Christel Bartelse- Host and Co-Producer -@cbartelse
Christel Bartelse is an Actor/Comedic Performer, Storyteller, Clown, Writer, and Educator. She got her start in comedy and improv with the Physical Comedy Duo "The Burnt Marshmallows (Canadian Comedy Award Nominees). She has created and written six award winning Solo Shows "Chaotica", "ONEymoon", "Significant Me", "All KIDDIng Aside", "The Surprise" and "Encore" and has toured them all across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. She's seen on stages all over the Toronto Comedy Scene with her Character work, physical comedy and storytelling.
She is the Co-Producer and Co-Host of the hit Storytelling Show "But That's Another Story" along with Briane Nasimok and also produces and hosts a Variety show in the city, "Chis and Christel's Collection" showcasing top talent in the city. Christel teaches numerous workshops in improv, physical comedy, solo creation and storytelling around the city and is proud faculty member of Humber College, Toronto Film School, and George Brown College.
Most recently she premiered a workshop exploration of her new one woman show “A women of my age” at the Burdock and continues to work on that.
Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus-@BaramSnieckus
http://baramandsnieckus.com/about
Matt and Naomi met at the famous Second City Theatre in Toronto and it was love and first laugh. They wrote and performed 5 shows together and then went on to start The National Theatre of the World with MadTV alumnus Ronald Pederson and firecracker, Kayla Lorette. For 10 years they toured internationally and gained multiple Canadian Comedy Awards. As NTOW, they created legendary hits such as Impromptu Splendour the “Live Improvised Play”, The Carnegie Hall Show, the “Live Improvised Variety Show” that boasted the “Greatest Improvised Scenes of All Time, The 53 Hour Soap-a-Thon, an epic “Improvised Soap Opera, and The Script Tease Project, an improvised play inspired by 2 pages written by an established playwright.
Today, the duo that The Toronto Star called Toronto’s best known and best loved improvisational team have gone off on their own to create the aptly named, Baram and Snieckus.
Baram and Snieckus showcases the unique point of view and chemistry borne from being a real life comedy couple who satirize coupledom in all its complicated splendour.
Whether they are exploring all aspects of the male/female dynamic with their sketch comedy, improvising spontaneous scenes in front of live audiences, or hosting their completely improvised no holds barred comedy podcast, the story of men and women will be told through a satiric lens, allowing our performers to deliver their own personal experiences, fully heightened and explored in a unique and comedic way.
In the tradition of George and Gracie, Nichols and May and Donald and Melania - expert man, Matt Baram and lifelong woman, Naomi Snieckus, come together as a comedy duo fostered at The Second City Toronto and forged in their actual marriage. This ubiquitous comedy team explore the age old male/female dynamic and all things “relationship” from time immemorial.
When Matt and Naomi aren't making people laugh on stage or in their ears, they like to chop and burn things at their cottage, cook healthy food and then have chicken fingers for second dinners. The continue to tour internationally and do local shows.
Stay tuned for their new play BIG STUFF at Crows Theatre in November 2024
Martha Chaves @funnymarthachaves
Martha Chaves is a Latin Canadian award-winning stand-up comedian, actor, and comedy writer. Daryl Jung from Now Magazine called her “Witty, sassy, provocative, and very funny.” In 2023 TLN named he one of the Ten Most Influential Hispanic Canadians in North America.Her infectious, candid style and natural ability to relate to a wide range of audiences make her a popular headliner at clubs, festivals, fundraisers, corporate functions, and keynote speaking engagements. Her TV credits include multiple appearances in the Just For Laughs, the Winnipeg, and the We Are Funny That Way Festivals, to mention a few and her two national comedy specials, Something About Martha on CTV and the Comedy Network, and Comics! on the CBC.Martha’s often heard on CBC radio’s The Debaters and Laugh Out Loud and is a cast member of CBC’s Because News. Her album Chunky Salsa is available on all platforms and heard on Sirius XM.
Paul Hutcheson @canuckhutch
Paul Hutcheson is a comedic performer, storyteller and producer based in Toronto. Paul has produced numerous solo, stand-up and cabaret shows that have toured Canada and the U.S. to rave reviews. He hosts Hutch & Friends, a monthly evening of stand-up comedy at the Imperial Pub. The next show is Feb. 24th. Follow Paul on Instagram @canuckhutch and check out his website: canuckhutch.com
Janice Israeloff @janiceisraeloff
Janice regularly performs in clubs and venues all over Canada and is regular at Comedy Bar, Absolute Comedy, as well as The Corner and Yuk Yuks. Janice regularly produces comedy shows across the GTA and runs a weekly show at Sidekick Comics. She hosts album tapings, corporate events, and has acted in numerous commercials and feature films. She is currently filming a movie of the week in Ottawa! She is the winner of the Harvey Atkins Comedy Competition and a 3 time winner of Comedy Bars weekly competition show Dumpster Fire. Janice has written and performed in 6 one person shows and her most recent hit in August 2024, CRINGEMOM was seen at The Hamilton Fringe Festival and Comedy Bar. She is the mother of 3 grown daughters and lives with her husband and 3 cats and also works in Long Term Care as a Recreationist.
