If you haven’t heard of it yet Just for Laughs is the largest international comedy festival in the world held in Montréal, Canada. Every summer, the festival draws the famous and funny from around the globe. The festival hosts around 1,700 artists from 19 countries as well as over 2 million spectators. Just For Laughs offers 1,600 performances, including 1,200 free outdoor shows.
Since 1983, the festival has drawn millions of visitors to see big names like Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Jim Carrey, Lily Tomlin, Denis Leary, Jimmy Tingle, Adam Sandler, Bob Newhart, Ray Romano, and many more. Deals get made and careers get born as the comedy world descends on Montreal to see and be seen.
Dave Chappelle is among one of the comedians featured in this festival. He has been performing at this festival for many years. The 41-year-old comic arrived to Montreal late Sunday night on a flight from New York City, where he accepted an award from the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation on Saturday.
Chappelle appeared unannounced and surprised fans when he slipped into the Théâtre Saint-Catherine, a 100-seat venue, for the Just for Laughs Midnight Surprise show and performed for nearly an hour.
Chappelle’s previously announced 10 shows on the festival are nearly sold out with a limited number of tickets left. This surprise performance marks for an 11th show- if you are counting of course. Dave Chappelle seems to be making an unbelievable comeback to comedy. He got back on stage like nothing had changed
Other comedians from the festival such as Mike Ward and Frank Spadone tweeted that Chappelle was “on top of his game” and “so relaxed, so funny.”
Multi-talented comedian Wanda Sykes is also apart of this year’s line-up as the host.
Joining Wanda Sykes is a slew of amazing performers including Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Mike Myers, Neil Patrick Harris, Trevor Noah, Jane Lynch, Bill Burr, Patton Oswalt, “Weird Al,” Chris Hardwick, Jason Reitman, Ellie Kemper, TJ Miller, Chris D’Elia, Jerrod Carmichael, Sebastian Maniscalco, Reggie JB Smoove, & Rob Schneider.
This is Jerrod Carmichael’s 2nd year performing at the festival. He is making a name for himself in the comedy world with his new sitcom “The Carmichael Show” debuting on NBC.
How is this for a throwback? Watch the clip below of Dave Chappelle performing at the Just for Laughs Festival in 1993.
