A comedy show that sells out everywhere they go is coming to Maple Ridge.
Jokers Canada is putting on their first ever show at the ACT Arts Centre, 'Maple Ridge Comedy Classic' – the evening of the city's 150th anniversary celebration.
Founder of Jokers Canada, Aaron Arya, is excited about the venue and living up to their reputation of featuring the best comedy Canada has to offer.
"We sell out our shows," said Arya. "We built a reputation of putting strong comics on these lineups."
And, he added the venue is beautiful.
"This is going to be one of the nicest theatres that we've performed in," he added.
Arya started Jokers Canada as a passion project coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vancouver had lost its comedy clubs due to the pandemic, he said, and comedians didn't have a place to perform. The hospitality sector was also crushed, he explained.
Then one weekend in 2021 he came up with the idea of bringing comedy to people in "cool" venues, where maybe they weren't familiar with seeing a comedy show.
The first show sold out at the Roxy Cabaret in Vancouver.
Then Arya started branching out to North Vancouver, Port Moody, and other communities surrounding Vancouver. This year he spread out across the Lower Mainland. Next year he wants to bring his show to even more cities across the province.
In addition to having some of Western Canada's best comics performing, he also tries to get comics who happen to be in town. And, he said, they always have fresh lineups, along with returning favourites.
The show, he said, is all headliners.
Comedian Chris Griffin, who can be heard on the JFL Originals Album and on Sirius XM, and whom Arya describes as an incredible storyteller, will be hosting the evening.
Chris Gordon, seen on NBC and the Last Comic Standing, will also be taking to the stage, along with Syd Bosel, seen on Canada’s Got Talent and CBC's LOL.
"He's just incredible energy," said Arya of Gordon.
"When Sid is on a show it doesn't miss. It does not miss. She's unbelievable," Arya added.
If Arya gets to perform, he has a more self-deprecating style of comedy, he said.
"We do have a bunch of different voices, different experience, different perspectives on life, and I think that will show up through the comedy," he said.
With the city's 150th taking place the same day, Arya is encouraging anyone coming to the show to arrive early as parking might be limited due to crowds in Memorial Peace Park.
Jokers Canada 'Maple Ridge Comedy Classic' takes place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the ACT Arts Centre, 11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge.
The show is around 90 to 100 minutes in length.
Tickets are going fast and can be purchased by calling 604-476-2787 or at: https://theactmapleridge.org/jokerscanada.
