Ladner actor and comedian Darcy Michael will take the stage at Rogers Arena next weekend to open for Russell Peters.
Michael is one of the finalists in SiriusXM's Top Comic competition that gets to open for Peters on his Almost Famous Tour across Canada.
"The biggest audience I've played for before this is about 5,000, so the chance to play for a crowd four times that size is incredibly exciting," Michael says in an e-mail to the Optimist.
"Adding that it's in my hometown just puts me over the moon. Normally all my exciting shows happen in Montreal at Just for Laughs or Toronto so to be able to have my family and friends at this one will be great."
He says he got the news from a buddy at XM and, naturally, didn't believe him.
"I still won't be surprised if I show up to Rogers Arena on show day to find out I was just being punked."
Michael is in the midst of finishing a tour and packing for his move back to Toronto to film the second season of Spun Out, a workplace comedy on CTV.
His summer dates have included Just for Laughs in Montreal, as well as Vancouver and Calgary Pride. Michael is set to perform at the Comedy Mix in Vancouver this week (Sept. 18 to 20) before heading to Toronto for the Top Comic Finals on Sept. 25.
The winner takes home $15,000. Asked about any plans for the cash if he wins, Michael says, "This is where I say something exciting like a vacation around the world but I'll probably do something boring like pay some student loan debts and maybe buy another month membership at the Ladner Rec. Centre."
He plays Gordon Woolmer, one of the characters working at a public relations agency, on Spun Out.
Asked if he could give any hints about what to expect from his character in the show's second season, Michael notes the writers know him too well, "and by that they know I have a big mouth so they don't let me see any scripts until we start shooting. It's very nerve wracking but I trust that this season will see Gordon up to his usual antics ... and plenty of cat jokes."
He'll be in Toronto until just before Christmas then come home for a few weeks before starting a 2015 tour.
Michael received a 2014 Canadian Comedy Awards nomination in the Best Breakout Artist category.
Michael opens for Russell Peters on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $51.75 to $125. Visit www.ticketmaster.ca for tickets.
For more on Michael, visit his website at darcymichael.com.
