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September 2025
- Sunday September 14th 12:00PM
- KEVIN MCDONALD "One Line Premise" Workshop
- Sunday: The One Line Premise WorkshopTime: 12PM - 4PM • A Focused Writing IntensiveIf you've ever had a great sketch idea but didn’t know where to start, this workshop is for you. Bring a one-line premise (like: “What if a guy was $10 short of being a millionaire?”), and we’ll spend the day turning those ideas into comedy gold.We’ll dive deep into:What makes a strong sketch premiseHow to structure scenes for maximum laughsFinding the comedic “game” within your ideaThis is a sit-down writing workshop—no performing or improv. You’ll leave with a clear plan to write your sketch at home. Afterward, you'll submit your sketch by email (via the organizer), and I’ll personally send back detailed feedback to help you sharpen and shape your work.No distractions. Just you, your ideas, and the tools to turn them into great comedy.Comedian, actor, writer and director Kevin McDonald founded “The Kids in the Hall” with friend Dave Foley, after they met in Toronto at Second City, and the television series ran from 1988-1995. In the troupe's television series and stage shows, he portrays several popular recurring characters, such as the King of Empty Promises, Sir Simon Milligan, and Jerry Sizzler. McDonald went on to appear in a variety of films including Boy Meets Girl, Lilo & Stitch, “Lilo & Stitch: The Series”, and Epic Movie. On television, he has appeared on “The Martin Short Show,” “Ellen,” “That '70s Show,” “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” “NewsRadio,” “MADtv,” “Arrested Development,” and “Corner Gas.” McDonald has also done voice work for various animated series, including Nickelodeon's “Invader Zim,” “The Angry Beavers,” “Catscratch,” and “Clerks: The Animated Series.” He also played an imaginary friend named Ivan in the episode ‘Sight For Sore Eyes’ on “Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends,” appeared in the music video for "Roses" by Outkast, and made an appearance in “Tim and Eric's Awesome Show.”In 2006 McDonald hosted a CBC Television special, featuring several of Canada's best-known sketch comedy troupes. "Sketch with Kevin McDonald" won a Canadian Comedy Award (Best Taped Live Performance - The Minnesota Wrecking Crew). He was recently at the Just for Laughs Festival with the reunion of Kids in the Hall, and also with his show "Hammy and the Kids" with Craig Northey, based on his two dysfunctional families, his father ("Hammy") and the Kids in the Hall, as well as “Death Comes to Town” on CBC.Along the way, Kevin was also in the movies, Sky High and Galaxy Quest. He did his podcast from 2016 to 2020. Just recently, he and the Kids in the Hall did another season of their sketch show for Amazon Prime. He has also done a bunch of things that he forgets. And the world is better off for that.
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- Sunday September 14th 07:00PM
- An evening with Kevin McDonald - telling stories from the Kids in the Hall
- Workshops: Saturday, September 13th at 12:00pm - "From Improv to Sketch" | Sunday, September 14th at 12:00pm - "One Line Premise"Standup Show: Sunday, September 14th at 7:00pm - An evening with Kevin McDonald - telling stories from the Kids in the Hall Comedian, actor, writer and director Kevin McDonald founded “The Kids in the Hall” with friend Dave Foley, after they met in Toronto at Second City, and the television series ran from 1988-1995. In the troupe's television series and stage shows, he portrays several popular recurring characters, such as the King of Empty Promises, Sir Simon Milligan, and Jerry Sizzler. McDonald went on to appear in a variety of films including Boy Meets Girl, Lilo & Stitch, “Lilo & Stitch: The Series”, and Epic Movie. On television, he has appeared on “The Martin Short Show,” “Ellen,” “That '70s Show,” “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” “NewsRadio,” “MADtv,” “Arrested Development,” and “Corner Gas.” McDonald has also done voice work for various animated series, including Nickelodeon's “Invader Zim,” “The Angry Beavers,” “Catscratch,” and “Clerks: The Animated Series.” He also played an imaginary friend named Ivan in the episode ‘Sight For Sore Eyes’ on “Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends,” appeared in the music video for "Roses" by Outkast, and made an appearance in “Tim and Eric's Awesome Show.”In 2006 McDonald hosted a CBC Television special, featuring several of Canada's best-known sketch comedy troupes. "Sketch with Kevin McDonald" won a Canadian Comedy Award (Best Taped Live Performance - The Minnesota Wrecking Crew). He was recently at the Just for Laughs Festival with the reunion of Kids in the Hall, and also with his show "Hammy and the Kids" with Craig Northey, based on his two dysfunctional families, his father ("Hammy") and the Kids in the Hall, as well as “Death Comes to Town” on CBC.Along the way, Kevin was also in the movies, Sky High and Galaxy Quest. He did his podcast from 2016 to 2020. Just recently, he and the Kids in the Hall did another season of their sketch show for Amazon Prime. He has also done a bunch of things that he forgets. And the world is better off for that.
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- Sunday September 14th 09:00PM
- OPENmic
- OPENmic at Empire Comedy ClubEvery Sunday @ 9PM | Doors @ 8:30PM | Host: Matt DundasReady to test your material or just want a night of laughs? Join us every Sunday night at Empire Comedy Club for OPENmic, a welcoming stage for everyone—from seasoned pros to first-timers. Each comic gets 5 minutes, and if the list tops 15 performers, set times drop to 4 minutes, and we switch to a bucket pull for a fun, random lineup.Please note: if there's a show scheduled before the mic, the start time may be slightly delayed.Come be part of the scene, share some laughs, and maybe even steal the show.SIGN-UP HERE!https://www.empirecomedyme.com/open-mics-calendarAbout the host:Matt Dundas is a comedian, storyteller and MC. He has performed at clubs nationwide, such as ImprovBoston, Comedy Underground (Seattle), Loonees Comedy Corner (Colorado), Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse (Virginia), DC Drafthouse, DC Improv, the Greenwich Village Comedy Club and the Broadway Comedy Club. Matt's act touches on his life as a husband and father of two, along with a dose of social commentary. As an actor, Matt has appeared on ABC-TV and onstage at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA. Matt has won multiple awards for his video shorts. Matt has opened for Alonzo Bodden (Last Comic Standing), Ryan Donahue (Crashing), Jena Friedman (The Daily Show), Tim Harmston (Letterman), Robert Mac (Comedy Central), Mary Mack (Conan), Jeff Maurer (Last Week Tonight), Tony Woods (HBO) and Jimmy O. Yang (Silicon Valley).
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