She said WHAT? A Night of Stand-up Comedy
Hoodo Hersi
Hoodo Hersi is a Toronto-based comedian recently selected as a New Face: Canada at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, where her performance aired on the Comedy Network. She has performed in clubs and festivals all over Canada and the United States, including the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and the BBC World Service Montreal Comedy Show where both of her performances will air on the CBC, the 12th annual New York Arab-American Comedy Festival, Boston Women in Comedy Festival, and Toronto’s Shedot Festival. In 2018, she was selected as an Audible New Voice at SF Sketchfest, and performed with Hasan Minhaj, Lil Rel Howery, Chris Redd, Gina Yashere, Moshe Kasher, and Maria Bamford among others. She also had the distinct honor of hosting the TEDxToronto Conference, and featuring in Sephora’s national “Get Lippie” lipstick campaign in partnership with Fashion Magazine, where she was profiled as one of the three Female Comedians Taking Canada by Storm Right Now. Hoodo is also one of the CBC’s 15 Comics to Watch in 2019.
Martha Chaves
Martha Chaves is a Nicaraguan-Canadian award-winning comedian, actor, activist, and playwright. She is a regular in the comedy circuits in North America and Latin America. She has performed multiple times at The Just For Laughs Festival, The Winnipeg Comedy Festival, The Halifax Comedy Festival, Laugh out Loud, and The Debaters on CBC Radio; she's a regular panelist on CBC's "Because News," also on CBC radio. Her one-person show, "In Times of Trouble," was featured in CAMINOS at the ALUNA Theatre Festival (Toronto) in the SOULO Festival (Toronto) and in SOLOCOM, NYC in 2015, 2016, and 2017 respectively. She has numerous TV appearances, like her Just For Laughs, and Winnipeg Comedy Festival Galas. She has had some small roles in major Hollywood movies, like John Q. with Denzel Washington. Martha was voted Stand-up Comic of the Year at the 2018 Canadian Comedy Awards. Her debut comedy album, "Chunky Salsa," was featured among the 11 best comedy albums of 2019, according to Interrobang Magazine. She is also a fierce human rights advocate, using humour to challenge the status quo in four different languages. She's the host of The Nobel Women's Initiative podcast, "When Feminists Rule The World.” She also happens to be funny as hell. "The Grande Dame of Canadian Comedy is without a doubt – Martha Chaves. Her wit is infectious; her style is delightful and when you work with her – you are assured professionalism. Martha has always made me laugh out loud, and she is a genuine asset to Canadian comedy" ~Tracy Rideout, Producer CBC Radio - Laugh Out Loud
Stephanie Pangowish
Stephanie Pangowish is a sassy and bad-assy Anishnaabekwe from Wiikwemkoong on Manitoulin Island and is the co-founder of Canada’s 1st collective of Indigenous women stand up comedians, Manifest Destiny’s Child. She originally started performing to make her angry mom laugh and avoid the wooden spoon but now uses it to educate Canadians on Indigenous Culture. Stephanie has danced at pow wows for the past 10 winters, has watched every movie starring Adam Beach and pretends to have read all books about Indigenous people.
Celeste Lampa - Host/MC
Celeste Lampa has become a favourite in Western Canada’s comedy scene. Her material stems from being a first-generation Filipino-Canadian, a mom, a wife; and from being extremely tired. Her talent has led her to work with some of today’s best comics. She’s performed throughout Canada and has been featured at the SheDot Comedy Festival in Toronto and The Grindstone Comedy Festival in Edmonton.