Ridgeway laughs out loud at Big Giggle Gala fundraiser for youth theatre

A dozen Niagara comedians took the stage in Ridgeway on Saturday for the Big Giggle Gala, a comedy fundraiser supporting Down the Rabbit Hole Theatre Co. The two-hour event filled the Sanctuary Centre for the Arts with laughs and chuckles in support of the theatre’s 2026 season.

The event was hosted by Jennifer Pennell-Ajie and co-organized with comedian Miguel Mori, both members of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Toastmasters, who managed to put the show together within 10 weeks.

“You really just have to reach out to your community,” Pennell-Ajie told Fort Erie Radio. “The sanctuary donated the space, the radio picked up our ad, social media helped, and people showed up. You can’t fake that kind of support.”

The comedy fundraiser also included a 50/50 raffle supporting Down the Rabbit Hole’s programming, including rehearsals, productions, and travel for young thespians across Niagara.

The theatre company previously operated out of the Sanctuary Centre for the Arts but moved into their current space at Crystal Ridge Community Centre in 2023. Pennell-Ajie pointed to a spring production of ‘Matilda’ now in preparation, along with a planned student trip to California.

“What they do with kids, and how inclusive they are, is incredible, and I really want the community to rally around that and support local people here in Niagara,” said Pennell-Ajie.

Ticket sales were slow through December, with about five tickets sold before Christmas. Roughly 80 per cent of tickets were purchased in the final days before the show, pushing attendance to near capacity for the room.

The lineup included Jesse Crisp, Diane Hamilton, Trevor Cumming, Tammy Morden, Tommy J. Warren, Richard Gibbs, Virginia Cowan, Johnny MacDonald, Tina Truszyk, Miguel Mori and headliner Nestor, with Pennell-Ajie keeping things lively as host and emcee.

“I put it out there, and within half an hour everyone was in,” said Mori, comedian and co-organizer. “People said yes right away and were willing to drive out, because they wanted to support the cause.”

The fundraiser also served as a leadership project within Toastmasters, where members are required to plan and execute large public events. Some members attended as observers to critique and grow their own skills as Toastmasters.

“If you have an audience that wants to laugh and is here for it, that environment is perfect for bringing people together,” said Mori.

Pennell-Ajie said organizers have not decided whether the Ridgeway fundraiser will become an annual event, noting that Niagara-on-the-Lake Toastmasters already runs a separate yearly comedy night called Laugh Your Socks Off in June, usually in St. Catharines, but considered the night a “great success,” saying it met and exceeded all expectations.

“In January, people feel stuck inside,” Pennell-Ajie said. “Getting everyone out for a good cause, to laugh together and connect, is really important.”

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