Jacob Samuel is a standup comic on the rise. The 36 year old McGill University grad, who now resides in Vancouver, will perform in Montreal on Thursday, October 10 (8 pm) at the Theatre Sainte Catherine.
Samuel grew up in Toronto and attended McGill from 2006 to 2010. He is represented by Montrealer Jodi Lieberman and considered  a comedic triple threat. He’s a Juno award-winning stand-up comic, a gifted cartoonist, and a witty writer celebrated for his sharp and insightful humor. Renowned for his razor-sharp wit and keen observations, his comedy has graced top platforms including CBC, The Comedy Network, and Crave. Tune in to Sirius XM or CBC’s “The Debaters” to catch his distinctive voice on the airwaves. A staple at prestigious comedy festivals like Montreal Just for Laughs and Winnipeg Comedy Festivals, his talent shines brightly on stage. In 2021, his outstanding work earned him the coveted Juno award for “Comedy Album of the Year,” solidifying his status as one of the country’s top comedians. With Jacob Samuel, expect comedy that’s not only side-splitting but also remarkably imaginative and clever.

“When I was a child and people asked me what I wanted to do when I was older, my answer was either historian or psychiatrist,” he says. “I think that probably says enough about what I was like. When I step on stage, I hope the audience is unsure of whether I’ll be any good. I like to come out to low expectations. It is a lot more fun to win an audience over than to have their initial excitement for you dissipate. 
When did Samuel first know he wanted to do comedy? “While I was always very interested in writing comedy, I only knew I wanted to try performing in my early 20s after watching an amateur standup show for the first time,” he says. “That’s the first time I thought that I could do better than at least some of these people. I can’t say I ever ‘decided’ that comedy was a career. For me, comedy has gradually transitioned from a hobby to a career. But, I did feel pretty soon after starting that comedy would be one my main pursuits. To me, it has always felt like the right form of creative expression. It’s so amazingly difficult, you get to hang out with super funny people, and you never know when you are about to humiliate yourself in front of dozens of strangers. What’s more enjoyable than that?”
Samuel’s late mom is from Montreal. He attended McGill from 2006 to 2010, studying economics and history. Soon after moving to Vancouver to get a graduate degree he discovered standup comedy and made it I his career. “I took the plunge,” he said. “I never really saw myself as a performer; more of a writer.”
Lawrence Corber and Kyra Carleton will open for him in Montreal. He will also perform in Ottawa and Toronto that week.

Samuel, who went to Jewish summer camp as a youth and has been to Israel twice, said he invokes a lot of Jewish humour in his act. “I really do identify myself as a comic who is Jewish,” he said. “I always try and find new angles on Jewish material.”

Over the years Samuel has also done a number of benefit shows for Jewish organizations.

For tickets go to : https://theatresaintecatherine.com/event/big-talk-by-jacob-samuel/

By Mike Cohen