Sketch: Stage Ensembles and Alt

sketch: I think it's a sign of the times, says Tall Boyz cast member Guled Abdi, who moved to Toronto as a refugee from Somalia in 1991 and went to school in Nairobi, Kenya from '96 to 2005, according to CBC. There have always been people doing things that are on the fringes or considered alt, but now alt and mainstream is one and the same. After the success of Key & Peele and the still-running Baroness von Sketch Show comes a flood of TV and stage ensembles with fresh, diverse cultural perspectives.article continues below Trending Stories Man charged with abducting daughter arrested in Victoria Andrew Berry takes the stand, denies killing his daughters Killer granted 60-day unescorted temporary absence to attend healing program Comment Lanes on Wharf Street put cyclists at risk The upcoming CBC series Tall Boyz, HBO's recently launched A Black Lady Sketch Show, and Canadian-based stage troupes including She the People and Tita Collective, are among the more niche voices breaking through to the mainstream and speaking to demographics that hadn't previously had this kind of comedy tailored to them in North America. You can enjoy both equally.... There seems to be more room for these voices and networks that are willing to take the chance on them . Debuting Sept. 17, Tall Boyz features Abdi and other members of the all-male sketch comedy troupe Tall Boyz II Men of Toronto Vance Banzo, Franco Nguyen, and Tim Blair. People are ferocious for authenticity, says McCulloch. Comedy star Bruce McCulloch of The Kids in the Hall is among the executive producers of the half-hour series, which explores themes including friendship, race, nostalgia and toxic masculinity. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.