Toronto Comedy Bar Benefit for Second City Alum Derek Flores July 7

From a media release:

Stampede Breakfast: All-Star Variety & Improv Show

July 7, 2011 at COMEDY BAR
A benefit for Second City alumnus Derek Flores

TORONTO, ON (June 29, 2011) - Comedy Bar and Friends of Flores present: Stampede Breakfast: All-Star Variety & Improv Show on Thursday, July 7, 2011. Featuring some of Toronto's best comedians and improvisers, Stampede Breakfast is a benefit for Second City alumnus Derek Flores.

Flores has a son living in New Zealand, where he has also been living until recently, when his visa renewal application was denied. Stampede Breakfast will raise funds to help with the extensive legal fees to enable him to return to New Zealand and be with his son.

Some of the nationally renowned comics confirmed to appear in the July 7 benefit are Matt Baram and Ron Pederson (National Theatre of the World, Impromptu Splendour), Chris Craddock (BASH'd - A Gay Rap Opera, Moving Along), Jim Annan and Scott Montgomery (Falcon Powder, Catch-23), The Rumoli Brothers (SARSical, An Inconvenient Musical), Aurora Browne (Comedy Inc), Nile Seguin, (Comedy Now!, Just for Laughs), Christy Bruce (The Soaps - Improvised Soap Opera). Tickling the ivories will be Dora award-winning composer Waylen Miki (SARSical, An Inconvenient Musical).

The performance will consist of two acts: a 45 minute variety show featuring music, sketch and stand-up comedy, followed by a second act of world-class improv.

• Tickets are $15 at the door, and 100% of proceeds go towards reuniting father and son.
• To purchase tickets please call 416-551-6540 or visit www.comedybar.ca.

Stampede Breakfast is named for the Calgary tradition of hosting free pancake breakfasts during the annual Calgary Stampede. Flores and many of the performers in the July 7 benefit hail from Calgary, where they met at the famed Loose Moose Theatre. Stampede Breakfasts have been an annual tradition for ex-pat Calgarians living in Toronto since Flores hosted the first one in 2001.

Die-hard underground comedy fans will remember Flores from more than just Second City. The DK Ranch (the apartment at College & Spadina where Flores used to live) was a venue for many unusual and rowdy variety performances which were hosted on the third floor deck overlooking the city. Stampede Breakfast features many artists who got their start performing at the DK Ranch.

Derek Flores and Vinyl Burns whipping up the crowd at the Paramount Theatre in 2008: