THE MANHATTAN COMEDY PROJECT Comes To Montreal

Comedian, actor, writer, and producer Robert Keller, star of the CBC's "The Second City's Next Comedy Legend," brings his dry, sophisticated brand of New York City humor to Montreal with a new live show, The Manhattan Comedy Project, on Aug. 20, 2009.

The Manhattan Comedy Project is an explosive blend of stand-up comedy, celebrity satire, and music that will feature the hottest rising talent from New York's underground comedy scene.

Keller, who recently appeared in A.R. Gurney's "Children" alongside Judith Light ("Ugly Betty") at the Tony Award-winning Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, Massachusetts, aims to bring the best in New York comedy right to the audiences of cities across North America. The tour will begin in Montreal with additional Canadian and U.S. cities expected to be added soon,including Ottawa, Toronto, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Chicago.

As a native son of Montreal, Keller said that he is delighted to be returning to his hometown to launch this new show, especially since Montreal is known internationally as a comedy hot spot.

"From the world-famous Just for Laughs Festival, to its cutting-edge comedy clubs, cabarets, and theaters, Montreal is a city that eats, lives, and breathes comedy," Keller said. "So I am really excited to have the opportunity to add to the mix with a little New York flavor."

For the inaugural show, Keller will be joined by musical guest Wendy Ho (Showtime), who is currently touring North America with her own show, "The Gospel According to Ho." "Wendy is so New York!" said Keller. "With her signature blend of outrageous music and bawdy humor, this nasty gal will blow your socks off-in more ways than one!" The Montreal edition of "The Manhattan Comedy Project" will also feature New York-based, nationally-touring comics Paul Case (NBC, MTV), Leah Dubie (Tru TV's "The Smoking Gun Presents," WE "Cinematherapy"), and Shawn Hollenbach (here! TV, Logo TV). Each of these rising stars performs regularly at comedy clubs all over New York, as well as for audiences across the U.S., including recent performances in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

Also making a cameo appearance at the show will be Quebec's sweetheart, Celine Dion (as performed by Keller in full costume). "To me, Celine is hilarious, even when she doesn't mean to be," said Keller, who developed a fascination with the internationally-adored Québécoise songstress when he was a teenager growing up in Montreal. "We Quebecers knew her before 'Titanic,' when she was all chin and frizzy hair," he says. "There is no question that she is an enormously gifted singer," added Keller, "but when she talks, her energy is so manic, and her way of communicating so exaggeratedly earnest, that you can't help but find her hilarious. This is what I try to bring out in my impersonation of her - her inadvertent hilariousness."

The Manhattan Comedy Project will launch with an exclusive three-night run on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Aug. 20, 21, and 22, 2009 at 8p.m., with an additional late show on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 10:30 p.m., at Théâtre Ste. Catherine, 264 Ste. Catherine E., Montreal, Qc., tel. (514) 284-3939. Tickets are $15 in advance (if purchased online at http://ca.brownpapertickets.com/event/71088) or $20 at the door ($15 for students with valid I.D.). For more information, go to
http://www.manhattancomedyproject.com.

 

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