Courtney Gilmour is also raising funds through a Go Fund Me campaign for her recently acquired $100,000 prosthetic leg, which she affectionately calls her #DreamLeg. So far, the campaign has raised $45,000 of its $100,000 goal.

On Monday,  August 26 at 9 pm, Courtney is performing at the ALTdot Comedy Lounge at the Rivoli with comics Arthur Simeon, Chris Robinson, DeAnne Smith, Nigel Grinstead, Jackie Pirico, and Mike WIlmot. Proceeds from the event will be donated towards her newly acquired prosthetic leg.

We had a chance to speak with Courtney recently!

What do audiences want to know most about you?

I think they’re curious about how I live my life and what kind of sense of humour I have. I mean, I don’t take polls so I’m guessing here, but from the feedback I get from crowds after a show, they always seem to enjoy relating to my petty observations, like how I have 45 frozen bananas in my freezer that I’m never gonna make banana bread with.

What always surprises people about you?

People seem surprised by my independence and confidence, which is baffling to me. I’ve had people ask me if I’m able to live alone. It’s crazy. One of my favourite things about doing stand-up is being able to clue people into reality, to let them see that someone like me is just another person.

You’re raising funds and also awareness as to how much prosthetics cost. Tell us more?

Prosthetic technology is amazing and complicated. Even the most state-of-the-art prosthetics, which is what I’m raising money for, is not without its flaws. It’s still not perfect or anywhere close to replacing a real limb and I think that’s what people don’t understand. I’ve been calling this new leg Dream Leg. Yes, it’s incredible but it’s such a lengthy, arduous process to adjust it, fine-tune it, and have it properly fitted. Even then it’s still limited. The most expensive advanced technology on the market right now is still very limited. It’s important to note because it needs to keep evolving. People also have no idea of the cost. A standard prosthetic limb is around $10-$20K. A state-of-the-art prosthetic limb is $100,000.

Which comedian inspires you the most? 

I love Tig Notaro. She does her own thing her own way and is so good at it. Anyone who commits to being themselves on stage inspires me because it can be a tough thing to do.

If you could have lunch with any comedian in the world, who would that be?

John Mulaney. He’s so funny and smart and seems charming. I think he’d be a good lunch chat.

If you weren’t performing comedy, what would you most likely be doing?

Writing! I’ve always been a writer and I would pursue that full time if it weren’t for comedy.

Your favourite places to hang out (or even dance) in Toronto? We saw a clip from your show that’s posted on your site that talks about dancing!

The Piston is a great spot for dancing on Motown nights! Otherwise, I like hanging out at the Toronto Music Garden, or anywhere around the waterfront.

For more information on how to support Courtney’s #DreamLeg visit her gofundme page.

Tickets to her August 26th show, visit: http://www.altdotcomedylounge.com

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The latenight show launched in Toronto at Comedy Bar’s first annual Festival of New Formats in 2010 and has become one of the venue’s most popular monthly shows. It recently celebrated its 100th live show in March. Rapp Battlez has featured at festivals such as TOSketchfest, Montreal Sketchfest, NXNE and Field Trip, with spinoff Rapp Battlez Wezt Coazt in Vancouver.

Past comedians have included: Scott Thompson (The Kids in the Hall); Tom Green (Tom Green Show); Bob Kerr, Jeremy Woodcock and John Blair (This Hour Has 22 Minutes); Craig Lauzon (Air Farce); Mark Little, Dave Merheje and Kurt Smeaton (Mr. D); Daniel Beirne (Fargo); Dan Jeannotte (Reign); Nelu Handa (Working Moms); Pat Thornton and Alice Moran (Sunnyside); D.J. Demers (Conan); and special guest Bret ‘the Hitman’ Hart.

We had a chance to catch up with the comedians recently…

Since this is about Rapp Battlez, we want to know who are your favourite rappers?

We’re loving news rappers like Brockhampton and Young M.A, but we love it all. Kendrick Lamar is the king but we also love Drake and Pusha T, beef aside!

I wish I could rap like ….

Busta Rhymes. That speed! Or else Slick Rick.

What was the last thing that made you laugh?

There’s a .gif going around of an old woman pouring water on her unsuspecting husband’s back. Freddie and I have watched it several thousand times. I wish I could explain why it’s so funny but when it works, it works. Link here.

Which Rapp Battlez “killed it” for you?

A few months ago, we had our 100th show and had a massive event to celebrate. It was probably the best show we’ve ever done. In terms of specific battles over the years, there have been so many amazing ones… Some that come to mind are:
-Iron Chef Manchester versus A Robot Specfically Designed to Defeat Iron Chef Manchester
-Man Bun versus Pony Tail
-Skee Lo versus A Rabbit In A Hat with a Bat

Do you have a favourite topic/subject for material?

