A Chilliwack comedian is taking full advantage of the great outdoors this summer with a new open-air comedy series, plus a skydiving fundraiser for charity.
Cliff Prang, in partnership with Yuk Yuk's, is hosting and producing three shows as part of the Chilliwack Outdoor Comedy Series at Elements Casino throughout the summer.
“This is comedy with a fresh-air twist,” Prang said. “We’re serving up laughs in a laid-back outdoor setting, and giving Chilliwack audiences a chance to see some of the best comics in the country right in their own backyard.”
The headliners are Dino Archie on July 4, Ola Dada on July 18 and Patrick Maliha on Aug. 8. Prang will also be delivering sets, plus there will be a few other comedians on stage those nights.
“Those names are TBD, but we'll pluck from our Lower Mainland comics, give them an opportunity to shine.”
Archie has been on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Just For Laughs and "he's killing it,” Prang said.
Maliha holds the world record for the most impressions in under a minute. He’s touring the globe doing shows on cruise ships and is a writer on Netflix series 'Mystery Science Theatre 3000.'
“He's kind of got that frenetic, Robin Williams energy. He’s a hoot,” Prang said of Maliha.
Dada, known for his fun, light-hearted comedy, has appeared on Canada’s Got Talent and has performed at many festivals.
“He’s really taking off. Speaking of taking off…,” Prang trailed off, as an airplane rumbled overhead while chatting about the shows in Chilliwack.
The local comedian will also be hosting Leap of Faith, an annual skydiving fundraiser held in Abbotsford for Cyrus Centre.
On July 10, he'll be jumping out of a plane to "make the world better," he said.
Funds will go towards expanding the Home at Last program which offers beds, food, and one-on-one support for youth at both the Chilliwack and Abbotsford Cyrus Centre locations.
The event takes place at Skydive Vancouver in Abbotsford where people raise money for Cyrus Centre and then jump out of an airplane.
It's not the first time he's gone skydiving.
“I have jumped out of a plane once before, which is why I’m questioning why I'm doing it again,” he said.
He explained his experience when he went skydiving back in 2016 as part of a promotional video for the City of Abbotsford.
“It is a crazy feeling. Everything in your body doesn't want to do the thing. They're saying ’It's time to scooch towards the open door.’ No, I don't want to do that. They say, ‘Put your legs outside the door.’ I'm like, why would I put my legs outside of the door of a moving airplane?" Prang recalled.
“And they give you the rule when you're on the ground: ‘Do not grab the doorway.’ And, of course, the first thing you do when you get to the open door is grab the first thing you can, which is the open doorway, at which point the guy who is strapped to you – the tandem guy – will karate chop your arm off of the door."
He said it’s less of a jump and more of a push.
"By no will of your own, he will shove you out of the airplane.”
All jokes aside, he calls Cyrus Centre a "wonderful organization" and is encouraging people to donate.
“It's one thing to hype an event, but you can't just hype it, you have to do it yourself. You can't ask people to do something that you're not willing to do yourself," he said.
“(Skydiving) is like fundraising because it's against your natural inclination to give away your own money. You cling so hard onto it and sometimes it requires a little bit of a push.”
Those who've signed up to jump must raise a minimum of $800 each.
“And $800 is one full week of housing, meals, and one-on-one support for a youth.”
Last year, 64 people jumped and $97,000 was raised. This year's goal is for 100 people to jump and to bring in $150,000. As of July 1, they were at more than $92,000.
Prang believes what Cyrus Centre does is amazing.
“The idea that there are young people out there that are having to choose where to sleep and how to get food… whenever you're in a situation like that, you can feel really alone. So to know there's an organization that's supported by staff, by people who care, makes a world of difference because then you're not suffering on your own. It gives you a sense of hope and connection.”
Leap of Faith is on Thursday, July 10. The all-ages fundraiser includes games for kids, the Abbotsford Canucks, food trucks, and a DJ, plus Prang will interview jumpers and entertain the crowds.
He will also be at another family-friendly event on Tuesday, July 15 for an all-ages show at the Harrison Festival of the Arts.
The Chilliwack Outdoor Comedy Series is a 19-plus event.
“You can expect that mature themes will be handled in immature ways,” Prang said. “If you look outside your window, the world is a crazy place. So it's a good chance to let go of some of your inhibitions and have some good laughs in the midst of chaos.”
For tickets to the Chilliwack Outdoor Comedy Series, go to greatcanadian.com/event/chilliwack-outdoor-comedy.
To support Prang and his Leap of Faith fundraiser, go to secure.qgiv.com/event/lof/account/2006651.
