Catch a Rising Moose, formerly known as the Moose Jaw Comedy Jam, is looking to host a "New Year’s Eve-Eve" variety show Saturday, Dec. 30, starting at 7 p.m. The show will take place at Rucci’s Masala House, the standard venue for the group, and will likely run until 10:30 or 11 p.m.
The show is the dream of its founder, Garret Delaurier, who wants to see a stand-up comedy scene flourish in Moose Jaw.
“For a few years I’ve been trying to get comedy shows happening (in Moose Jaw). About… five months ago, I started putting on a comedy show once a month,” Delaurier said.
“We did some shows at the Masala House. Every time we’ve done a show… there’s been a bigger crowd,” he said. “And then, last month, we went to Chillers’, and it was completely sold out – I’ve never seen Chillers’ so full.”
The first show had around five people in attendance. This was followed by around 10 for the second show, roughly 20 for the third show, and by the fourth show, Delaurier estimated around 125 guests.
The show starts with a five-to-10-minute introduction by Delaurier, and then guests take the mic for a five-minute demonstration of their comical talent. Delaurier MCs the event and for the upcoming New Year’s show, he invited Regina-based musicians for live entertainment.
“Because it’s the New Year’s show, we’ve decided to get some music as well. That’s why we’re calling it the variety show,” he said. At the show, Tim Holehouse and Greg Rekus will perform live acoustic rock music following the stand-up portion of the show.
Delaurier advises anyone interested in attending to keep an open mind.
“I’m not advertising it as a clean show,” he said. As the floor is open to anyone, it can be expected that somebody will say something a little off-colour or potentially offensive.
“Everyone we book is either out of Saskatchewan or directly from Moose Jaw,” he said. For the New Year’s show, Dustan Hlady from Regina is one comedian who plans to attend.
One talented local comedian discovered in the show is Brandon Purington, who performed at the last three shows. “He really showed a lot of improvement every single month,” Delaurier said. “His ability to do crowd work, and the level of energy he brought to the performance is completely natural.”
“If there is a scene – which it seems like there is… – then we’ll probably be going out twice as often…,” he said, noting that between four and seven guest comedians sign up for each show on average.
“I really hope people come out to the next (show) and support the scene. The more that people come out... in Moose Jaw, the more it’ll grow, and the more we’ll be able to book comedians from bigger cities.
“If there does turn out to be a real (interest) in Moose Jaw, we might be able to bring in more celebrity-type comedians that people would recognize from TV and the Internet.”
For 2024, Delaurier will continue to assess the strength of Moose Jaw’s interest in these events, and he plans to start a podcast. “We’re not exactly sure which direction we want to go (yet),” he admitted.
Similar venues in Saskatoon and Regina are starting to hear about the show, and Delaurier aims to bring some talent from these locations to Moose Jaw as well, and vice-versa.
“If anybody is interested in stand-up comedy, to either perform or just watch and support the scene, get a hold of me and just come on out,” he said. “It’s really easy to get involved.”
Delaurier is now introducing a flat fee of $5 per guest, effective immediately. “(It will be) five dollars per person, every single time,” he confirmed, noting that some existing posters will need to be updated.
For tickets or to book a chance at the mic, Garret Delaurier can be reached at 306-631-4847.
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