marquis. Matthieu Pepper, Silvi Tourigny, Stéphane Fallu, Ève Côté, Jean-Thomas Jobin, Pierre-Luc Pomerleau, Michelle Desrochers, Christine Morency and Barbada will play the game.
The fabulous destiny of Erich Preach, an evening presented by the latter, will bring together Mike Beaudoin, Rachelle Elie, Gariahanna, Jean-Louis, Imposs, Dave Morgan, Daniel Tirado, Urban Sciencw and Brass Band.
More than ever, Just for Laughs presents “exclusive shows”, recalled Wednesday Patrick Rozon, vice-president of French-language content for the Just for Laughs Group. The content of the festival is edited for the occasion, often not found anywhere else.
Thus, Maxim Martin will host the quiz Connais-tu ton comic?, while Philippe Laprise will present his Noël des campeurs. International artists, including the French Panayotis Pascot, are expected in Montreal. As previously announced, the traditional Just for Laughs Galas will also be on the menu. Hosted this year: Pierre-Yves Roy-Desmarais, Rosalie Vaillancourt, Richardson Zéphir and Eddy King, Phil Roy and Roxanne Bruneau.
A big party
We had to cross the Saint-James church in downtown Montreal to get to the room where the Just for Laughs press conference was held on Wednesday. The place was decorated in the colors of the event, mimosas were served, music welcomed the guests. It was a day of celebration and reunion. We do not skimp on the means for this celebration of the 40th anniversary of the festival, neither for the meeting with the media nor for the shows.
“For the 40eJust for Laughs does not do things by halves”, summed up Mona de Grenoble, “drag queen, humorist and proud puppet of Just for Laughs”, who officially announced “the great comeback of the festival”.
To highlight its four decades of activity, JPR will offer the tribute show 40 years of real fun! The show, directed by Alex Perron, featuring dancers and performers, will take place every night from July 21 to 30.
Another novelty, Patrick Rozon announced that the Festival will support the Mission Bon Accueil organization throughout the event this year. Terminals to collect donations from festival-goers will be installed on the site.
To pay tribute to Quebec teachers, Julie Ringuette and Debbie Lynch-White will take the helm of La pédago, a show in which Charles Beauchesne, Coco Belliveau, Jade Charbonneau, Mélanie Couture, Sara Dufour, Pierre Hébert and Barbada will also participate. Just for Teens, an evening for the youngest, will also return to the Place des Festivals. Jay Scott, Claudia Bouvette, William Cloutier and Maoly Martel Dumais will notably be part of the event.
Just for laughs
On the English side, Kevin Hart (at the Bell Centre) and Bill Burr, “two of the biggest stars in the world”, are headlining the Just for laugh Festival.
Amy Schummer, Chelsea Handler, Russell Peters, Ronny Chieng and Rick Mercer will also be present, Bruce Hills, president of Just for Laughs, announced on Wednesday. Dozens of international comedians are expected for the occasion.
If the last few years have forced the Just for Laughs Group to adapt in order to remain active, the return is therefore made with great fanfare. “We are coming out of this pandemic in great health, creatively and financially,” said Charles Décarie, President and CEO of the Just for Laughs Group. He announced the export of Just for Laughs to London from 2023, following the success of the Moontower festival launched in Texas.