Conference organizers Loft Entertainment and Oak View Group on Monday announced award-winning comedian Dave Chappelle will perform at Departure Festival + Conference (formerly known as Canadian Music Week) with a stand-up show on Wednesday, May 7 at 7 p.m. ET at Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Registered Departure conference passholders will get first access to tickets for Chappelle’s show with an exclusive pre-sale beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 16.
Organizers also announced a new Comedy & Culture Pass is now available, providing access to a full week of comedy showcases plus a day of conference keynotes and panels on Friday, May 9, including comedy sessions curated for insider access to the industry’s future. The full Departure Festival + Conference runs from May 6-11.
“Having Dave Chappelle take part in Departure is a real honour – for me, for the festival, and an amazing treat for our audiences. Starting off the inaugural Departure Comedy Festival with someone of Dave’s caliber and influence is incredibly exciting,” said Bruce Hills, executive producer of Departure Comedy, in a press release.
“In November we promised that comedy would be a big part in the expansion of Departure, and we are immensely proud to fulfill that commitment with the announcement of global superstar Dave Chappelle,” said Kevin Barton, executive producer at Loft Entertainment.
Homegrown comedians joining the conference’s lineup include Jasmeet Raina, Ivan Decker, Sophie Buddle, Hassan Phills, Ali Hassan, and Don’t Tell Comedy founder Kyle Kazanjian-Amory. They join the previously announced Trevor Wallace, Pete Holmes, Harland Williams, Caroline Rhea, Elivra Kurt, Leslie Liao, and the hosts of How Did This Get Made? – Live.
In addition, Corus’s StackTV is giving an exclusive first look to select Departure passholders and fans at the Season 8 world premiere of Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty before it airs on May 25. This special event, in partnership with Wax Records and Anthem Entertainment, will feature live music from Ash Molloy, ZYHIER, CON THE ARTIST, and Julian Daniel, along with games and prizes.
The Departure conference will also offer passholders an advanced screening of Harland Williams’s new comedy Wingman, produced by Justin L. Levine, and also starring Kayla Wallace, Jamie Kennedy, Evan Marsh and Russell Peters, with Williams and Kennedy in attendance for a Q&A. The screening will take place May 9 at Hotel X Toronto and be accessible to conference passholders, with limited individual public tickets also on sale.
Photo of Dave Chappelle courtesy of Touchwood PR
