Hometown comedian bringing tour here

In celebration of becoming the first native comedian to ever tape a one-hour stand-up comedy special for CBC TV, Ryan McMahon is making his way across Canada on the “Ryan McMahon—UnReserved Tour” and will be stopping here next Friday (Oct. 5).
Born and raised in Fort Frances, McMahon is really excited to return to his hometown with two shows at the Little Beaver Cultural Centre.

“My roots are in the area,” he remarked. “I really champion Fort Frances.
“It’s where I’m from—the most beautiful place on Earth.”
As such, he’s really hoping people will come out to support him.
McMahon will offer an early show from 7:30-8:45 p.m., then a late one from 9:30-11 p.m.
He thinks the Little Beaver Cultural Centre will be a great location for his show because it offers some intimacy.
“For comedy, I want to be able to touch your table, hold your hand, high-five you if we share that moment,” he noted.
“That’s what comedy is,” he stressed. “It’s supposed to be more intimate.”
McMahon said he has played at theatres and big casinos—and it’s a very different show.
“When you’re in a big theatre, the laughs come a split second later than when you are in an intimate space,” he explained.
“In an intimate space, you’ll be able to see me sweat,” he added. “People know when things are and aren’t working.
“There are no tricks when I’m standing three feet in front of you. It’s pretty raw.”
Not only did McMahon recently tape his comedy special, but this summer made his debut at the prestigious “Just For Laughs” festival in Montreal, where he was named to the “New Faces List.”
“My producers and people behind me on all these projects really wanted me to celebrate the fact that I was the first to do these things,” he said.
“And that’s what the tour is—a celebration.
“I’m working on all new material,” added McMahon, noting that since his show will be on TV, he “doesn’t want to be the guy that’s touring the same material.”
He said some of his new stuff is not ready—nor is it funny, he chuckled. But added he’s hoping for a tighter show by the time he gets to Fort Frances.
McMahon began his tour in Victoria, B.C. on Sept. 12 and will be making 26 stops—playing 30 shows—in just six weeks.
“So far the tour is going well,” he said, noting of the first six shows, five were sold-out.
But he admitted it’s been challenging.
“I’m doing it by myself,” he explained, noting after each show, he goes back to the hotel to start promoting for the next stop.
“So it’s been difficult, but really rewarding and it’s going well.”
While his producers encouraged the tour as a celebration of his successes, when planning began, it quickly became too costly and time-consuming.
“But we had already announced we were going to do the tour,” McMahon said. “And slowly the team I had around me started to dissolve, and I had to make a decision whether this was still going to happen or not.”
Due to all the buzz and excitement generated on the Internet, McMahon chose to go ahead with the tour.
The initial intention was for just eight or 10 stops, but soon he was getting hundreds of e-mails and messages from people requesting shows in their area.
“So on demand, the tour grew on its own,” he remarked, though admitting he doesn’t have the budget required for a project of this size, which is why he’s doing most of the work himself.
“I think it’s captured the hearts of a lot of people and the results are in the sold-out shows,” he enthused.
McMahon also hopes to get sold-out shows here in Fort Frances, especially because he intends to donate the proceeds from his early show to the local KidSport chapter, which promotes sport participation among youths and provides funds, equipment, and other necessities for local children who otherwise would be unable to afford organized sports.
“I just want to put some skates on some kids,” he stressed, noting he was involved in sports here as a child.
“I want to start to give back to the community.”
McMahon also said he wants to re-strengthen his relationship with Fort Frances.
To do that, he is planning to start up a scholarship program for youth who are involved in sports and active in the community.
To purchase tickets for the show, which cost $15 each, visit www.ryanmcmahonunreserved.com
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” McMahon vowed. “Come on out and have a few laughs.”