Just For Laughs Festival Returns to Montreal

The Just For Laughs Festival, presented by Videotron in association with Loto-Québec is excited to announce the first slate of this year's unrivaled, extraordinary line up of comedians who will descend upon Montreal, turning the city into the epicenter of comedy for its annual celebration. The diversity and quality of performers is unsurpassable, deserving the title of the best-curated festival in the world.

From stand up Galas and concert shows to intimate club series, live TV tapings, cast panels and live podcast recordings, Just For Laughs gives comedy enthusiasts the opportunity to get up close and personal to the top comedic titans of today.

Just For Laughs and JS Touring are thrilled to announce that America's premier comedian Jerry Seinfeld and France's biggest and most loved comedic star Gad Elmaleh will share the stage for the first time as co-headliners with an exclusive one night only event to commemorate JFL's 35th Anniversary.

This exceptional concert will mark Seinfeld's return to Montreal Just For Laughs Festival since first performing back in 1989; and Gad's second English appearance at the festival following sold out performances and rave reviews for the premier of his first English one person show run at last year's festival.

These two international icons and friends will come together Wednesday, July 26, at 8:00 PM at the Bell Centre for one night of guaranteed laughter from beginning to end.

Trevor Noah is the most successful comedian in Africa and is the host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning The Daily Show on Comedy Central. Trevor Noah released his 9th new comedy special Afraid of The Dark in February on Netflix and in November 2016, he released his first book, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, which was an instant New York Times bestseller. His Born a Crime audiobook is Audible's highest rated since its release in 2016. He brings his standup show live to Montreal for one night only on Friday, July 28 with two performances at 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm at Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts.

In addition to his concerts, JFL ComedyPRO will host In Conversation with Trevor Noah. Join Trevor for a conversation touching on his life and experiences, and whatever else comes to the mind of this brilliant comedian, on Saturday, July 29 at 12:00 pm (noon) at the Grand Salon Opera, Level 4, Hyatt Regency Montreal.

Judd Apatow returns to his stand-up comedy roots. The prolific writer/director of such films as Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and the director of Trainwreck, as well as executive producer of HBO's Girls and Crashing and Netflix's Love, is considered one of the most sought-after comedy minds in the business. Don't miss your chance to see the one and only Judd Apatow perform his new stand-up show being recorded live for Netflix with four performances this summer on Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29 at 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm at 5ieme Salle at Place des Arts.

Ali Wong is a stand-up comic from San Francisco, now living in Los Angeles. Her Netflix stand-up special Baby Cobra was filmed when she was 7 months pregnant and according to the New York Magazine, "The special's arrival on Netflix is the sort of star-making moment that unites the tastes of the unlikeliest fans." Catch Ali Wong live on Thursday, July 27 at 7:00 pm at Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts. Act fast, her headlining live shows are now known to sell out within two minutes!

John Mulaney, Emmy Award-winning writer and comedian, adds a second performance to his previously announced return to the festival due to popular demand. Mulaney recently starred in the Broadway hit, Oh, Hello on Broadway alongside Nick Kroll. In 2015, he released his Netflix Original special titled The Comeback Kid preceding a very successful stint at Saturday Night Live where he wrote and appeared as a Weekend Update correspondent and co-created characters such as "Stefon" with Bill Hader. He brings his new standup comedy tour, John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous to Montreal for one night only, Saturday, July 29, 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm at L'Olympia.

Chris D'Elia continues to cement his status as a comedic force of nature. From his role as Danny on NBC's Undateable, to the countless sold-out shows he absolutely muuuurders, and his hilarious Youtube videos, Chris D'Elia is without a doubt one of the funniest men in the world. Performing this special concert show live Thursday, July 27 at 9:30 pm at L'Olympia.

You know Tom Segura from his Netflix specials Completely Normal and Mostly Stories, or from one of his many appearances on the biggest podcasts in comedy, including The Joe Rogan Experience and WTF with Marc Maron. We're thrilled to announce he's coming to Montreal with his No Teeth, No Entry Tour on Wednesday, July 26 at 7:00 pm at L'Olympia.

