We Wish you A Sleazy Christmas
A Holiday Celebration Benefiting Forget The Box
I'm dreaming of a mild Christmas; one in which climate change continues to hold us in its sweet spot, and we can strut our sparkly seasonal stuff. While Hallmark has a grip on the Western World -- promising miracles, improbable gifts, and unlikely love stories -- the cynics, realists and degenerates deserve a celebration too! Don't burn down the tree kiosk, we've got you covered!
Enter Andrew Jamieson’s Sleazy Christmas (III). For the third year in a row we’ll be throwing the classiest-ass party of the year. The lineup will slay, the venue will have you snapping selfies, and the ho ho hos -- well, I can't guarantee hoes, so bring your own, but Santa will definitely be joining us! This is not a party for the faint of heart-y (gigglesnort), this is a fête for the fabulous, a soiree for the surly, merry-making for the mischief makers. This is the shindig where your shadiest self will get their Christmas kicks.
What better time to catch up with Sleazy Producer, and Editor-in-chief of FTB, Andrew Jamieson to discuss the party, the places we've been, and the plans for the future?!
Here we are again! Last year at this time we were in the midst of planning the second Sleazy Christmas, the first to function as a fundraiser for Forget The Box. The team was much, much smaller then. I mean, who was it? You, me, Abby, Dan, and a handful of occasional contributors. We've definitely experienced growth. Candice Ann is now our Managing Editor, and she's fantastic. I'm so grateful to have her as part of the Editorial team. And Candice has immediately grown our family of contributors, all of whom are so eager to get involved, and to cover ground level, underground, and marginalized art in Montreal. Although we're nearing the second anniversary of the "new" Forget The Box, it feels as though we're finally just getting started, do you know?
While that's all well and good -- it's great actually, and I also love Candice (Hi Candice!), I do want to highlight the bit about this being a Forget The Box fundraiser. Functioning as a not-for-profit without external funding, every dime we can't raise comes out of our own pockets. We pay for the website as well as honorariums to our contributors. Thankfully, understanding our position, many of our writers (and even performers for our various showcases, including this one) choose to forgo their fee. We know not everyone can afford to do this, and besides, as artists ourselves, we’re staunch believers that artists deserve to be paid. We aspire to have the funds to pay them, as well as the funds to upgrade our site, get some merch going, and host more fantastic events. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, so you can get a good deed in before Santa finalizes his list.
This year's party is inspired by Bill Murray's classic 1988 Christmas comedy Scrooged. For those too young to have seen it (and those too old to remember it), it's a modern take on A Christmas Carol, with Murray playing a cold, embittered TV Executive. (But we’ll need a jaded type-A who enjoys micromanaging…do we have one, or -- ohhhh, I gettit now!)
He’ll have to use his theatre training to pull it off though; see, cynical, sarcastic Jamieson loves Christmas. I mean, LOVES. He gets all elfy and shit (D20 nerds, I know it should be elven, but try to say elfy without smiling. This, our third Christmas as friends, seemed like the right time to ask: what the hell’s the deal with you and Christmas? You don't like {motions vaguely} anything, and yet you get all whimsical for a tree and some lights?! It's counter-intuitive. Explain yourself.
Counter-Intuitive? That's funny. I mean, I suppose the idea of me being EXCITED about anything is pretty amusing in itself, but I've always really loved Christmas. I grew up in Detroit, and that city fucking LOVES this holiday. Spending Christmas Eve on Woodward Avenue, drinking hot chocolate and watching the cars. If you haven't heard of this tradition, check it out. It's way better than any regular Christmas parade, I promise.
{Stares pointedly} Really? Cars and hot chocolate are the core memory that made this all happen? The tinsel? The fucking carols?! I don't buy it. Explain yourself better.
{Dramatic sigh & eye roll} So I've been hosting events for a long time. A VERY long time, honestly. The first time I "hosted" an event was when I was 8 years old, third grade. We were preparing for the Christmas... pageant, or whatever, and I truly think that the teachers involved just reached their limit with me. I was a really talkative kid, do you know? So they decided that instead of a teacher hosting this year's event, it would be me. That will keep him busy, right? They even let me write my own script, with some guidance. I don't have a lot of memories of me as a child, but that one stands out. I get a lot of people telling me that they're taken by how comfortable I am when I'm on stage, how natural it feels. It's been going on for a long time. Not just as a child actor, but as an actual presenter. I love it. I love gathering an audience, I love talking to that audience, I love sharing great performance artists with an audience.
I don't think I actually answered the question, though. There's just an insinuated spectacle with a holiday event, specifically a Christmas event, that really inspires me, do you know? It's an excuse to be more elaborate, more absurd, more entertaining... It's a time for more of everything. I love that. In terms of my contemporary holiday events, you know, in my "adult years", it started with the House of Grizzly Andrews event, "Holy Spirit", which was actually co-hosted by Tara McGowan-Ross. I did a few other holiday events in the subsequent years, another of which was co-hosted by Tara. Sleazy Christmas was born after the pandemic, and I'm so grateful it's evolved into a yearly tradition now. And even more grateful I can use the event to help raise funds for a great cause, for Forget The Box.
