The Yuk Yuk’s Surrey team is bringing more shows to Oceana Parc Playhouse (home of the White Rock Players Club) with a total of five comedy nights planned for the 2023-24 season.
The first event, this Saturday (Sept. 16), features comedy album winner Jacob Samuel with host Katrina Bennett and Johnny Perrotta.
Known for his clever and insightful comedy, Samuel is a Juno award-winning Canadian stand-up comic, cartoonist, and writer based in Vancouver.
His career has taken off during the last few years, including CBC Debaters radio appearances and performances on CTV Comedy, CBC, Just For Laughs Montreal and the Winnipeg International Comedy Festival.
Langley-based Bennett, best known for her brutal honesty, has a vulnerable, sharp wit that has audiences laughing at the unlaughable. A longtime club favourite, opening comic Perrotta is a charismatic storyteller who keeps audiences howling from coast to coast.
Shows are at at 7 p.m. or 9:15 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m. and 8:45pm) at the playhouse, at 1532 Johnston Rd.
Ticket price is $30 per show or $99 for the entire 2023-24 season (all taxes & fees included)
READ ALSO: Yuk Yuk’s Surrey brings anniversary show to White Rock
“After a trial show earlier this year, we were blown away by the immediate interest which resulted in two back-to-back sold out shows,” said Yuk Yuk’s promoter Eric Y. Lapointe.
“Ever since moving to the city in 2017, I have wanted to bring more comedic events to our White Rock, South Surrey community to enjoy entertainment locally. So it made sense to expand with coordinated bi-monthly shows with our partners at the White Rock Players Club.”
Lapointe said the aim is to co-ordinate scheduling with dark nights between shows in the club’s season.
That might mean the comedy performances adapting to sets already in place or in preparation for upcoming club shows, he said.
“We want to use the depth of the stage as much as possible, without interfering with sets or props.”
Upcoming shows include Damonde Tschritter (Nov. 4) hailed as “…this country’s finest comedic storyteller” by The Globe & Mail and been featured on CTV, HBO, Comedy Central and CBC’s The Debaters. He’s also the only Canadian in 35 years to win The Seattle International Comedy Competition, the largest of its kind in the U.S.
Chris Griffin (Jan. 13) is one of Canada’s most active touring comedians who has won two Vancouver Comedy Awards and been featured at Just For Laughs Vancouver and the San Francisco International Comedy Competition.
The third show, on April 6, will highlight Sophia Johnson. Originally from New Zealand, Johnson is now one of Canada’s fastest rising comedians. Significant 2023 milestones for her have been her recent debut on CBC-Gem with Just For Laughs Vancouver and opening up for her idol Maria Bamford.
Rounding out the series will be Toronto comedian Cedric Newman. The Jamaican-born comedian was raised in Montreal and now calls Toronto home. Newman has been seen on CBC and CTV’s The Amazing Race Canada Season 8 and graced stages across Canada and Europe.
The expanded White Rock Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Night series is not only selling individual show tickets at $30 (including taxes & fees) but it has also added a Season Pass option for an all-inclusive price of $99.
“Initial season pass sales have been impressive,” added Garry Yuill, Yuk Yuk’s Surrey/Vancouver Northeast owner.
“This inspired us to add new soon-to-be announced theatre series to expand our community reach-out initiatives and bring live comedy to local neighbourhood audiences.”
Yuk Yuk’s Surrey, based at the Elements Casino Surrey (in Cloverdale), is part of Yuk Yuk’s International Stand-Up, Canada’s premier chain of comedy clubs.
For tickets and information, visit whiterockplayers.ca/yukyuks