Honestly everything is on the table but it’s nice to be inspired by what everyone’s talking about at that exact moment. It’s a great show for addressing what everyone’s talking about.

Who is the funniest person you’ve ever met?

I (Miguel) met Zach Woods once after seeing him do a show and he was really, really funny. But our Aunt Colleen is probably the truer answer…a very funny woman.

What’s the funniest interview question you’ve ever been asked?

One time we were asked if the performers rap to a beat. Well… they don’t. Rapping to a beat is hard. And, they’re comedians!

What’s the trick in keeping a rap, and a funny one, going?

Not focusing too much on building narrative. Keep the punchlines coming!

Anyone you’d love to see join the Rapp Battlez roster at JFL?

So many of our comedy heroes are at Just For Laughs, like Will Forte, Dave Chappelle, and Maria Bamford. Anyone of them would be incredible.

If you find yourself in Montreal this coming week…Tickets for the July 24 performance at the Katacombes may be purchased at hahaha.com. The July 25 and 27 performances on the outdoor Loto-Québec Stage are free.

The post Toronto Comedians Miguel Rivas and Freddie Rivas take Rapp Battlez to JFL appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

JFL42 first launched in September 2012 as Toronto’s answer to Montreal’s iconic Just for Laughs Festival. But different. And highly digital. And different. Because this is Toronto and we just alwayyyyys have to be different, don’t we. And digital. What does that mean exactly? I don’t know, let’s explain the format of the festival a little later on in a paragraph or two.

Instead of sexy night spots with pseudo-European names like “Club Soda” and “Les Pacte Des Loup” (jokes, that second one is a French werewolf movie from when I was in film school) JFL42 takes over Toronto’s massive theatre spaces and indie comedy hot spots with 42 acts from across Canada and the U.S. Not to mention a local lineup of some of Toronto’s top comics joining the 42 who are very good and we/they would like you to please pay attention to them. Please, pay attention to them.

This year’s 42 includes a stable of headliners (not literally a stable, Bojack Horseman will *NOT be performing at the festival this year) I don’t want to elaborate on why Bojack Horseman was not invited back this year, but let’s just say there’s a certain etiquette to using the men’s room at Comedy Bar and hind-kicking is not welcome. This year’s festival is stacked with names we’ve seen, heard, loved, fell in love with, and (hopefully) made love to on network television and comedy specials across the dial. With returning favs like Tig Notaro and Trevor Noah (yes, that Trevor Noah. The Daily Show one). Iconic comic (LOLZ tongue twister) Roseanne Barr. Plus real honest to goodness crowd killahs like Anthony Jeselnik, Jim Jeffries, Demetri Martin and Chris D’Elia. And Hot Pockets fuelled Folksy madness of Jim Gaffigan.

With headliners performing galas at Toronto’s Sony Centre, and our own hometown heroes and Canadian comics playing some of the city’s most sought after venues, JFL42 echoes the flagship Just for Laughs festival closely, right here in Toronto. But there’s a twist. Festival-goers and (hey, fuck it let’s call ’em fans!) are invited and encouraged to customize their festival pass based on who, where, and what they want to see. The festival is spread out over a large area, with shows and venues in neighbourhoods across Toronto. I want to avoid calling us “The Six” – but if there are six shows you’d like to see on any given day, your pass allows you to give it a good honest try. You might pass out. Just don’t get hit by a streetcar or a rickshaw in your travels and blame us. Do we still have rickshaws? What’s that uncle Tim? Oh, not unless you’re within 50 feet of the “Rogers Centre” apparently

(*Editor’s note – There are no JFL42 shows happening at the “Rogers Centre”. You can thank Bojack Horseman for that)

(*Editor’s note part deux – if you’re coming to Toronto for JFL42, please never call the Rogers Centre the Rogers Centre. It’s the Skydome for life. I don’t care what Drake calls it… unless he calls it the Skydome. In which case, good job Drizzy)

This year’s JFL42 happens September 22-October 1, and includes some of our finest joke pushers from here on the Toronto standup scene like DeAnne Smith, Amanda Brooke Perrin and K. Trevor Wilson. AND that’s not all, this year’s JFL42 festival also includes workshops, panels and the new addition of Comedy Con

Get your passes now, Hipsters!  Oh and comedy fans. Mostly comedy fans. In fact, just comedy fans. You can be both (I guess) but please be a comedy fan. Passes and shows available on the event website. 

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