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MESSAGE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Welcome to the 7th Annual Grindstone Comedy Festival! This year, we are extremely proud to present five days of Stand-up, Improv, and Sketch Comedy. We have gathered the best local, national, and international talents to share their humor with you across two stages. This festival is packed with laughter, so I encourage you to check out the schedule and attend multiple shows. I guarantee you'll discover your new favorite comedian, improvisor, or sketch performer.
While you're at it, take a look at some of our fantastic workshops organized by our education department. Putting together a festival of this magnitude is no small feat. A huge thanks to our dedicated team at Grindstone, our hard-working staff, volunteers, sponsors, and the artists who have joined us to make it all possible.
Get ready for an unforgettable comedy experience!
- BYRON MARTIN
Executive and Artistic Director Grindstone Theatre
ABOUT OUR THEATRE
EST. 2012
Grindstone Theatre is a non-profit organization founded in 2012 which aims to create professional opportunities for emerging artists through high quality productions. Grindstone’s shows have toured internationally and performed to sell out audiences both in Edmonton and abroad.
In 2018 Grindstone opened the Grindstone Comedy Theatre and Bistro which is home to up 14 independently produced shows each week in the areas of improv, stand up, sketch comedy, talk shows, magic, burlesque, musical theatre and more! Voted Edmonton’s Best Comedy Club by VUE Weekly, Grindstone is a venue built by artists for artists.
GRINDSTONE THEATRE SOCIETY
STAFF
BRINGING THE 2026 FESTIVAL TO LIFE
Byron Martin - Executive & Artistic Director
Jules Pepin - Operations Manager
Mary Fleming - Finance Manager
Ria Rivera - Marketing Manager
Noah Brodeur - Comedy Festival Producer
Harshaun Gill - Comedy Festival - Associate Producer
Malachi Wilkins - Comedy Festival - Associate Producer
Allison Dore & Melanie Dahling - Artist Liasons
Chelsea Evason - Education Manager
Scott Peters - Technical Director
Jonathan Parks - FOH & Concession Manager
Jalyn Flowers - Orange Hub Theatres - Booking Manager
Tiffany Hall - Programming Manager
Aaron Margetish - Bar Lead
Janine Joines - Bar Lead
Aerin Gordon - Lead Technician
Alex Delaney - Technician
Olena Babij - Technician
Brynn Larsen-Hafner - Fund Development Coordinator
Simon Wray-Jantz - Multimedia Designer
James Pincock - Multimedia Production Coordinator
Beckett Heinz - Digital Marketing Coordinator
Gordon Ogilvie - Education Assistant
Gemma Lissoway - Education Assistant
Myranda Champagne - Arts Admin/Executive Assistant
Layla Spice - Orange Hub Theatres - Booking Assistant
Leili Rastad - Orange Hub Theatres - Booking Assistant
Adrian Zall - Concession and Festivals Assistant
Shane Maldonado - FOH and Festivals Assistant
festival comittee
Alex Jocko
Steven Darnell Stauffer
Celeste Lampa
Leif Oleson Cormack
Logan Teske
Heidi Bess
Adam Lampman
Allison Dore
Noah Brodeur
Harshaun Gill
Melanie Dahling
GRINDSTONE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STEERING THE GRINDSTONE SHIP EVERYDAY
Edward Dziarmaga - Board President
Ian St. Arnaud - Treasurer
Joshua Pickard - Secretary
Christine Winegarden - Board Member
Willow Sydor - Board Member
Eric Decorby - Board Member
Javier Cuervo - Board Member
