Showtime Comedy and Entertainment in St. Catharines had its 100th show celebration this weekend. Performers included Mike Storck, Liam Kelly, Marc Calaguiro and Chris Robinson.
“I have been a comedy enthusiast for my whole life,” said Matt Sherman, who opened the club in October with business partner Marc Sinodinos. “Marc did professional comedy for 14 years. We thought it would be a good addition to St. Catharines.”
“We felt that there was a need in this area for affordable shows,” added Sinodinos. “We wanted to have a spot to showcase our friends and peers in the industry and local talent as well, and give them a place to perform.”
They are happy with the outcome so far but say there’s room for improvement.
“Filling the place, more shows, bringing more variety of shows … as well as creating a demand … and building the industry,” said Sherman. “We want to have bigger, better events going forward.”
Comedy in Niagara has grown over the past few years and continues to do so, with a number of professional and amateur options available for comedy fans.
Adam Grant hosts a show at Grand Central Bar and Grill in Niagara Falls.
“I am happy with how things are going for the comedy scene in Niagara. I mean there is always room for improvement/growth … and I think there will be more growth in the future,” said Grant.
“The reason the Niagara scene is great is we support each other- we share each other’s events, and go to events even when we’re not on the show just to support each other,” he added.
Levi Mann, who hosts a show at the The Vapour Trail Lounge in Niagara Falls, noted that the relationship between comics is encouraging, but can also be competitive.
“Comedy in Niagara is a lot like family in the sense that we’re close to one another and supportive enough to feel comfortable around each other,” he said, “but fellow comics, like siblings, can be very competitive.”
There is a wide variety of comics – every sex, every race, every age – and they all bring something unique to the group. Many travel from out of city, and even province, to perform in Niagara.
“My Favourite thing about performing is getting people to laugh so hard that I have to stop talking and wait for them to catch up,” said Mann.
According to experts from the Mayo Clinic, laughter has numerous benefits. It boosts immune systems and may improve attention, creativity, and imagination. It can create relationships and make existing ones stronger. It can also be a positive coping skill and help reduce stress.
Author: Jessica Hendriks
