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Calling all class clowns fl past and present. Robb Hill, a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University. and once a class clown him- self. is looking for others who appreciate and enjoy delivering a good joke. Goofy duo hopes to launch stand-up comedy workshop 1 "ie/y (lass has one clown out there and I'm looking for them." he said Hill wants Ity form a stand-up comedy club. and manually provide a venue tor fellow stand-up comics in practise their craft. "There aren't a lot of stand-up comedyhused areas around here," Hill said, "There are tum uf open jams for musicians, hm the people who go to the open jams wouldn't necessarily like to see a stand-up come- dian. 'l'hey're more into sit- ting around. drinking a few beers with some tunes in the background." Hill also said the Theatre on the Edge improvisation nights, which run every Thursday at the Waterloo Community Arts Centre (WCAC), are fun, "but improv), not the same as stand-up comedy." [he closest he's come to showing his skills locally has been through the monthly Battle of the Bards variety shows at the WCAC, which have been running since last I hwem hen “UK more of a general audience, str people are there to we a variety of things." he said, "But I got a good crowd reaction when I got up." 7 td fact. the reaction reminded him nf his first experience on stage three Bt AVIJRI-A “All " l hromrte Sm]? unwed: years ago at the Yuk-Yuks club in London. Ont. Jeff Beckner (left) and Robb Hill want to start running a stand-up comedy workshop for aspir- ing jokesters, Eventually they'd like to have a local venue for regular stand-up comedy nights. "I have a pretty good sense of humour and I like to joke around, so I thought I'd give it a try." he said. "It was amateur night. and it was a full house; but I got a good reaction." Hill had the performance recorded so that he could learn which parts ofhis rou- tine worked, and which one; flopped. With other priorities in his life at the time, Hill decided to put stand-up comedy on the backhurner for a few years. But when he "It wide a great learning experience." he said. A T_,ye"r"i,l', T learned of the local variety shows, he decided to take another kick at the comedy can, "It's (comedy) burning inside of me, wanting to get out." he said. After one of his routines. Hill was approached by Jeff Beckner. who did some stand-up comedy about 20 years ago. V "Hehold me he liked my material." Hill said. The two started 1alking and agreed the area should have more places that cater In stand-up comics and fans. "We're waiting to have another opportunity. but there are barely any 0ppor- tunities around here." Hill said. "But we figure there's got to he at least another five or in people out there like us who are interested and who'd like to get together." Hill said he's been approached by high school students at the Battle of the Bards shows. telling him he should host a stand-up comedy workshop. From there, Hill and Beckner put their heads together and decided In test 1hewater, "We'd like In get a group Continued on page 26 'it In“ {QNNEU mo‘u if“ The Menno Singers hold a performance of Silver and Gold April 1 at Benton stree) Baptist Church: lhe Mehno Singers are ceieb/ating their 50th anniversary with a number of special performances. In addition to performing at Benton Street Bap- tist, located at 90 Benton St. in Kitchener, they will joined by the Guelph Chamber Choir April 2 to cele- brate its 25th anniversary under the direction of Gerry Neufeld. After the outstanding success of the first High School Choral Festival in 2004, The Lyrical Lines Edu- cation Network has once again extended an invita- tion to the high schools of Waterloo Region tpuhlic. separate and private) to participate in a charal music festival. On April 122118 pmr. 13 of the region's high school choirs will participate in the second annual Waterloo Region High School Choral Festival at the Centre in the Square in Kitchener. Apbmximately 850 teens from the region's high schools will occupy the stage. - _ Participating schools include Bluevale. Cameron Heights. Eastwood, Grand River, Jacob Hespeler. KCl, Monsignor Doyle. Preston. Rockway Mennonite Col- legiate. Sir John A. MacDonald, Southwood. St. Mary's and Woodland Christian. To prepare for this event, the school choirs are learning their music during their regular choir rehearsals - typically one hour per week These are non-auditioned groups open to any student who wishes to commit him/herself to the choir activity. Despite only two rehearsals for the mass choir. the result will be an overwhelming choral experience. The repertoire will include a sampling of old and new. Canadian and international. In addition to the local students' performance. special guests Ken Fleet. with the Medway Madrigal Singers from Med- way high school near London. Ont.. will also per- form. Dr. Ice Willingham ofWilfrid Iaurier University is the artistic director for the warm Willingham has an extensive background in choral music and music education. He is a former coordinator of music for the Scarborough Board of Education, Most recently. he was a member of the staff at the Ontario Institute for Studies in liducaiiun {OISE}. Tickets are available for $15 through participating choir members or by calling the hox office al 5.3L 1570 or online at www.centre-squarec0nt . local high schools prepare for choral music festival Silver and Gold night