Who We Are

    Toronto's Premiere Venue for Independent Comedy.

Comedy Bar is dedicated to the development of new and established comedic talent, and aims to provide the best Sketch, Improv, Alternative and Stand Up Comedy in Toronto. The stages at our 2 venues host over 150 shows monthly, providing laughs 7 nights a week, approximately 363 days a year.

Founded in 2008 by Gary Rideout Jr. and James Elksnitis, Comedy Bar began its journey as a home for the weekly, in-house sketch comedy show Sunday Night Live. In a city where comedians of all genres were seeking a place to congregate, the bar's party vibe quickly attracted the community's attention and became Toronto's official comedy hub. Due to extremely high demand, a second theatre, the Cabaret Room, was added in 2010 - A more intimate theatre designed as a stage where experimental shows and developing comics can thrive.

Comedy Bar has fostered the talents of ample Canadian comedians, comedy writers and performers. The, now landmark, venue has hosted hugely famous comedians including Tim Meadows (Saturday Night Live, Mean Girls), Janeane Garofalo (SNL, Wet Hot American Summer) and Mark Maron (WTF Podcast). Most importantly, Comedy Bar is the home of comedy in Canada. Every Canadian comedian has had a beer here, and every visiting international comedian has stopped by to see what all the hype is about.