The long-running Just for Laughs festival is in dire straits. This year’s edition of the festival has been cancelled as the company behing the festival tries to avoid bankruptcy.
“JPR’s board of directors, after having extensively considered all available alternatives, came to the conclusion that the financial situation of the organization left no other choice than to initiate formal restructuring proceedings,” Groupe Juste pour rire inc. said in a statement Tuesday.
According to a report in La Presse, the company has laid off 70% of it’s workforce, totalling 75 people.
Both Just for Laughs and JUSTE POUR RIRE, the French version of the summer festival, have been cancelled for 2024, along with a number of off-season shows including Waitress The Musical, Neev, Jean-Sébastien Girard, and more. Ticket holders for the cancelled events will receive an automatic refund.
Just for Laughs is the largest comedy festival in North America and has been a springboard to launching the careers of countless comedy legends including Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, and many more.
Here’s hoping the festival returns in 2025.
In the meantime, you can check out our archive of past Just for Laughs coverage here.
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