Get your ticket to laugh now! AMI and Halifax Comedy Fest announce filming of All Access Comedy

  • Authored on March 30, 2023

Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) is giving Canadians all access … to laughs! AMI, in association with Halifax Comedy Fest and Premiere Entertainment Group, is excited to announce that tickets are now available for a free, live taping of All Access Comedy hosted by international comic superstar D.J. Demers, who is hard of hearing.

All Access Comedy is a stand-up special like no other, with comedians from the disability community coming together to celebrate their unique outlook on life for a packed audience of all abilities delivered in a venue with technology making it inclusive for all.

“I’m really excited to host this show,” says D.J. Demers. “It’s an awesome line-up of hilarious comedians who happen to have disabilities and I’m honoured to share the stage with them. And when I’m not onstage, I’ll be following along using the real-time captioning, so I appreciate the accessibility as much as anyone.”

To be filmed live during the 2023 Halifax Comedy Fest on April 30, 2023, at 3 p.m. AT from the fully accessible Spatz Theatre in Halifax, the one-hour All Access Comedy features the following stand-up comedians from the disability community (full bios are below):

•    Host D.J. Demers (Hard of hearing)
•    Courtney Gilmour (limb difference)
•    Tanyalee Davis (Little Person)
•    Ahren Belisle (Mute, Cerebral Palsy)
•    Ryan Lachance (quad-spastic Cerebral Palsy)

Free tickets for All Access Comedy can be reserved now at HalifaxComedyFest.ca. American Sign Language interpreters, CART real-time captioning technology, increased wheelchair-accessible seating options and Integrated Described Video will make this event truly inclusive.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Halifax Comedy Fest for All Access Comedy,” says John Melville, Vice President of Content Development and Operations, AMI. “We encourage those in the Halifax area to attend this incredible, accessible event and enjoy a laugh courtesy of these funny Canadians.”

“This is a comedy special like no other we have ever shot for television,” says Geoff D’Eon, executive producer of Pilot Light Productions. “All of these comics are members of the disability community and approach comedy from a unique and personal perspective. They are all really, really funny.”

D.J. DemersD.J. Demers

As seen on America’s Got Talent, Conan (three times), The Tonight Show and his one-hour specials [Indistinct Chatter], Interpreted and Born In ‘86, D.J. Demers is a steady provider of laughs. His clever stand-up is both personal and universal and has earned him multiple appearances at Just For Laughs, a nomination for Best Comedy Album at the JUNOs (i.e. the Canadian Grammys), and a growing legion of fans around the world.

Before moving to America, D.J. achieved tremendous success in Canada. In 2015, he was awarded Best Breakout Artist at the Canadian Comedy Awards. He won the Homegrown Comics Competition at the 2014 Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, won the 2013 Toronto Comedy Brawl and was a 2011 finalist on NBC’s Stand-Up for Diversity.

Both of his stand-up albums have been played millions of times on all major streaming platforms, including Pandora, Spotify and SiriusXM. His appearances on AGT and Conan have garnered tens of millions of views on YouTube and TikTok. 

D.J. now lives in Los Angeles. He performs at the major clubs in L.A. and regularly tours clubs, colleges, and corporate events across North America. To stay up to date on D.J.’s latest projects and tour dates, please sign up for his newsletter and watch or listen to his podcast, Definitely D.J.

Courtney GilmourCourtney Gilmour

Courtney Gilmour is a JUNO-nominated stand-up comedian and television writer. She is one of Canada's most unique voices and sought-after comedy talents, named by NOW Magazine as “one of the top 10 stage artists to watch.” She delivered a breakout performance at the 2017 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal by winning the Homegrown Comics Competition and filming a set for Kevin Hart’s LOL Network. Courtney's victory at the 2017 Just For Laughs Homegrown was the first by a female comic in the 19-year history of the event. In 2018, she topped it with televised performances at CBC’s Winnipeg and Halifax comedy festivals, as well as a triumphant return to Montreal to tape a set for The Comedy Network at Just For Laughs. 

Her debut stand-up album, Let Me Hold Your Baby, was released under Comedy Records in 2022 and was nominated for a JUNO award in 2023. Courtney’s warm, accessible, and intelligent brand of stand-up has made her a hit with audiences nationwide.

Tanyalee DavisTanyalee Davis

At 3’3”, Tanyalee Davis is the Ferrari of comedy… low to the ground and kind of racy. Canadian-born, Tanyalee currently makes the stage her home while touring all over the world bringing the funny!

Originally from Winnipeg, Tanyalee now makes her home in the U.S. In a very short time span, Tanyalee has become “TikTok Famous,” with over 3.2 million followers. Tanyalee was featured on BBC’s The John Bishop Show, which has increased her comedy profile so much that she will be featured on BBC’s Live at the Apollo.

Tanyalee was spotlighted on the premiere episode of Last Comic Standing 2, Adam Hills: Comically Challenged, BBC Northern Ireland and Little People, Big World, as well as featured on World’s Smallest People on ITV (UK) and TLC.

Her Tanyalee #UnstoppableMe tour is hitting venues all over the U.S. in 2023.

Ahren BelisleAhren Belisle 

Ahren Belisle is a software engineer and mental health advocate turned comedian. Born in Northern Ontario with cerebral palsy, Ahren is a mute comedian who uses his phone to deliver jokes. Ahren has over 300,000 followers on social media and has been featured on 60 Second Docs.

 

 

Ryan LachanceRyan Lachance 

Ryan Lachance is a professional stand-up comedian from Vancouver, who is a hilarious storyteller and seasoned performer with over 25 years of stage experience.
 
Incorporating his unique perspective as a comic living with quad-spastic cerebral palsy, Ryan shares intensely personal anecdotes from his family life growing up in Alberta and British Columbia. He interweaves the everyday joys and serious challenges he has faced while masterfully spinning it all into hilariously entertaining, totally unique and memorable performance.

 

About Halifax Comedy Fest

Every April, Halifax erupts in laughter as comedians from all over North America hit the stage for the Ha!ifax ComedyFest. Held over four days, the festival showcases over 30 comedians with multiple shows across the city. For more than 25 years the festival has been a staple on CBC Television.

About Accessible Media Inc. 

AMI is a not-for-profit media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians who are blind or partially sighted. Operating three broadcast services, AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French, AMI’s vision is to establish and support a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns and values through accessible media, reflection and portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

For media inquiries and information, please contact: 

Greg David
Communications Specialist
Accessible Media Inc.
Greg.David@ami.ca
647-417-0631

Or 

Geoff D’Eon
Executive Producer
Pilot Light Productions
Halifax NS
geoff@pilotlight.ca
902 441 8778

 
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