{Comes back after decorating a tree & making cookies} Did you say you were talkative? {Late night show laugh} Seriously though, that really makes a lot of sense. I bet that pagent thing slayed. Speaking of producing shows that slay since you were a wee l’il jingle bell, how do you go about crafting the lineup for both your favorite holiday and your biggest blowout of the year?
You know, all of my shows -- outside of events I co-produce, or FTB's On The Boulevard series -- are always a showcase of my favorite people, my favorite performers. This year is no different. When planning started for this year's Sleazy Christmas, I immediately reached out to the artists on the lineup with a sincere invitation to join me in celebration. It means a lot for me to invite someone onto the lineup for this event, and I'm so grateful that every one of these decorated performers were excited to be part of the third Sleazy Christmas. We have a few new friends, like IF The Poet, and we've got some familiar faces like Mina Minou, who has performed at every Sleazy Christmas so far. And you!
{Feigns surprise} Moi?!
Yes! You were part of the first Sleazy Christmas, you helped host the second event, and now you're on the lineup, and sharing my hosting duties. I love that.
This year's lineup is comedy, burlesque, and spoken word. We've got a fun concept for this year, and I decided it would be best to focus on the intimacy of comedy, storytelling, and poetry, to really capture the message we're trying to share. Of course, there will be music after the show, a holiday dance party to finish off the night.
Ultimately, I just want to say how grateful I am that I know such talented performers, and that they're willing to join me for this celebration. It really fucking means a lot.
(I do love it when Jamieson gets sentimental.)
As for Forget The Box, what are the goals for 2025? What's the future look like from here?
Well, we're trying to set up our not-for-profit officially, which would mean we could move past operations without an external budget. That's a polite way of saying that I pay for all this shit. It's out of my pocket. I'm happy to do so, but I'll be so thankful once we've completed setting up the operations behind the scenes. It's been two years coming, you know? I mean, you know. You've been there every step of the way. We've got a great new Managing Editor, Candice Ann, and she's really started to build a beautiful community of contributors. I'm so grateful she's part of the team. Next year promises consistent features focused on Montreal's ground level, underground, and marginalized artists, as well as event series and venues. As well, we've got Feature Friday that is still in its infancy, which will continue to grow through the next year. And we can't forget your Wednesday installment, McSweeney's List. You know, you're on the cusp of two straight years of essay writing, and I think that really deserves some recognition. You haven't taken a single week off since we re-launched FTB in 2023. And for those who aren't familiar, McSweeney's List isn't just a captivating essay each week, but it's also THE SPOT to list your events. Check it out.
(Aww, now I'm sentimental!)
Beyond that, we'd really like to expand our coverage and support of small local festivals, across mediums. We'll also be bringing On The Boulevard back for another season, as a monthly showcase. You know, the possibilities with Forget The Box are endless. I want to see Forget The Box facilitating affordable workshops, for instance. Whatever we can do to help the community, and level the playing field for everyone involved.
And now, without further ado, your Sleazy Performers:
An FTB super supporter, Aloe Azimov (she/her, they/them) is a transfeminine and non-binary comedian and storyteller who has performed at POP Montreal, Montreal Sketchfest, Montreal Fringe, Montreal Pride, Minifest, Pervers/cite+more. She is featured in the doc Saving Minds/Soigner l'esprit. She hosts and produces the show Tales of Gender Affirmation, a trans centered comedy storytelling show which has been a part of Zoofest & OFF JFL, Ladyfest Montreal, Le Basement de Montreal Laughs, Gigglefestmtl and Longueuil Comique Fest!
She co-produces The Poly Mic, a weekly queer open mic at Notre Dame Des Quilles!
What isn't on her CV and should be is the size of her heart and the depth of her laugh. You can ask anyone, and I promise they don't have a single bad thing to say about her. Aloe is dedicated to community, and brings open hearted kindness to every interaction. Kudos for being such a fab human, Aloe!!!
Jessica Bebenek is a queer interdisciplinary poet, bookmaker, and educator living between Tiohtià:ke (Montreal) and an off-grid shack on unceded Anishinaabe territory. Bebenek’s writing has been nominated for the Journey Prize, the Pushcart Prize, the 2024 CBC Poetry Prize, and in 2021 she was a finalist for the Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers in Poetry. Her recent chapbooks include You Don’t Get Out Much (2024), I REMEMBER THE EXORCISM (Gap Riot, 2022), and What is Punk (2019). Her first full-length poetry collection, No One Knows Us There, will be published by Book*hug Press in Spring 2025. @notyrmuse www.jessicabebenek.art
I first met Jessica at the inaugural Sleazy Christmas where she read a fascinating piece about people who sleep on Twitch for money. It was humorous and enlightening. Since then I've learned that she's the kinda gal who shows up to a script workshop in full costume, showing off her whimsy and abundant joy. A chickie after my own heart.
