10 Vancouver comedy events to check out in October

Vancouver’s comedians are keeping the party going throughout October, with stand-up, improv and variety shows on stages all across the city.

Here are the top 10 Vancouver comedy events this month.

Weird Al Karaoke

A blend of Vancouver comedians write original Weird Al-style parodies of popular songs, then sing them live in front of you. Tacky costumes are always a stylish choice for this event.

When: October 3 at 9:00 p.m.
Where: Little Mountain Gallery – 195 E 26th Avenue
Tickets: $10, available here

Vancouver International Improv Festival

VIIF 2015 takes over Granville Island for over 40 shows from October 6 to 10. Local greats like The Sunday Service, national stars like RN & Cawls, and two International Ensembles highlight this year’s festival.

When: October 6-10, various times
Where: Performance Works, Waterfront Theatre and The Improv Centre
Tickets: $5-18, available here

John Hodgeman

The Daily Show’s John Hodgman is crawling out of your television to stand on stage and tell you jokes and stories. In his latest one-human show, VACATIONLAND, John Hodgman will teach you how to tolerate the great ambiguities of life, such as your death, garbage dumping and city buses.

When: October 13 at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Rio Theatre – 1660 East Broadway Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $29.50, available here

Geeks versus Nerds Vancouver

The Halloween edition of the comedy debate show strives to answers the big questions in pop-culture. First, whose powers make high school cooler: Sabrina the Teenage Witch or Teen Wolf? Then, in the first ever Title Challenge, they pit The Joker versus Hannibal Lecter for who is the most nightmare-inducing serial killer. Yikes!

When: October 24 at 7 p.m.
Where: Seven Dining Lounge – 53 West Broadway
Tickets: $10, available here

Gastown Cabaret One Year Anniversary

Comedy, burlesque, drag, belly dance and circus acts: get it all at Gastown Cabaret’s first anniversary at Guilt & Company. As sexy as it is funny, Gastown Cabaret even has a Donut Eating Competition! Strap in and hold on tight!

When: October 13 at 9 p.m.
Where: Guilt & Company – 1 Alexander Street
Tickets: Minimum Donation $10, available here

K. Trevor Wilson

Fresh off of winning two Canadian Comedy Awards, Toronto’s K. Trevor Wilson comes to North Vancouver. He has opened for Louis CK and his award-winning comedy album, Sexcop Firepenis, is also available for your listening and laughing pleasure.

When: October 4 at 9 p.m.
Where: Finch and Barley – 250 East 1 Street, North Vancouver
Tickets: $5, available here

The Lady Show

The debut of Vancouver’s latest all-lady comedy show, featuring Erica Dawn Sigurdson, Fatima Dhowre, Katie-Ellen Humphries, Kathryn Kirkpatrick, Morgan Brayton and Robyn Daye Edwards. Expect a mix of performances, including sketch, stand-up, monologues and more.

When: October 9 at 8 p.m.
Where: Little Mountain Gallery – 195 E 26th Avenue
Tickets: $10, available here

Mike McDonald

A veteran of Canada’s comedy scene, Mike MacDonald has appeared in such TV shows as The Late Show with David Letterman and the Arsenio Hall Show. As the son of a career Canadian Air Force officer, MacDonald learned at an early age that humour would make him popular. This lesson has helped him to a career that has spanned over 35 years.

When: October 15 and 16 at 8 p.m., October 17 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Where: Yuk Yuks – 2837 Cambie Street
Tickets: $9.53-19.05 plus taxes, available here

Throwback TheatreSports with Vancouver TheatreSports League

VTSL celebrates its 35th anniversary and all things ’80s with a new feature show – Throwback TheatreSports. It’s a no-holds-barred comedic trip down memory lane complete with classic and newly-created formats, special guests, and line-backer shoulder pads.

When: October 15 to November 21, Thursdays to Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Improv Centre — 1502 Duranleau Street
Tickets: $10-22, available here

Gerald Gerald Geraldson

Gerald Gerald Geraldson is Vancouver’s original horror comic. What better way to spend your Halloween than with a stand-up who will leave you gasping for breath from laughing, then out of breath from running away in fear?

When: October 30 at 9:30 p.m., October 31 at 9 p.m.
Where: Lafflines – 530 Columbia Street, New Westminster
Tickets: $18–20, available here

Bonus: The Life Game

The Life Game is an audacious new experiment in radio. Originally developed by Keith Johnston of the Loose Moose Theatre Company in Calgary, each evening a special guest allows improvisers to act out key moments of their life in front of a live audience. The Life Game will air on CBC Radio One in 2016. 

When: October 7-23
Where: Studio 700 at CBC
Tickets: Free, available here