BIO
Al Simmons’ one-man, multi-prop, music-filled, off the wall performances have elevated audiences world-wide to collective giggles and all-out guffaws. At once childlike in its simplicity and sophisticated in its execution, Al’s humour touches a responsive chord in people of every age.
Vaudeville’s half-century run of popularity may have died back in the 1940's, but don’t try to tell that to Al Simmons or the crowds of fans that have packed theatres across North America to see him. Into the tradition of the great comedy kings--Danny Kaye, Spike Jones and Jimmy Durante--comes Al Simmons, a man dedicated to the all but lost art of combining comedy with song, dance, magic, and sight-gags. The end result is plenty of good-natured fun in a one-man variety show.
In the entertainment business since 1970, the popular Manitoba-based children’s performer is likely Canada’s most versatile comedian. He puts on a funfest, full of bizarre gadgets, wild costumes, unique songs, crazy vaudeville-inspired routines and of course bad puns.
It's as if he was genetically engineered for comedy. From his distant Romanian and Scottish ancestors Al has inherited a quick wit, lanky legs, large flipper like feet and a rubber face. His father, a charismatic magazine salesman and would be performer, spent many hours telling tall tales and re-enacting old vaudeville routines in their living-room. Al's Mom taught the budding young vaudevillian the genteel art of punning, silly songs and magic tricks. But the most important thing that his parents taught him was how to use his talents to do good and bring happiness to the world without hurting anyone. His extended family was made up of punsters, pranksters and eccentrics, including Al's Uncle Nick, who toured Eastern Canada as Steamboat Harris, best known for playing a ukulele made out of a toilet seat!
Al’s debut album "Something’s Fishy at Camp Wiganishie" earned a Juno nomination for best Children’s Album. His follow up recording was a brilliant ode to vaudeville, "Celery Stalks at Midnight". It won the 1995 Juno Award and the 1996 U.S. Parents’ Choice Award. "The Truck I Bought From Moe", his third album, garnered a Juno nomination and a Parents’ Choice Award. He is an author; “Counting Feathers,” his illustrated children’s book, was short-listed for the McNally-Robinson Book of the Year in 1997. He received a coveted Cable Ace Award nomination for his music video "I Collect Rocks," which is also the title track of his brand new DVD that contains 6 of his wacky music videos and features his Horse-cycle “Ol’ Spoke”.
Al has won a Juno Award (The Canadian equivalent to a Grammy), he’s a Member of the Order of Manitoba, the recipient of the Winnipeg Symphony’s Golden Baton for Artistic Achievement. He was a gold medal winner at the 2005 World Championship Zuccini Race, and a restaurant in his hometown named a hotdog after him.
Al and his wife Barbara have been married since 1976 and live in harmony and pandemonium near the small Manitoba town of Anola. They have three sons, Karl, Will, and Brad, and four granddaughters, Ashley, Kaitlin, Marley and Clover. Their home, built around two train cars, is equipped with a fire-pole that connects an upstairs prop-shop with a main-floor playroom lined with mattresses and filled with pillows. Their 15-acre yard is flowered with zip lines, Tarzan ropes, slides and swings.
A Creative Genius with the Soul of a Vaudevillian -Al Simmons is a one-man cast of thousands! A modern day comedy chameleon! A wizard of one-liners!
vaude·ville /'vod, vil/ noun
a type of entertainment popular chiefly in North America in the early 20th century, featuring a variety of short acts such as slapstick comedians, acrobats, magicians, jugglers, and song & dance performers. Vaudeville’s origins can be traced to European style Variéte shows, British Music Hall, and American Burlesque, minstrel and medicine shows.
Without realizing it, my youth was spent preparing for a career that would harken back to another era. My father lived and worked in New York City in the late 1920s. If he had a spare dime and a spare moment he could be found watching Vaudeville shows, and because I was such a willing student he taught me many of the slapstick routines he had memorized.
I was born and raised in a Canadian prairie city that was, at one time, a hub of entertainment. The various Vaudeville circuits of North America converged in my home town. Entrepreneur Alexander Pantages once said, “all my acts originate in Winnipeg and move around the circuit.” If an act died in Winnipeg it didn’t go on the road.
Two decades before I was born, Winnipeg’s numerous grand and lavishly gilded theaters presented all the greats; Al Jolson, Stan Laurel, Will Rogers, Paul Robeson, Laurence Olivier, Sophy Tucker, Harry Houdini, Jimmy Durante, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Burns and Allan, and Buster Keaton. Groucho Marx first met Charlie Chaplin here in “The Chicago of the North.”
Vaudeville is said to have originated in 1880 and had run its course by 1930, but its demise was slower in Winnipeg. A few local and touring novelty acts were still plying their trade in the 1960s and early 70s, and I feel privileged to have shared the stage with, and learned from them.
The 1880s impresario B. F. Keith, often referred to as the father of Vaudeville, posted signs backstage ordering performers to eliminate "vulgarity and suggestiveness in words, action, and costume under fine of instant discharge." My Inventive Music and Comedy shows follow that simple directive.
Al Simmons
"A tour-de-force of ingenious, charming silliness." Globe and Mail
Juno Award winner Al Simmons is a creative genius whose charm and humanity have won over a legion of fans at theaters and festivals around the world. His highly original performances of profound wackiness and his off-the-wall inventions take the arts of Music and Comedy to unparalleled heights of hilarity. —alsimmons.com
"A masterpiece!"-Los Angeles Times
He's a musician! He’s an inventor! He's a nut! He’s been called the Thomas Edison of entertainers, a wizard of one-liners and a lightning bolt of lunacy. His astounding gadgets, preposterous songs, impeccable comic timing and kooky take on classic vaudeville have thrilled and entertained fans of all ages for 4½ decades. Juno Award winner Al Simmons is a creative genius whose highly original performances of profound wackiness and of off-the-wall inventions have taken the arts of Music and Comedy to unparalleled heights of hilarity. Young or old, you cannot fail to appreciate this man’s frenetic stage antics and mind-boggling lovableness. —alsimmons.com
If you would like to introduce Al here are some ideas to choose from.
No video taping during the performance please.
Tonight’s performer has been called “A one man cast of thousands”, “A lightning bolt of lunacy” and “The Thomas Edison of entertainers.”
He was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and now calls the tiny town of Anola, Manitoba home.
During his 50 year career he has delighted audiences from Hong Kong to Alaska and from Las Vegas to the Bahamas.
He has performed with 11 symphony orchestras, at International Children’s Festivals in 4 countries and at World’s Fairs on 3 continents.
Al has won a Juno Award (The Canadian equivalent to a Grammy), he’s a Member of the Order of Manitoba, and the recipient of the Winnipeg Symphony’s Golden Baton for Artistic Achievement. He was a gold medal winner at the 2005 World Championship Zuccini Race, and a restaurant in his hometown named a hotdog after him.
He has recorded three hilarious CDs, written a book and created a DVD movie that includes 6 of his zany music videos.
After the show Al will be in the lobby posing for selfies.
The performance you are about to see features songs from Al’s three CDs: Something’s Fishy, Celery Stalks at Midnight and The Truck I Bought From Moe.
Please welcome… Al Simmons!
© Al Simmons 2025
www.alsimmons.com
