Spring into Laughter

Starring . . . comedy troupe Girls Nite Out

Gather your friends (girls and guys) for a night of laughter as we bring the BIG city’s best to St.Thomas as part of their 20th Anniversary Tour!

Thursday, May 14
6pm – 9:30pm

Hot off the heals of our wildly successful Signature Fundraiser Summer Night Social, we are delighted to announce we are mixing things up for 2026 with a brand-new Signature Fundraiser; Spring into Laughter!

This evening will be filled with connection, celebration, and community impact. This is more than just an event—it’s a chance to gather, unwind, have fun with friends, and make a lasting difference in the lives of those who need it most.

This extraordinary event will feature 5 top comedians including Elvira Kurt (CBC, HBO), Jennine Profeta (The Second City, CBC, NBC), Karen Parker (The Second City), Diana Frances (Vancouver Theatresports, CBC), Jordan Armstrong (The Second City, Toronto Fringe, CBC).

Your support directly impacts our ability to deliver essential YWCA programs that foster independence, stability, safety, and well-being. Fundraising is the backbone of our mission, and your generosity fuels the programs that change lives in St. Thomas-Elgin every day!

Your ticket to laughter will include:

Charcuterie board filled with meats, cheeses, crackers, and veggies at your table
A complimentary bottle of red and white wine at your table
Chance to WIN one of many high-end custom created raffle packages
Chance to be a part of the show as you could self-nominate for the 2nd Improv Set

Doors Open: 6pm for our wine & cheese mix & mingle
Opening Announcements: 6:30 pm – 7pm
Improv Set 1: 7pm – 7:45pm
Intermission: 7:45pm – 8:15pm
Improv Set 2: 8:15pm – 9pm
Closing Remarks & Raffle Draws: 9pm – 9:30pm

Tickets on sale starting April 2nd!

$75/single ticket

Table of 8 for $525 (that’s 8 tickets for the price of 7!)

19+ Event
No Refunds

If you have any questions regarding ticket registration, please contact our main office at (519) 631-9800 or email us at info@ywcaste.ca.

Who’s Taking the Stage

Elvira Kurt

Elvira is a Canadian Screen Award, Canadian Comedy Award, Cannes Film Festival Award-winning, trail-blazing, blazer-wearing, queer. comedy. icon. Television highlights as writer/performer/host/creator include: The Social, Baroness Von sketch Show, I Have Nothing, Miss Persona, Spin Off, popcultured with Elvira Kurt. Beyond numerous televised comedy specials, Elvira’s creative talents in writing, producing, and directing are showcased in everything from The Great Canadian Pottery Throwdown with Seth Rogen, Netflix’s Drink Masters to MasterChef Canada, Canada’s Drag Race and The Great Canadian Baking Show. In her downtime -ha!- Elvira tours her solo shows from Iqaluit to New Zealand and is a fan favourite on CBC’s The Debaters.

Jennine Profeta

Jennine is an actor, improviser, teacher and writer. She was a member of The Second City’s National Touring Company (Canadian) and performed sketch and improv comedy for The Second City aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean and Caribbean,. As a writer, Jennine has written for CBC, Chatelaine, Today’s Parent and Best Health magazines. She’s appeared in various commercials and summer theatre productions, and was a principal player in Howie Mandel’s “Howie Do It” for NBC. Jennine is the cofounder of Girls Nite Out, now entering its19th year!

Diana Frances

Diana is thrilled to be back with Girls Nite Out touring the East Coast, where we have some of our fondest comedy memories! Diana is an alumni of The Vancouver TheatreSports League and The Second City Theatricals who has been nominated for 8 Canadian Comedy Awards for ‘Best Female Improviser.’ Diana also tours with fellow GNO member Karen Parker as 1950s housewives with their show ‘Leave it to Cleavage.’ As a comedy writer, Diana has won a Canadian Screen Award for ‘Corner Gas Animated’ and a Writer’s Guild of Canada Award for the romantic drama feature film she co-wrote called ‘The Burning Season’ (available on Amazon.) Diana lives in Toronto with her two Puerto Vallarta street dogs rescues who cost her a fortune, Betty and Rio.

Karen Parker

Karen is a 3-time Canadian Comedy Award winning/Dora nominated actor and an alumnae of the Second City Toronto Mainstage (Facebook of Revelations, Tazed and Confused, Barack to the Future). She was the director for The Second City House Company and Assistant Director for The Hotline Always Blings Twice and Party Today, Panic Tomorrow, as well as a director for the Second City Touring Co. She has performed with theatre companies across Canada (Lighthouse Festival Theatre/Showboat Theatre, Sudbury Theatre Centre), Port Stanley Festival Theatre). Selected film and television credits include: People of Earth, Baroness Von Sketch Show, Hemlock Grove, Beauty & The Beast, The Firm, Saving Hope, Being Erica, The Jon Dore Show and Instant Star.

Jordan Armstrong

Jordan is a versatile composer, musical director and performer known for her improvised accompaniment and band leading. Highlights include composing for and musical directing three critically-acclaimed Second City Mainstage reviews, Death Ray Cabaret (Best of the Fest, Outstanding Performance, Outstanding Production Toronto Fringe 2019), One Night Only (Dora nominee, Outstanding Musical Direction), The Adventures of Tom Shadow (Canadian Comedy Award winner), the award winning CBC Kids Podcast The Story Store and the spontaneous live music show Improv Karaoke. She’s co-produced songs with Rodrigo Fernandez -Stoll for Fog and Lasers and musically directed Tom Hearn’s live comedy album Gay Garbage. Jordan has released two albums as an indie singer-songwriter, Dual and This Engine are available everywhere you get your music. https://linktr.ee/Jstrongitsme

Make it a full night out!

Our friends at Holiday Inn Express & Suites – St.Thomas want to offer our Spring into Laughter guests a special discounted rate of $149.00* (plus tax) per night when booking a Standard Room with Two-Queen Beds at their St.Thomas location at 275 Highview Drive.

All Spring into Laughter-Girls Nite Out Guests will receive an email with a custom booking link following their event ticket purchase. This link will allow you to connect directly to Holiday Inn Express & Suites – St.Thomas if you are interested in booking a room.

*offer only available on for bookings on May 14, 2026