On Monday, ACTRA and AYA hosted a holiday fundraiser for PAL Toronto and it was a night filled with experienced talented performers.
“Talent doesn’t die,” said Theresa Tova, an award-winning actress and president of ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists). Members of ACTRA and Act Your Age (AYA) hosted a holiday fundraiser at the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) located in downtown, Toronto.
“About 10 years ago exactly, we decided to do our first holiday party and started doing it as a fundraiser to raise money for AFC (actors fund of Canada) and PAL Toronto,” Tova said. The funds are then used to help house senior actors and take care of PAL located at 110 The Esplanade.
Many members of AYA were in attendance, along with members of ACTRA.
Then show began at exactly 7:30 p.m. when Tova opened the show and handed the emceeing over to actor, dancer, singer and comedian, David Gale.
Gale opened the show with the classic Christmas song “Joy to the world” adding his own comedic twist.
Martha Chaves, a comedian who works at Yuk Yuk’s comedy club performed at the fundraiser for the first time. Chaves was one of the first people to hit the stage and the crowd hysterically laughed during the entire 10 minutes she was up there.
“I have been doing this for 25 years, that is why I cannot pretend that I am a young chick,” Chaves said.
“I am a ACTRA member and I offered to do a spot and I am friends with David.” She said she hosted the ACTRA awards and she wasn’t as expressive as she had been in the Monday night show because of the type of audience she was speaking to.
“I’ve never done this before and I don’t think I’ll be invited again after I cursed so much,” she joked. She added if they invited her back to perform, her stand-up will go a little different.
Throughout the night many members of both ACTRA and AYA took the stage. Some sang, some performed funny skits, a few comedy stand-ups while others performed a poetry piece.