Attendance and attention is mandatory at Mandatory Attention! Comedian and online sensation Sam Sferrazza puts on a one-night-only, work-in-progress stand up show that is as desperate, dire and intriguing as a thirst trap. Themes and questions covered include: In terms of respectability, where does stand up rank compared to other art forms? Can the arts be a vehicle for connection with boomer parents? What is a gay guy's role anthropologically in society? Is my hair ok?

Opener: Karis Anderson

@samislaughing on all socials

Artwork by @julesmonson

Sam Bio: Based in Toronto, Sam Sferrazza has just been doing stand-up for eight years, building a reputation and online following around his sharp, acerbic takes. He's appeared on The Next Wave of Stand Up and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, both streaming on CBC Gem, and popular podcasts and radio shows like Canadaland and Day 6. Sam has also amassed over 70k followers on TikTok and has performed on festivals all over North America including Departure Festival, JFL Vancouver, JFL Toronto and The Midwest Queer Comedy Festival. His writing has been featured in publications for CBC and Xtra. His script and pitch made it to the Pitch Competition Finals at the Austin Film Festival in 2023. Find him online @samislaughing.