Schedule. Everything happening at Departure

Be the first to witness the next generation of Canadian comedy talent! This showcase features eight emerging comedians from Toronto who are quickly making a name for themselves. With fresh perspectives and bold new material, these rising voices are shaping the future of stand-up.

Proudly celebrating 52 years in Toronto, The Second City presents their 90th Mainstage revue! Duel Citizens is a fast-paced comedy spectacle stacked with razor-sharp satire, hilarious songs, ridiculous characters and, of course, the signature improv comedy that The Second City is world famous for. Written and performed by a completely Canadian cast and crew, this show joyfully skewers politics, pop culture, and everything in between. From full-blown national tantrums to the absurdities of daily life, come laugh with The Second City as we turn chaos into comedy.

Ashwyn Singh is a standup comedian, musician, and writer whose work blends incisive humor with heartfelt social commentary. An Indian immigrant turned Canadian resident, Ashwyn draws on his unique perspective to explore themes of cultural identity, immigration, and family with wit and relatability. His viral Desi Translations series, which has over 40 million views, celebrates the artistry of Hindi and Urdu lyrics by reinterpreting everyday English phrases. Beyond social media, Ashwyn’s standup comedy tackles social issues like immigration, religion, politics, mental health, and global conflicts, highlighting the hypocrisy in human behavior with sharp humor. Featured on Canada’s Got Talent, CBC’s The Debaters, and major comedy festivals like Winnipeg and Halifax, Ashwyn has opened for acclaimed acts such as Mark Normand, Sammy Obeid, and Zarna Garg, establishing himself as a standout talent in comedy.

Dave Chappelle is an award-winning American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer widely recognized as one of the most influential entertainers of his generation. He is the 2019 recipient of the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and the 2025 NAACP President's Award. Chappelle's work in television and film includes his groundbreaking sketch comedy series "Chappelle's Show," which became the best-selling TV show in DVD history, multiple Netflix comedy specials, and memorable guest appearances on "Saturday Night Live." He has earned five Emmy Awards, including three for his Netflix specials and two for hosting "Saturday Night Live" (2017, 2021), where his most recent 17-minute monologue stands as the longest in the show's 50-year history. Chappelle has won six Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album, including his most recent for "The Dreamer" (2025).

The stage is set for Canada’s hottest rising comedians! Featuring eight of the country’s top breakout acts from the Toronto area, this industry showcase highlights performers making waves and on the cusp of major success. Expect razor-sharp wit, standout performances, and an unforgettable night of comedy.

Proudly celebrating 52 years in Toronto, The Second City presents their 90th Mainstage revue! Duel Citizens is a fast-paced comedy spectacle stacked with razor-sharp satire, hilarious songs, ridiculous characters and, of course, the signature improv comedy that The Second City is world famous for. Written and performed by a completely Canadian cast and crew, this show joyfully skewers politics, pop culture, and everything in between. From full-blown national tantrums to the absurdities of daily life, come laugh with The Second City as we turn chaos into comedy.

Elvira Kurt is a Canadian Screen Award, Canadian Comedy Award, Cannes Film Festival Award-winning, trail-blazing, blazer-wearing, queer. comedy. icon. A regularly recurring guest co-host on CTV’s The Social, she’s done a ton of cool sh*t including: I Have Nothing (Crave), POTUS (Segal Centre For Performing Arts, Montreal) The Great Canadian Pottery Throwdown (CBC) Drink Masters (Netflix), Canada’s Drag Race (Crave), The Great Canadian Baking Show (CBC), Cross Country Cake Off (CTV), The Fabulous Show (Family Jr.), popcultured with Elvira Kurt (The Comedy Network), Spin Off (Game Show Network), Baroness Von Sketch Show (Prime) , DeGrassi: The Next Generation (CTV/ Netflix), Miss Persona (Treehouse), Still Standing, This Hour..., The Debaters and, ‘q’ (CBC). Then there’s solo theater shows, tours, comedy special tapings, festival appearances and two projects in development -a film AND a sitcom- all of which make Elvira one busy teacup butch! Hosted by Canadian Comedy Award winner Robert Watson.