On one of the most electric nights of last year's Festival, Sugar Sammy capped off his 420-show tour with one last performance of his hit show You're Gonna Rire in front of a crowd of 115,000.

After performing 1,500 shows in 29 countries and in 4 different languages, Sugar Sammy has teamed up with Just For Laughs to select the best stand-up acts from around the world for his Gala, each performer a star in their own country.

Sugar Sammy's International Gala promises to be one of the most original nights you'll experience at the Festival. Comedic perspectives from around the world will converge on Montreal for a night of cultural exchange you won't want to miss!

"In hosting a Just For Laughs gala, Sugar Sammy joins legends and comedy stars such as Don Rickles, Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Bill Maher and Bill Burr. We couldn't be happier to add to the fold, a homegrown star who is making a name for himself around the world ", said Bruce Hills, JFL's Chief Operating Officer.

Sugar Sammy's International Videotron Gala presented by Air Canada will feature some of the best international stand-ups on the planet on Friday, July 28 at 9:45 pm at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.

Videotron Galas presented by Air Canada return with this high-distinguished series of special Galas taking place over six evenings at the prestigious Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.

This year's superlative lineup kicks off with Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominee, comedian/actor David Spade. One of the funniest men to burst onto the comedy scene with a 5-year run on NBC's iconic Saturday Night Live, Spade went on to star in some of the top tent pole comedies as Tommy Boy, Black Sheep, and most recently Grown Ups. Spade is sure to bring his signature sarcastic style as host of The David Spade Gala, featuring a line up of hilarious comedians and special guests on Wednesday July 26 at 7:00 pm at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.

Emmy-Award-nominee, Laverne Cox didn't have any problem standing out in the cast of Netlfix's Orange is the New Black. That's not the last time she'll shine as part of an ensemble of super talented performers as we're welcoming Laverne to Montreal as the host of her own gala! She will channel her years of hosting reality television on VH1 when she hosts The Laverne Cox Gala, a multi-comic line-up of some of the best stand-up comedians in the world on Saturday, July 29, 9:45 pm at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.

Canadian television personality and political satirist, luminary Rick Mercer will once again take his rightful place in the spotlight of Canadian comedy to host this night of top class stand-up comedy featuring a lineup of some of the best comedians. One of the creators, performers, and writers of CBC's seminal This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Mercer keeps the flame of healthy skepticism alive with his hugely popular show The Rick Mercer Report. The Rick Mercer Gala will take place Thursday, July 27 at 7:00 pm at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.

Canadian celebrity, television personality and host, Howie Mandel, returns this summer for his third installment of his highly-rated, multi-comic Gala featuring a lineup of some of the best comedians and unbelievable special guests for an exclusive 90-minute special being filmed for The CW Network. Mandel thrives in the spotlight, from TV hits Deal or No Deal to America's Got Talent; he's been an unstoppable force in show business for over 30 years. The Howie Mandel Gala will channel that magnetic energy into this one-of-a-kind evening on Saturday, July 29 at 6:30 pm at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts.

More than just traditional stand-up, the Just For Laughs Galas are hilariously inclusive evenings of comedy and theatrics packed with uproarious surprises from start to finish.

Additional Galas will be announced in the coming weeks.

Kevin Hart's Laugh Out Loud Network and Just For Laughs have joined forces in search of the funniest short films from the US and Canada with Laugh Out Loud Network Presents: Just For Laughs Eat My Shorts, a new initiative between the world's biggest comedy star and the world's biggest comedy festival.

From submissions received, twenty films that speak to a diverse, multicultural audience will be selected to stream on the LOL website when it launches this summer, where fans will have the chance to vote on their favorites. The top five films selected and more will be screened at the Just For Laughs Festival on Thursday, July 27 at 7:00 pm at Imperial, where Kevin Hart will present a development deal to one lucky winner followed by a post Q&A.

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