What to know
- The festival runs Sept. 24 to Oct. 3, featuring major headliners like Pete Davidson and Sasha Velour alongside emerging local talent.
- Nick Brazao has spent 17 years with Just For Laughs, using his performer’s eye to scout and develop the next big comedy stars.
- Diversity and local voices take centre stage, with special programming like Loud Asians highlighting Chinese Canadian comedians and stories.
- Behind the scenes, Brazao balances the high-stakes logistics of live events with the thrill of launching comedians’ careers — and says the payoff is seeing new talent break through on the big stage.
From dad jokes to dating horror stories and hilarious bits, get ready to laugh. As the Just For Laughs festival kicks off Thursday, Vice President of Programming and Talent Nick Brazao gave Now Toronto a sneak peek at what’s in store.
From viral headliners to local comedians: Here’s what to expect
Just For Laughs is coming to Toronto from Sept. 24 to Oct. 3, filled with viral headliners such as Pete Davidson and Drag Queen Sasha Velour.
With the fall weather bringing chills outside, go indoors and get chills from entertaining comedians during the 10-day festival.
“This is the perfect time for people to go back indoors and enjoy some comedy. We’ve got some really great headliners… I’m really excited to see the local community showcased, whether it’s on stage as support acts for some of the bigger names that we bring in or headlining their own shows,” Brazao told Now Toronto.
Part of the programming is Loud Asians, a special edition celebrating Chinese-Canadian voices and culture, speaking on upbringing, life and dating.
“I think a huge point of the festival is to try to platform the local scene and the diverse voices within it,” Brazao said.
Toronto’s comedy scene
As a Toronto native and Montreal-based entertainment executive, Brazao is excited to bring lots of laughs to the Toronto comedy scene.
“I’m a proud Torontonian at heart, and I think that having the opportunity in such a world-class city and to be a part of the city’s landscape… it’s something that’s not lost on us,” he shared.
Through Brazao’s 17 years with Just For Laughs, he says he loves bringing shows to bigger venues such as Meridian Hall down to smaller venues such as the Comedy Bar.
How Brazao picks the next big talent
Brazao has a theatre background from Concordia University and has produced and performed stand-up comedy in Montreal. From his experience in the arts, Brazao says he knows how to spot the next big talent.
“Anytime you put yourself out there and have the chance to try to do the actual performance aspect, it informs your producing opinion into trying to scout talent and recognize talent,” Brazao explained.
“Stage presence, connecting with the audience, having those elements to your repertoire as a performer are really important to look for,” he added.
From scouting to helping a comedian get a breakthrough, Brazao says that is what makes his job worth it.
“It’s the most exciting part. Being able to provide an inflection point in somebody’s career, having the privilege to go through scouting processes… and to be able to bring them to the Toronto festival,” Brazao said.
He explained that combining the brand with performers with “unique and funny” voices, and later seeing them on tours or getting roles on Saturday Night Live (SNL) is really exciting.
“When you have an opportunity to take a non-household name and give them more chance in this world and see them succeed in doing so. It’s really exciting,” Brazao shared.
Despite the stress the job can bring, such as artists’ flights landing 15 minutes before the show, he says helping comedians get their big break and present at such festivals makes it all worth it.
