From The Second City to Comedy Central acclaim, Jennine Profeta, Elvira Kurt, Diana Frances, and Karen Parker are all comedic powerhouses in their own right.
But something special happens when they take the stage together in Girls Nite Out which, after 17 years, still gets audiences laughing out loud at every show.
The all-female comedy ensemble is kicking off the new year by bringing their popular comedy show to Peterborough’s Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, January 16, when they will be joined by special guest performer Linda Kash.
“It’s so much fun to be part of, and it’s not just engaging, it’s infectious,” says Kurt, a Toronto-based stand-up comedian, actor, host, and TV writer. “We are stronger as a whole and there are some really dark times in life, so the more laughter we can create, the better.”
Though it has such a long history, Kurt assures you’ll never see the same Girls Nite Out show twice.
“It’s always fresh,” she says. “It doesn’t matter if you saw it 17 years ago or you’ve seen every single one. It’s not the same show. It’s changing, and changes with every audience.”
Conceived by Globus Theatre’s artistic director Sarah Quick along with Profeta, a Second City alumna and fellow Bobcaygeon resident, the show was first performed as part of Globus Theatre’s second season.
Since then, Girls Nite Out has toured across Canada — including regular annual performances at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon — with a revolving cast of Canadian Comedy Award Winners and CBC comedy regulars, including Profeta and most recently Kurt, Frances, and Parker,
When Kurt was first pitched the idea of using Girls Nite Out to “give audiences a little bit of everything,” she was immediately drawn in.
“I’ve always worked by myself or I’m the only woman on the line-up, so it was just such a treat to do something in collaboration with my sisters — my comedy sisters — and to not just be on my own all the time,” she says.
While getting to be part of an all-female line-up inspired her in the first place, the uniqueness of Girls Nite Out has motivated Kurt to stick around and be involved in the collective as much as she can.
“This show is not just us doing something for an audience who’s receiving it, but we are making a connection,” she says. “The improvisation relies on audience participation, but not in a way that has historically been true of comedians and audiences where the audience may feel on the defensive. In this case, it’s in celebration that we need you to help us make a stronger connection.”
While it has evolved over nearly two decades, Girls Nite Out shows today begin with Kurt warming up the crowd with stand-up before Profeta, Frances, and Parker join her on stage for various improv games.
“Elvira’s been an icon for so many people,” says Bobcaygeon-based comedian Profeta, noting how eager audiences always are to connect with Kurt after the show. “She’s really touched people in a very personal way, and they always want that opportunity to thank her.”
During the show’s intermission, audience members will have the option to fill out questionnaires to be read by the comedians. Selected and willing participants will be pulled on stage to engage in a “talk show” with Kurt. Based on the talk and stories told, the comedians will perform inspired improv sketches and games.
“We’re going to bring a couple of you up on stage,” Profeta explains. “You’re going to be nervous and unsure and wishing you had another glass of wine, but we’re going to create a safe space to give you a chance and show you how awesome and embarrassing it is, and make you a star. The most inspiring thing for us is seeing what the audience members do when they get up on stage.”
Profeta shares that, during this portion of the show, the group has seen audience members come up and share very “personal” stories and experiences of trauma and overcoming grief.
“It’s just such an honour that this is how they want to step out into this new journey of their life, and to come to this place to laugh with us,” she says. “Just walking through the doors is brave, but the fact they put their name forward to be on stage with us is an honour because they obviously trust us enough to come up and tell their story.”
“It just proves you can be incredibly funny and sharp and provocative — all of which I love about stand-up comedy — while also being incredibly mindful and considerate of people,” adds Kurt. “It’s really the best of comedy.”
VIDEO: “Girls Nite Out” 2023
The other magic, Profeta says, is seeing women using Girls Nite Out as an excuse to get together with their female friends and family members for a light-hearted evening.
“People treat it as an event to get the girls together,” she says. “I think more women need to have an excuse to get together with each other and just laugh.”
While the four comedians have found a comfort and special camaraderie with one another on stage, they are always eager to invite others to join in on the fun. For the January 16th show, that includes Kash, who stepped in for Frances during this past summer’s two Girls Nite Out shows at Globus Theatre.
“I would watch her, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do right there,” Kurt says of seeing Kash perform at The Second City when she was just beginning her career. “That level of funny and that level of natural talent and skill and dedication is what I wanted, and how lucky that we get to share the stage with her now. She’s just a genius.”
After 17 years of taking Girls Nite Out to stages across Ontario, Profeta shares how wonderful it is when they get to bring Girls Nite Out home to the Kawarthas .
“It’s where it all began, and we didn’t know what it was about to become,” she says. “We treat it like a celebration. It’s like coming home for Christmas.”
Girls Nite Out will be performed for one night only at 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 16th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough. Tickets, which are $39 for assigned cabaret table seating or general admission floor seating, can be purchased online at markethall.org, by calling 705-749-1146, or by visiting the box office at 140 Charlotte Street.
