There are many funny and creative people in small rural communities and North Dundas is pretty special in that way. A Bunch of People Arts and Events (ABOP) has a new brain-child in the works and you can see it in 3 weeks!!!! This is only one of the stack of fun things to do at affordable prices for this year from ABOP.
“We have a local writing team of five (5) with veteran writers such as Tom Schoch, a well know former radio host, journalist, farmer, father, and funny man,” said Amanda Burger – Board President and Founder. “Tom’s dry humour is always good for a belly laugh and his contribution to the A Bunch of People’s show A Bunch of Sketches is clearly felt”. Other comedy writers include humorous Harmony Koiter, Jed Looker (who was last seen and heard in ABOP’s True Stories of 2021), Suzanne Millaire, well know funny woman and upcoming emcee for the Winchester Hospital Foundation Gala, and Rick Ventrella comical chap and masterful musician known for his recent CD release and lead performance of Dundas County Players 2018 production of 39 Steps.
“This project started off with great laughs in the writers’ room in our first meeting when Ottawa’s own Rick Currie mentored the writers, drawing from his vast experience”, stated Marie Thérèse Robinson – Board member and actor.
Rick Currie is a thirty-year veteran of the Canadian comedy scene having written for many TV shows. In 2018 he completed an 8-year run as a staff writer for the CBC TV show “The Rick Mercer Report” where he collected 3 Canadian Screen Awards for Best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series. He has written sketches that put words into the mouths of celebrities from Prime Ministers to pop stars and even has had one filmed on the International Space Station. He continues to work with the Rick Mercer team on various projects.
With initial guidance from Rick Currie, the ABOP comedy writing team has created a dozen original sketches spanning the comedy of dinosaurs, cappuccino, drive throughs, dog thoughts, Personal Life Coaches and other laughable moments we encounter in our lives. the sketches include both acting and singing to create a good night of entertainment.
Directed by Sandra McNeill, this show is the brain child of Jed Looker and Marie-Thérèse Robinson and tickets are $15 each or $10 if you are between the ages of 13 and 18 years old. With three (3) shows on Friday, May 27 at 7 pm and Saturday, May 28 at 2 pm and another at 7 pm, there are lots of options to choose from and all profit from the shows will be donated to local charity. Last Christmas, ABOP gave $1600 to HOL, the profit from their four (4) events in 2021. HOL then found 3 local families needing help with overwhelming debt. “This is the one of the raisons d’êtres of ABOP. It is an outcome of having fun, what is better than that?” added Harmony Koiter, one of the Directors of the Board and writer/actor.
A Bunch of People Arts and Events is a not-for-profit corporation headquartered in rural Ontario (Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry, in Eastern Ontario). Working with experienced & amateur physical, musical & visual artists we help organize artistic and/or entertaining events to help raise money for charity.