Mina Minou (she/none) is an Iranian-American powerhouse in the fields of visual art, storytelling, burlesque, and the spaces between. Mina’s been using her background as a mutidisciplinary artist to delight audiences across North America for over 10 years, pulling from her dizzyingly diverse range of original characters. This kitten delights as a slime-oozing flower or a sentient volcano diorama, a clown with clinical depression or a flirtatious ice cream man. Mina casts spells with her movements that leave her audience enchanted: witness the surreal fairytale, come to life!
Mina is bringing her talents to the Sleazy stage for the third time, making her one of the few performers who can claim that flex. Last year, smiling, sparkly and smokin’ hot, a string of pearls figured prominently in her performance,and that's all I'll say. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us this Sleazy! Er, I mean this year.
Tara McGowan-Ross is an urban Lnu/Mi'kmaq author and theatre school drop-out who has been setting precedent for poetry performance in Montreal since the Printemps D'Erable. Her poem A SIMPLE INSTRUCTION was first runner-up for the Pacific Spirit poetry prize, her memoir NOTHING WILL BE DIFFERENT was a finalist for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust prize for nonfiction, and she has been anthologized in BEST CANADIAN POETRY and Anthologie de la poesie actuelle au femmes du Quebec 2000-2020. She draws inspiration from the continental tradition of Western philosophy, Mi’kmaq cultural traditions, hip-hop, dance, stand-up comedy, and ecstatic religion. Her approach is warm, funny, and tough-love, with the intention of breaking your work into the next level of its true potential.
Another triple-timer, Tara is the romantic, wise, witty woman that I've always imagined women writers to be. I'm currently reading her memoir, and I keep stopping to catch my breath, savoring the last bit I read like melting chocolate in my mouth. Each time I've seen her do spoken word, time stands still as I let her vulnerable strength wash over me. I can't wait.
Born and raised in Montreal, Walter J. Lyng has been performing for over a decade in his home town, Ottawa, and Toronto. Known for his absurdist deadpan storytelling style with moments of rage, he is featured on the 2023 JFL Montreal Originals Album and was part of the 2022 OFF JFL Discovery Series. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Montreal Fringe Festival for his one-man show "Pitching Knife Fight". As the co-founder of RAD DADS, he toured the Maritimes and performed at three editions of OFF JFL. He produce and hosts The World's Smallest Comedy Night at Hurley's Irish Pub, voted Best Comedy Show by CULT MTL readers. His credits include commercials and a small role in Ari Aster's "Beau is Afraid". Joaquin Phoenix once nodded at him.
I don't remember meeting Walter, just knowing him. He's funny. I like him. If you argue with him, I'll probably take his side. It's like that
IF is a 2-time Canadian National Slam Poetry Champion and subject of the full-length CBC documentary “IF THE POET”, chronicling his journey into the world of Slam Poetry, beginning at age 50.
We first met IF at On The Boulevard, and WOW! To say he's good at spoken word would be an understatement, and I'd feel silly fishing around for the right words (cuz he's a word guy, you know?) Plus, he's a super nice, open hearted human, so we want to keep him close. Plusplus, I'm glad I met him before I watched the documentary about him, because it turns out he's sort of a big deal.
Abby is a stand-up comedian/writer/producer/podcaster. Her storytelling comedy style juxtaposes her hopeful and honest approach to life with the horrific nitty-gritty of reality. Abby made her OFF-JFL/Zoofest debut in the summer of 2018 and again in 2022 & 2023. In May 2019 she performed and co-produced Montreal’s first fully accessible comedy show; Comedy for a Cause: Accessibility for All. This show happened again this year in September 2022 and at Zoofest in 2023, is now called Access Comedy. As a comedian with hearing loss, this show was near and dear to her heart. She is the creator and producer of the Montreal comedy show GET FXCKED. She is also the co-producer of Comedy on Demand (formally known as Lawn Laughs). If that isn't enough, she has a new podcast called House of Stone (as seen at Gigglefest, Ladyfest and Just for Laughs) and A Horrific Evening Podcast.
Abby has been a super supporter of FTB since before we actually met her, and VERY active behind the scenes since 2023. She's been an inspiration to me by virtue of just being her hilarious, kind self. Seriously, she's a gem of a human, and she'll make you laugh your face off.
and last, but certainly not least…
It's me, Dawn McSweeney! You might know me from such places as this magazine, or somewhere with a stray microphone I can grab without anyone stopping me. I've gone from kind of helping with Sleazy, to sneaking on stage for a minute, and this time around, I'll be sharing hosting duties and doing a comedy set! I do that now...hosting, comedy...It's a beautiful journey, and this is a perfect celebration for how far we've all come, and all the good things yet to come.
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