Departure presents New Arrivals: A Departure Solo Sketch Showcase. Created in partnership with The Second City, which has played an important role in developing new sketch comedy talent, this show will feature The Second City's top emerging performers alongside some of Toronto’s best sketch comedians, showcasing their finest solo comedy sketches. Expect a night of fresh, bold voices shaping the future of comedy.

Celebrated French-Canadian standup-comedian Rachid Badouri, renowned for captivating audiences in French across the globe with three specials and over 1 million tickets sold in 10 countries, is set to make his groundbreaking English debut. Known for his humor and captivating stage presence, Rachid brings a fresh perspective to stand-up comedy, blending cultural anecdotes with his vibrant energy. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to his work, this show promises to be an engaging and entertaining experience that you won’t want to miss!

Get ready to dive into the depths of cinematic absurdity with the podcast that celebrates the best of the worst: How Did This Get Made. Join the dynamic trio of Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas, and June Diane Raphael as they expertly dissect and hilariously roast some of the most mind-boggling movies ever Made. With a combined resume that includes hit shows like The League, Black Monday, Brooklyn 99, Grace & Frankie, and Long Shot, these hosts bring their comedic genius to every episode of How Did This Get Made. Together with their funniest friends, they subject themselves to a cinematic nightmare, leaving no ridiculous plot twist or cringe-worthy dialogue unturned. It's no wonder that How Did This Get Made is consistently ranked among the top 10 most downloaded comedy podcasts. This multi-award-winning show took home the prestigious 2022 Ambie Winner for Best Comedy Podcast and was crowned iHeart Radio's Best TV & Film Podcast. But How Did This Get Made doesn't stop at audio entertainment. Brace yourself for an unparalleled live experience that has captivated sold-out audiences across the country. During the live episodes, you become part of the action, engaging with the hosts through questions, spontaneously creating uproarious songs for segments, and witnessing unforgettable clips that can only be described as one-of- A-kind. From the hilariously absurd Drop Dead Fred to the adrenaline-fueled chaos of the entire Fast and Furious franchise, How Did This Get Made fearlessly deconstructs and mercilessly mocks the most epically bad films ever created. It's a rollercoaster ride of laughter, astonishment, and shared disbelief that you won't find anywhere else. Join the How Did This Get Made community and immerse yourself in the realm of cinematic train wrecks. It's a podcast that defies expectations and guarantees a one-of-a-kind experience. Get ready to have your mind blown and your funny bone tickled like never before.

Leslie Liao is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. Audiences around the world have been drawn to her relatable, introspective, and matter-of-fact style of humor which is often anchored around her experiences as a single Chinese-American woman living in Los Angeles. Leslie was recently selected to be a New Face of Comedy at Montreal's prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival 2023, and her debut set on Don't Tell Comedy platforms, “Fixing Straight Men,” debuted boldly on YouTube with clips from her set going viral on Instagram and TikTok. She will next be seen in the new multi-comic standup series on Netflix called “Verified Standup” which will debut on the platform later in 2023. Leslie has toured with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Fortune Feimster, and can often be seen in Los Angeles gracing the stages of The Comedy Store, Hollywood Improv, Laugh Factory, Flappers, and many more.

Don’t Tell Comedy is bringing their premier stand-up comedy showcase to Toronto as a part of the Departure festival to highlight and amplify some of the best comedians from all over Canada. Over the last three years Don’t Tell has cemented itself as the number one discovery platform for stand up comedy globally and has helped launch the careers of comedians like Ralph Barbosa, Malik Elassal, Michael Longfellow, Susan Rice, and more! Don’t Tell Comedy’s stand up clips garner over 1.2 billion views annually, with over 8 million followers on its social media channels. The live tapings are scheduled for May 10 at a secret and very unique location in Toronto that will be released the day of the show to ticket holders.

The New Show with Mark Forward - Every show is completely new, every month. No repeats.

Proudly celebrating 52 years in Toronto, The Second City presents their 90th Mainstage revue! Duel Citizens is a fast-paced comedy spectacle stacked with razor-sharp satire, hilarious songs, ridiculous characters and, of course, the signature improv comedy that The Second City is world famous for. Written and performed by a completely Canadian cast and crew, this show joyfully skewers politics, pop culture, and everything in between. From full-blown national tantrums to the absurdities of daily life, come laugh with The Second City as we turn chaos into comedy.

