Extravaganza Eleganza: Pride Comedy Showcase
24 May 2019.  -

Extravaganza poster design by Marshall Lorenzo

“I used to stifle my queerness so that the audience or my scene partners wouldn’t be ‘uncomfortable’ and it was a way protect myself and my safety. Now, I revel in it. Performing for queer audiences has made me fearless and that fearlessness follows me to any gig I do.” -Tom Hearn, Comedian

Originally from New Brunswick, Tom Hearn is an award-winning comedian, actor, writer, producer and founding member of Kinsey Fail, Toronto’s LGBTQ improv show who you’ll find tearing up the stage at Bad Dog Theatre Company. Tom’s latest comedic endeavour, a Pride Toronto comedy extravaganza at Second City, mixes original queer music and characters into a sketch comedy showcase in the spirit of Saturday Night Live and The Kids In Hall.

With multiple sold out performances at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and Crow’s Theatre under their belt, they’ve been named one of the top five comedy shows of 2018 by Now magazine and they have been nominated for two Canadian Comedy Awards (Best Live Production, Best Ensemble, which if they win means they’ll be the first all-queer comedy cast to do so. The cast that includes Tricia Black, King Chiu, Monica Garrido, Marshall Lorenzo, Selena Vyle and Jillian Welsh. MyGayToronto recently caught up with Tom to talk about this years show and what it’s like being a queer comic today.

Photo of Tom Hearn by Katherine Fogler

Where were you and what you were doing when you came up with for Extravaganza Eleganza?
While watching Real Housewives of New York. I thought why am I home watching this and not on stage? A Sketch Comedy Extravaganza Eleganza was born from the fact there wasn’t really any queer sketch comedy happening in the city. We are blessed to have queer stand up shows like QAPD, Working Women and SHADE, or queer improv shows like Kinsey Fail, but I had never seen an entirely queer sketch comedy revue. We have so many extremely talented queer comedians in this city. But even as a queer comedian in sketch shows that I perform in or watch, I was feeling unfulfilled with just one sketch touching on queer content per show. It felt like I was ticking a box. So, I applied for a grant from the Pat and Tony Adams Freedom of the Arts Fund and received it. Then I put together a group of the best sketch comedians in the city and it just so happens they are all queer.

What’s been the most challenging part about creating a queer comedy showcase?
The most challenging part has been communicating that this show is not just exclusively for queer folks only. Yes, this content does represent our queer lived experiences but it’s also very relatable to anyone who is simply human. Just like when I watch Ross and Rachel on Friends I can still relate, learn, connect and draw from these relationships.

The most rewarding?
Seeing this cast have the opportunity to bring work to the stage that represents them and doesn't have to be changed to fit into a heteronormative box.

Do you have a mentor and/or are you mentoring anyone?
Of course I have a mentor, Britney Spears. Have you heard of her? In all seriousness, I actually asked my comedy mentor, Kirsten Rasmussen, to direct this show. Kirsten has been directing and teaching me in a comedy setting for over eight years now. She is one of the most talented performers I have ever had the joy of watching on stage. She brings the same amount of passion, silliness and talent she has onstage, offstage as our director. I’m very lucky to work with such a talented person on this show, and many other projects, and I get to be her friend, that’s my favourite part.

As a queer comic, what do you know now, that you wish someone had told you when you started your career?
It’s okay to be gay on stage. I used to stifle my queerness so that the audience or my scene partners wouldn’t be “uncomfortable” and it was a way protect myself and my safety. Now, I revel in it. Performing for queer audiences has made me fearless and that fearlessness follows me to any gig I do.

Thinking back over all of the event organizing you’ve done for this, do you have a favourite memory that you can share?
The closing night of our show at Buddies in Bad Times was quite the moment. The lights came up for our bows and the oversold theatre was on their feet. It was such an amazing moment to share with my cast and crew. We knew then we had created something beautiful. Another stand out moment was when an audience member reached out to me after our Sketchfest run and thanked us for finally allowing them to feel seen in the comedy world.

What’s the dumbest question you’ve ever been asked about your shows?
I’ve been asked if straight people are allowed to laugh at my shows or the content I perform on stage. If I’m doing it on stage in a public forum, I WANT YOU TO LAUGH. You are not laughing at me, you are laughing with me, I hope!