Fondation Dynastie is proud to announce the first cohort of Rire en scène.
Montreal, February 6, 2024 - Following several months of active promotion, Fondation Dynastie is delighted to have received over thirty applications for its new Rire en scène program, a unique initiative in Quebec! In partnership with Just for Laughs and the École nationale de l'humour (ÉNH), this intensive 9-week training program, free of charge, is dedicated to the development of aspiring comedians from black communities wishing to pursue a career in this field.
"It's incredible to see the buzz around Rire en Scène! I'm deeply pleased to be able to contribute to the development of black talent in the field of comedy, thanks to our dedicated partners. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of this training and the many opportunities that will open up for this cohort." - shares Tracy Paulotte, Head of Programs and Outreach at Fondation Dynastie.
Selecting the candidates was undoubtedly a major challenge, since they all had interesting potential to showcase. The selection committee settled on people who demonstrated a great deal of charisma and dynamism in their video presentation, who seriously dreamed of making a living as stand-up comedians, and who were keen to take their talent to the next level. The result is a first cohort that brings together candidates with more advanced professional experience, mid-career comedians and a few amateurs.
Drum roll... the selected participants are :
Vanessa Destiné: a journalist by training, she has worked for several Quebec radio, TV and web channels as a columnist and host. She wants to develop a different side of her personality, to tell stories with a greater sense of humor;
Miselaine Duval: a self-taught native of Mauritius, she has been working in the comedy world since 1995, presenting comedy projects in French and Creole, including her one-woman show. She would like to win back Quebec audiences with her stand-up and acting talents;
Sheena Fins: a graduate of INIS in scriptwriting, an avid improviser for 20 years and best known for the play Rapide et pas dangereux presented at Just for Laughs, Sheena aspires to perfect her stand-up act;
Antoine Hébert: passionate about improvisation and theater, stand-up is a new way for him to express his personality;
Uncle Phil: bilingual, self-taught comedian for the past 6 years, he got his start in the business with the group Bad Boys du Rire and presented a sketch at Zoofest in 2023;
Anna Beaupré Moulounda: a trained comedienne with a strong reputation in the industry, she won the Actress of the Year award at the Gala Dynastie in 2023. Comedy has always been one of her passions, and she has even produced a one-woman show . This program is a return to her roots, and a great challenge!
Julie Simon: a dentist by training, she's been in the comedy business for less than a year, and dreams only of really developing her style and voice;
Réginald St-Eloy: a comedian for nearly 8 years, he has had many experiences on stage, including one with Eddy King and the group Bad Boys du Rire at the Just for Laughs Festival. Progressing in the field is a deep desire for him;
Samuel Tingombay: a lifelong fan of stand-up, in 2018 he began to take his passion seriously thanks to his weekly comedy night at Maquis Yasolo restaurant, stand-up is his way of outdoing himself;
Alexandre Willybiro: host, influencer and comedian in his spare time, known on social media for his sketch comedy, he has many strings to his bow, but lacks the professional stand-up he hopes to acquire with this program.
The training program, set up with the expertise of L'École Nationale de l'Humour, includes writing and act creation workshops, as well as mentoring sessions offered by professionals in the field. One of the outcomes will be a unique experience for one of the participants, who will present an act at the Just for Laughs Festival this summer.
Candidates will be supported by inspiring trainers such as Garihanna Jean-Louis, Xavier Boisrond (ÉNH), Maryvonne Cyr (ÉNH) and Luc Boily (ÉNH). Eddy King and Pascal Mailloux will also be part of the adventure as mentors, and Richardson Zéphir will talk about his unique journey in the world of comedy as a special guest.
Fondation Dynastie would like to thank all those who applied for this program. We are working to develop further initiatives to support unsuccessful applicants and those interested in this field. Further details will be shared at a later date.
For more details, visit the programs page at: https: //www.fondationdynastie.com/programmation/rire-en-scene
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ABOUT THE FONDATION DYNASTIE
Fondation Dynastie works for more equitable and meaningful representation of black communities in the arts, culture and media. Through various cultural mediation initiatives, the organization seeks to break down barriers and create opportunities that promote the visibility and recognition of talent from these communities, and reduce inequalities in the representation of black communities in the cultural and media sectors. The Foundation also supports the development and professionalization of emerging talent.
Source :
Fondation Dynastie
Bellande Montour
Head of Communications and Marketing
commdirection@fondationdynastie.com
Press relations :
Danny Payne
Raison D'être Media
C.: 514 621-8657
info@raisondetremedia.ca