Anything can happen when the lights go down! Join award-winning comedian Ivan Decker as he hosts a late-night comedy show packed with surprise sets from some of the funniest names at the Departure Comedy Festival.

Pete Holmes is the creator and star of HBO's Crashing (produced by Judd Apatow) and TBS' The Pete Holmes Show (produced by Conan O'Brien). He's also the star of CBS' How We Roll as well as two HBO stand-up comedy specials. Pete's also the voice of the e*trade baby and was a guest writer/star on multiple episodes of The Simpsons. He's also proud to be the dumbest Batman on YouTube (Badman), the host of the wildly popular You Made It Weird podcast and the author of Comedy Sex God. He wrote this bio in third person. He napped shortly thereafter.

Leslie Liao is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. Audiences around the world have been drawn to her relatable, introspective, and matter-of-fact style of humor which is often anchored around her experiences as a single Chinese-American woman living in Los Angeles. Leslie was recently selected to be a New Face of Comedy at Montreal's prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival 2023, and her debut set on Don't Tell Comedy platforms, “Fixing Straight Men,” debuted boldly on YouTube with clips from her set going viral on Instagram and TikTok. She will next be seen in the new multi-comic standup series on Netflix called “Verified Standup” which will debut on the platform later in 2023. Leslie has toured with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Fortune Feimster, and can often be seen in Los Angeles gracing the stages of The Comedy Store, Hollywood Improv, Laugh Factory, Flappers, and many more.

Anything can happen when the lights go down! Join award-winning comedian Ivan Decker as he hosts a late-night comedy show packed with surprise sets from some of the funniest names at the Departure Comedy Festival.

Proudly celebrating 52 years in Toronto, The Second City presents their 90th Mainstage revue! Duel Citizens is a fast-paced comedy spectacle stacked with razor-sharp satire, hilarious songs, ridiculous characters and, of course, the signature improv comedy that The Second City is world famous for. Written and performed by a completely Canadian cast and crew, this show joyfully skewers politics, pop culture, and everything in between. From full-blown national tantrums to the absurdities of daily life, come laugh with The Second City as we turn chaos into comedy.

Canadian comedy veterans Jean-Paul & Jay Martin will host the Trinidad vs. Jamaica Comedy Clash, where top Jamaican and Trinidadian comedians, including Team Jamaica: Julie Mango, Kathy Grant, and Fancy Cat, and Team Trinidad: Jr. Lee, Ro 'Dey, and a surprise special guest go head-to-head in a clean comedy showdown.

Caroline Rhea is a stand-up comedian and actress, best known for her role as ""Hilda Spellman” from the hit series ‘Sabrina The Teenage Witch’ and her numerous comedy specials. She voices “Linda Flynn Fletcher”, the mom, on Disney’s hit series, ‘Phineas and Ferb’. Caroline has starred in many films including Unbearable with Julia Stiles, and last Christmas, Hallmark’s Holiday Mismatch and A Mrs. Miracle Christmas as “Mrs. Miracle”. She has appeared in many comedy series including NBC’s Lopez vs. Lopez and Jon Cryer’s Extended Family. Caroline hosted her own talk show and has been a regular panelist on several game shows including Funny You Should Ask, Match Game, Name that Tune, and Hollywood Squares. She recently filmed her 7th comedy special at the Sydney Opera House. Caroline tours comedy clubs throughout the world and still makes time for hosting and serving as an auctioneer for corporate events and numerous charities.

Proudly celebrating 52 years in Toronto, The Second City presents their 90th Mainstage revue! Duel Citizens is a fast-paced comedy spectacle stacked with razor-sharp satire, hilarious songs, ridiculous characters and, of course, the signature improv comedy that The Second City is world famous for. Written and performed by a completely Canadian cast and crew, this show joyfully skewers politics, pop culture, and everything in between. From full-blown national tantrums to the absurdities of daily life, come laugh with The Second City as we turn chaos into comedy.

Canadian comedy veterans Jean-Paul & Jay Martin will host the Trinidad vs. Jamaica Comedy Clash, where top Jamaican and Trinidadian comedians, including Team Jamaica: Julie Mango, Kathy Grant, and Fancy Cat, and Team Trinidad: Jr. Lee, Ro 'Dey, and a surprise special guest go head-to-head in a clean comedy showdown.