Just For Laughs comedy festival to headline Russell Peters, Craig Ferguson

<p>MONTREAL – The Just For Laughs is getting bigger for its 29th edition.</p> <p>The annual comedy festival, which organizers tout as the biggest such event in the world, will be expanding from two to three weeks when it kicks off on July 11, adding new venues such as Place des arts in Montreal’s downtown.</p> <p>Big names are also on the bill, most of which was announced by festival organizers on Tuesday, and include popular Canadian comic Russell Peters and CBS late-night funnyman Craig Ferguson.</p> <p>Also on tap is Eric Stonestreet, who won a best supporting actor Emmy earlier this year for his portrayal of a gay dad on the ABC sitcom “Modern Family,” and John Oliver of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”</p> <p>The festival will also bring back its roster of club shows focusing on such things as nasty and ethnic humour as well as one-man shows featuring such comics as Eddie Izzard (TV’s “The Riches.”), who has sold out venues in past festival appearances.</p> <p>Peters said in an interview that Just For Laughs is considered the premiere comedy event in the world and he’s looking forward to his show.</p> <p>”It’s going to be a good one,” said Peters, who has three movies and a new DVD coming out in the next several months.</p> <p>”All the comics on there are top-notch performers. The good thing is I’m the weak link.”</p> <p>Bruce Hills, the festival’s chief operating officer, said it was essential for the festival to stay fresh and that this year will set the stage for a 30th anniversary blowout next year.</p> <p>He said the festival has ramped up its use of social media through its own sites, as well as those of performers who are on Twitter and Facebook.</p> <p>”All the stars that are coming to the festival will tweet . . . and we believe that will make a significant difference.”</p> <p>Hills said the festival, which hosts English- and French-language sections, is already acting on feedback from fans. </p> <p>”What we heard from the fans was that they felt the festival was too condensed, so we spread it out for three weeks so people have the chance to attend the amount of shows they’d like to see,” he said. </p> <p>He said streets will be closed around Place des arts for the festival and performances will be given in that neighbourhood. Shows have also been retooled.</p> <p>”We don’t believe we should just repeat the same things every year,” he said. “People will see freshness as well as, we hope, a more user-friendly schedule of shows.”</p>