Three comics who have graced Coquitlam with their antics are back in town next week for four improv shows in the lead up to Christmas.
Coquitlam native Michael Teigen will join The Comedy Department — aka Denise Jones and David Milchard — for Holiday Comedy Rumble: Every Elf for Themself.
Their shows at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way) are at 7:30 p.m. from Dec. 19 to 21, with a matinee on the Thursday.
Today, Dec. 15, Teigen told the Tri-City News that it’s the first year the company has ventured into Metro Vancouver suburbs for a holiday special; it’s also performing its friendly comedy competition tomorrow, Dec. 16, and on Dec. 23 at The Show Cellar in Vancouver.
For its "competition," the audience will get to pick which comic on stage takes the Elf trophy to replace Santa Claus next year as he retreats to Palm Springs to work on his tan.
"It’s a lot of fun. We get to spread the Christmas spirit through improv games," Teigen said, noting the show will be similar in style to the television program Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Teigen, a graduate of Centennial Secondary School who attended Banting Middle, said he hopes to throw in some Coquitlam references, too, for his hometown crowd. He’ll also have family and friends in the audience, including his brother who is travelling from Calgary for the performance and festivities.
Milchard, who performs with Jones and Teigen in The Comic Strippers, a comedy troupe about a fictitious male strippers’ group that calls the Evergreen Cultural Centre home, said in a news release that Holiday Comedy Rumble gives ticket-holders a chance to "reflect and have some fun together as we look back at the wild rollercoaster that was 2023."
Added Jones in the release, "During the holidays, people want to get into the spirit and getting some big laughs is the extra present under the tree from The Comedy Department."
"A fun, comedic twist on the more traditional offerings this time of year was what we wanted to bring to Lower Mainland audiences. Holiday Comedy Rumble has a tonne of audience involvement and participation. And, with a cast of some of the best improvisers in Canada, you won’t be finding a lump of coal in your stocking this year."
Tickets at $37/$34/$16 for Holiday Comedy Rumble: Every Elf for Themself are now on sale by calling the Evergreen box office at 604-927-6555 or visiting the centre’s website.
