Second City’s She The People brings an all-women produced sketch show to Just for Laughs

Established in the midst of the #MeToo movement, She The People has a simple, yet vital raison d’être: a sketch show entirely written, directed, produced, and performed by women. Debuting to rave reviews at Second City in Toronto last year, the famed comedy environment that launched the careers of the likes of Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Catherine O’Hara, the sketch show stars Ann Pornel, Ashley Comeau, Karen Parker, Kirsten Rasmussen, Paloma Nuñez, and Tricia Black.

We caught up with She The People director and co-writer Carly Heffernan ahead of the show’s Montreal run at Just for Laughs this month to discuss what inspired She The People, how the cast was put together, and the “supportive magic” that the show’s all-female cast and crew bring about.

She The People runs from July 22 – 29 at Centaur Theatre (453 St Francois Xavier). Tickets are showtimes are available here.

Bad Feeling Mag: While an all-female sketch show is definitely long overdue, what was the initial inspiration behind She The People?

Carly Heffernan: The World. The show was being created right on the cusp of the MeToo movement; I truly believe we were all feeling that something was about to happen. There was an air of empowerment in the air.

How do you shape the content of the show? Is there an overarching theme that links the sketches?

The good, the bad, and of course the hilarious aspects of being a woman in 2019 is what drives this show.

Is there a specific tone you’re hoping to get across with the sketches?

Hilarity. I describe the show as a call to action wrapped in a party that all the coolest people are invited to, including Beyonce. As well, the show is about changing the status quo and nobody knocks at change’s door, they kick it down in very cool ankle boots.

Will there be any Montreal content in the JFL run here (especially with former Montreal Kirsten Rasmussen in the lineup)?

There are absolutely some local updates and honestly a piece that just feels very Montreal. ALSO, we incorporate the audience into our scenes and within the improv portions of the show, so they’ll bring that Montreal energy not just to the show but to the stage itself.

Apart from the performers, She The People also has an all-female crew behind-the-scenes; was it important for you to highlight that side of representation as well?

Absolutely. The crew is amazing our MD, SM, choreographer, producers. These are absolutely areas of theatre where women are also under represented. There’s a real supportive magic that comes from having a team made up of people who share so many experiences and it comes through when we share those stories with the audience.

What are you looking for in a performer when casting a show like this?

Funny first! But the skill level of this cast is next level. Acting, singing, dancing, spit takes, they do it all! They recently won the Canadian Comedy Award for “Best Live Ensemble” which was so well deserved.

Finally, what do you hope the audience takes away from the show?

A feeling of inspiration to be loud and be heard!

She The People runs from July 22 – 29 at Centaur Theatre (453 St Francois Xavier). Tickets and showtimes are available here.