Just For Laughs Festivals tour with comics

The Just For Laughs Festival returns to Chicago for the second year, June 15-19, after a successful inaugural event in 2009. The US version of Montreal's 19-day comedy fest, features more than 100 comedians at several venues.

Among the performers is Ellen DeGeneres on her Somewhat Special Tour, while Aziz Ansari, this year's host of MTV's Movie Awards and co-star of the film I Love You, Man and the US television hit Parks and Recreations, will present his D angerously Delicious show.

Other comedians include Canada's Anglo-Indian comic Russell Peters on the Green Card Tour, Cedric the Entertainer's Urban Circus, Denis Leary, and Adam Carolla.

A special event will feature The Second City Alumni Reunion Show - Class of '79 with the legendary comedy cast including Jim Belushi, Cheers' George Wendt, Tim Kazurinsky, Nancy McCabe Kelly, and more recreating some of their classic scenes from the troupe's archives.

Also, the comedy festival offers a range of sketch programs including the winners of the Andy Kaufman Awards, Bob Odenkirk's sketch show for kids, and members of the famed The Groundlings and Upright Citizen's Brigade.

The cable network TBS presents a Very Funny Festival: Just For Laughs, telecasting specials from the Chicago event.

Just for Laughs which began in Montreal, Canada presents the 28th Comedy Festival in Montreal, July 7-25, for the largest comedy event with 1.5 million attendees and more than 1,200 performances with 1,500 artists from 12 countries. John Leguizamo, Kevin Smith, Cheech & Chong, Lewis Black, and Pamela Anderson will be among the talents this year (www.hahaha.com).

Also, Toronto's fourth annual Just For Laughs festival features Wayne Brady, Patton Oswalt and Brad Garrett, attracting 350,000 to shows, July 6-11 (http://toronto.hahaha.com/).

Ticket and program information for the Chicago event can be found at www.justforlaughschicago.com/

RC