The Lady Is Amazing!
Shannon Laverty is finally receiving the recognition and bookings she has long deserved. She had asked for no quarter, nor given any. There isn’t a stage that she is not the master of -Kenny Robinson
Shannon's joke about the fart that comes up the front and tickles your clit is one of those jokes you wished you wrote yourself. - Christina Walkinshaw
Shannon Laverty is a tremendous Stand-Up, no question. However, it’s her prowess as an MC, specifically her crowd work that made the greatest impression on me when I was MCing on the Yuk’s roster. She can read people up and down and is exceptionally quick witted. If you’re an aspiring comedy club MC, go watch Shannon in action and take notes. - Dini Dimakos
I think every comic has a time and it’s not always when they are just starting out or when they are doing the most work. I think Shannon's time is now. What she says about her own life and her struggles lines up with what people are starving to hear especially women and she has been one of the most solid comics we have seen doing one of our tv galas. - Lara Rae
When you gig with Shannon, you always feel like when you’re sitting in her hairdresser’s chair: In excellent hands! The comics love and trust her with secrets you only tell your hairdresser - a lot of us have our hair done by her. Audiences adore her too because of her ability to connect with them. She’s raunchy, she’s poignant, and very funny and quick. - Martha E. Chaves
“There’s a reason Shannon Laverty has been performing stand up comedy for over 25 years…she’s damn great at it. She’s edgy, smart and real. Shannon possesses a razor- sharp comic mind that leaves you aching from laughter and lost in interesting imagery.” - Will Conlon, Doing It Podcast
The author, David Reuben, recently, had the pleasure of sharing the stage with the lovely and talented Ms. Shannon Laverty. Watching Ms. Laverty perform is like watching a skilled surgeon, she quickly finds the collective pulse of the audience and then molds it into the single unit she envisions.
Ms. Shannon Laverty was born and raised in Saskatoon. She is the youngest of three children and always wanted her presence known. Shannon recalls; “I think I got some of my sense of humor from my Dad. My Mom was funny too.” Shannon’s mom Ruth says; “Shannon was born at 7:37 and was an active child who was intended to fly.”
By age 20. Shannon owned her own hair salon which happened to be in the same hotel as the Yuk Yuk’s in Saskatoon. Already involved in theatre Shannon took the leap to stand-up comedy. “They kept making announcements that there was a contest for the funniest new comic in Canada. I thought I could do it. I was already doing theatre at the time. How much harder could it be?”
The author thinks that Ms. Laverty made the right decision about trying stand-up. Since entering the Yuk Yuks Search for Canada's Funniest New Comic over 25 years ago Laverty has been nominated four times for a Canadian comedy award. Ms. Laverty has seen all of Canada many times while touring as an MC and Headlining act. Internationally, she has performed in shows in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, South Africa. In October of 2006 Shannon performed at a NATO base in Germany and hopes one day to travel the world performing for military personnel.
In 1991, at age 21, Shannon Laverty took the leap to move from Saskatoon to Toronto. It was time to spread her comedy wings. According to good friend Mark Christian Walker; "Shannon arrived in Toronto with 2 hockey bags full of clothes and a dream.” Shannon shared an apartment with Mark Christian Walker when she moved to Toronto and he always worried she was going to hit her head on the low ceiling. Mark says; “Shannon has never lost her love of performing and tells the truth which upset people at the beginning of her career but today is praised for her candor on stage.”
Shannon Laverty is a well-rounded person who is generous to a fault, a great cook, and loves to try new things. One of those new things was going back to school for a Radio and TV diploma from Seneca College in Toronto. She accomplished this while working two part-time jobs and doing stand-up comedy.” I finished with high honors and on the Deans honor roll. First time I felt smart.”
Stand-Up Comedy is a tough business and even harder for female comic’s, but Ms. Shannon Laverty has not only survived but thrived for over a quarter century. Mom Ruth says; “when she started I was worried for her, but I knew she would succeed because of her stubbornness. It is a pleasure to watch her perform, and our relatives are amazed. When I see Shannon on television, I ask her what the heck are you wearing.”
Today, Shannon Laverty is considered one of the best MC’s working in Canada and is a requested Headliner. In December 2014, Shannon was named as a top host of the year in Now Magazine by comedy critic Glen Sumi.
She loves living in Toronto and when not working at her hair salon or performing, you will find Shannon at the gym. Shannon states; “The hair salon has always kept me in touch with the “real world”. It took a long time for me to find myself in stand up. I mean I always tried to stay true to my voice of being edgy. I don’t tend to give up, plus my love for performing is so high. I love being on stage and connecting with an audience. I stopped listing to people who told me I shouldn’t talk like that. I feel like I am finally able to say what I want because I have the life experience to back it.”
Ms. Shannon Laverty is working on a web series called “The Salon” it is about her working in a salon and the wacky clients she deals with and her assistant. It was co-written by Bonnie Anderson and Shannon Laverty. They also co-produced the first 3 episodes. Shannon is also looking at putting together material for a second CD. That should happen in the 2018.
If you see Ms. Shannon Laverty at the hair salon, at the gym or on a stage near you say hi. She may even give you some hair tips.
For more information on Ms. Shannon Laverty visit www.facebook.com/Shannonlavertystandupcomic
Mention you found out about Shannon Laverty on www.thecomedygreenroom.com
