Howie Mandel – July 26, Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier

Mandel’s versatile career has encompassed virtually all aspects of the entertainment spectrum, including television, film and stage. In 2009, Howie added another title to his resume, author, when he released his frank, funny, no-holds- barred memoir Here’s the Deal: Don’t Touch Me. The memoir that revealed his ongoing struggle with OCD and ADHD–and how it has shaped his life and career made the New York Times Bestseller list on its first week and remained on the list for several consecutive weeks.

Originally from Boston, Gary Gulman has been a scholarship college football player, an accountant, and a high school teacher. Now he is one of the most popular touring comics and one of only a handful of comedians to perform on every single late-night talk show. Gary marked his 20-year anniversary in stand-up with the It’s About Time Tour, selling out theaters throughout the country. It’s no wonder the New York Times wrote, “Gary is finally being recognized as one of the country’s strongest comedians.” Gary’s TV credits include Last Comic Standing, Inside Amy Schumer, and currently on HBO’s Crashing and HBO’s new series 2 Dope Queens. His 3 stand-up specials are streaming now on Netflix and Amazon.

Comedian, actress, writer, producer, and more, Amanda Seales doesn’t just make you laugh, she makes change!

With an uncanny knack for taking serious topics (racism, rape culture, sexism, police brutality, etc.) and with humor, making them relatable and interesting, she combines intellectual wit, irreverent silliness and a pop culture obsession to create her unique style of smart funny content for the stage and screens.

Along with performing stand up across the globe and touring colleges doing comedic lectures on everything from sexism and diversity to relationships and black popular culture, this former MTV VJ with a master’s in African American studies from Columbia University is a series regular as “Tiffany” on HBO’s Insecure, named by Time Out LA as one of 2017’s comedians to watch, is creator/host of LA’s hit comedy game show, Smart Funny & Black at Nerdmelt, speaks truth to change via her wildly popular Instagram and monthly column “Amandaland” at InStyle Mag, has written/produced/starred in two seasons of her scripted comedy, Get Your Life, available on www.Blavity.com and went viral after articulately and passionately confronting Caitlin Jenner on issues of race and equality in America, during a live streamed dinner, hosted by Katy Perry, on Youtube.

Huffington Post recently named her one of six influencers, including Ryan Coogler, who highlight the power of black representation in entertainment today. In June 2017, Amanda was named one of ESSENCE‘s Future 15, a list which spotlights tomorrow’s greatest Black millennial influencers.

In 2015 Roy Wood Jr., became part of “The Best F#@ing News Team” as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. In addition, in 2017 he was named the new host of Comedy Central’s storytelling series, This is Not Happening. The fourth season of which premiered February 2nd.

Entertainment Weekly described the thought-provoking comedy of Roy Wood Jr. as “Charismatic Crankiness.” His comedy has entertained millions across stage, television and radio. Prior to The Daily Show, Wood co-starred for two seasons on TBS’ Sullivan & Son, playing the loving drinking buddy of star Steve Byrne, who has returned to Pittsburgh to run the family bar.

Wood, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, began his comedy career in 1999 at the age of 19 while attending Florida A&M University. In October 2006, Wood made his network television debut on The Late Show with David Letterman. In 2008, Wood appeared on HBO’s historic Def Comedy Jam. In 2010, he was selected by America as one of the top three finalists on Last Comic Standing on NBC. Wood has made appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, TBS’ Conan, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He has also performed for the troops on USO tours to Guam and The Philippines.

In 2017, Roy Wood Jr.’s first one hour standup special, Father Figure, premiered on Comedy Central along with an extended uncensored album of the same name released by Comedy Central Records.

Three-time Emmy nominated Writer, director, producer, and standup comedian Neal Brennan has become a force in the comedy world. An across-the-board talent, Neal has found success in almost every creative vein in the comedy community. He has collaborated with the top writers and talent in the business and worked on several popular shows in various capacities. If there is a comedy that audiences are responding to, Neal is often somewhere to be found.

Neal is currently a writer, Creative Consultant, and on-air correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. He served as Executive Producer on Chris Rock’s 2018 standup special Chris Rock: Tamborine and as Director on fellow Daily Show Correspondent Michelle Wolf’s 2017 HBO special Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady. He also co-wrote the 2017 feature film The Female Brain alongside comic Whitney Cummings.

Neal’s critically acclaimed stand-up special 3 Mics premiered on Netflix in 2017, with Paste Magazine offering “It will floor you in the best way possible.” In a break from traditional standup comedy, 3 Mics sees Brennan alternating between three separate microphones; one for traditional stand-up, one for one-liners, and one for short confessional monologues covering everything from managing his depression to his difficult relationship with his father. The show enjoyed a successful off-Broadway run in NYC with superstar musician John Legend serving as Producer.

Laurie Kilmartin is a stand up comedian, late night writer, and New York Times bestselling author. Laurie has performed standup on Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and numerous shows on Comedy Central.

Her Seeso special, 45 Jokes About My Dead Dad, made Vulture’s Top Ten Comedy Specials of 2016, as well as Paste, Splitsider, Interrobang, and The Decider. The New York Times pointed to, “sharply written one-liners captured the pain and frustration of caring for a dying loved one.” Paste Magazine called it “hilarious… brutal, and cathartic” and Interrobang called it “innovative… twisted and dark.”

Before joining the writing staff at Conan (2009 to present), Laurie was a staff writer on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Too Late with Adam Carolla, and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. In 2012, Laurie wrote the New York Times bestseller Sh*tty Mom, a parenting book that Time Magazine called “criminally funny.”

Laurie has performed at the Edinburgh, Bridgetown and Moontower comedy festivals. She’s also done shows for the troops in Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, and Diego Garcia. Her podcast with comedian Jackie Kashian, The Jackie and Laurie Show, is big with young comedians and middle aged men.