Eh Material: Bad Dog brings People of the City to Factory Theatre

We took a couple weeks off for the holidays so get ready for new news and lots of last year’s news.

Bad Dog Theatre Company in association with Factory Theatre will present People of the City, a full length Armando improv show directed by Alex Tindal from February 18-28, 2026 at Factory Theatre Studio. People of the City uses true Torontonian stories told by nightly special guest storytellers to spark fast, funny, and inventive scenes performed by the Bad Dog Featured Players (pictured) Alex Cabrera-Aragon, Alexa Mackell, Alfred Chow, Amrutha Krishnan, Janet Mac, Jared Wonago, Lance Oribello, Liz Cyrus, Maddy Atamanchuk, Patrick Ronan, Shane McLean, Sachin Sinha, and Stevey Hunter.

The Second City Toronto has announced the cast for their 91st MainStage Revue. Directed by Kyle Dooley and Assistant Director Jillian Welsh, the soon-to-be-titled 91st MainStage Revue will feature Gillian Bartolucci, Tim Blair, Monica Garrido Huerta, Antony Hall, Chelsea Larkin, and Gavin Pounds. Meanwhile the new Second City TourCO show Swipes Right: Hard Launch, directed by Kris Siddiqi, opened January 15 starring Brennan Asbridge, Tyra Banda, Jon Blair, Ghazal Ghiami, Nicky Nasrallah and Rhys Naylor.

The Canadian Film Centre has launched its Comedy Series Lab, "supporting the next generation of comedy creators as they develop bold, original series for the Canadian and global marketplace". The 2026 Comedy Series Lab is led by Nelu Handa, who will serve as showrunner and lead mentor for the four writers including Jezabel Bamberg, Sandi Rankaduwa, Isabella Shibuta and Yemie Sonuga.

The Sketch To The Death comedy tournament is back for its fifth year from January 7-February 25 at Comedy Bar Danforth. This annual sketch comedy tournament will see over 60 sketch comedy troupes battling it out over eight weeks to be crowned Toronto Sketch Champions with a $1000 cash prize. Once the winners have been crowned on February 25, Sketch To The Death will then present a curated Best Of showcase at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival on March 5, 2026.

The Ottawa Black Creatives Hub Showcase returns for a second edition at the Shenkman Arts Centre on February 7, 2026. The showcase is an art show featuring some of the best emerging Black artists in Ottawa with performances in music, poetry, dance, storytelling, film, and more including comedian Rose Ingrid Benjamin and singer-songwriter Aiyana.

Taylor Hreljac (Toronto Sketch Comedy) and Virginia Woodall (Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival) have announced Sketch Party, a new monthly sketch comedy show happening at Comedy Bar Bloor starting January 31, 2026. "Every month we’re hosting a show with the toppest-of-tiers sketch comedy in the city. From the hottest up-and-coming troupes to our favourite experinmental or solo sketches, the audience gets to enjoy a variety of the best sketch comedy Toronto has to offer." Every show date in 2026 has been announced and tickets are on sale now.

Halifax-born singer-songwriter Steve Poltz has announced a 17-date spring tour across Eastern Canada, kicking off April 15, 2026. The tour supports his 14th solo album, JoyRide, a collection of "unsaturated, unadulterated art" that captures the chaos and poetry of his creative life.

On December 17 Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced a federal investment of more than $10.9 million to help CKUA Radio Foundation continue their nearly 100-year legacy as champions of local arts and culture. Federal funding will be used to modernize CKUA's headquarters, including the expansion and enhancement of community performance venues that will increase exposure for up-and-coming Alberta artists, and to upgrade studio and broadcast technologies.

One Liners

Dolly Parton has released a new version of her 1970s song "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" featuring Lainey Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah, and Reba McEntire with proceeds to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville.

Acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Tenille Townes has released the new single “Enabling”.

Matt Lang has released "She Stole My Truck", the first single and music video from his fourth studio album Ain’t That Bad, a "cinematic" concept album expected this October.

London, Ontario's Amanda Keeles has released the first single off her upcoming sophomore album, titled “Leads Me To You”.

Vancouver country-roots artist Antonio Larosa has released the single “I Don’t Shine”.

The week Lévis, Quebec's Blue Ridge Band released the music video for their single "One More Story".

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and CBC announced comedian Mae Martin is this year's host for the 55th Annual JUNO Awards, live from TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario on March 29.

On January 18 at 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media & Education in Toronto, Heraclitus Akimbo will present a concert and lecture celebrating the release of I know what I have experienced and I know what it has meant to me, an album of music for solo lap steel guitar.

American-made, Canadian raised country artist NESS will release her new single “Hungover in Heels” on January 23.

Submissions are now open until January 23 for The Alberta Dreams Song Search, presented by Country Music Alberta and Alberta Dreams.

Ottawa folk-rock trio School House will release their sophomore album, Homeland, on February 27, 2026.

The Reklaws and Dean Brody teamed up to release the new song "Hometown Heroes" on January 9.

Hamilton comedian Zach Berge released his album This Is Me, Right? on January 5.

Brooklin, Ontario's pop-punk infused country artist Ritch Mitchell is back with the new single “Outrun Your Past” in anticipation of the upcoming album Welcome To Music City.

The Sketch Comedy Festival Association launched their first Artist Travel Survey in December.

In December Comedy Records announced Juliana Rodrigues has joined their roster.

Winnipeg's Mike Green released his standup comedy album Who’s Living Better Than Us? on December 5 followed by the comedy special on December 19 with Counterfeit Comedy.

Quebec-born country singer and songwriter Savannah Jade released her single, “Man Outta Me”, via MDM Recordings Inc on December 12.

Multi-platinum country entertainer Brett Kissel released his new single “Farmer” featuring Platinum selling country artist Lee Brice on December 12.

Canadian country artist Kelsi Mayne released a new single about her broken engagement “For The Record” on December 19.

Edward Choi (David Lynch's Seinfeld, White on Rice) has launched a new substack called Death to Improv Teachers that is "meant to reservoir the apprehensions I have with Toronto improv pedagogy that flooded my head relentlessly."

For news tips or corrections, contact us!