Join us for a one-night-only improv celebration of John Candy during TIFF. Actor and comedian Chris Candy (son of John Candy) takes the stage to share personal stories about his legendary father. Each tale inspires spontaneous, unscripted scenes performed by an all-star cast of Second City alumni and resident talent.
This special evening will take place inside the John Candy Box Theatre, alongside a gallery of John Candy memorabilia – including artifacts from his time performing on the Old Firehall stage at Second City.

Tickets are extremely limited, and proceeds support Gilda’s Club, a charity held close by the comedy community.
About John Candy

John Candy remains one of Canada’s most cherished comedic icons – star of classics like Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, Cool Runnings, Splash, and a beloved cast member of SCTV. His comedic brilliance was rooted in his early performances at The Second City Toronto’s Old Firehall. The John Candy Box Theatre honours his legacy and connection to the birthplace of his rise to fame.

About John Candy: I Like Me
John Candy: I Like Me, directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, will have its world premiere as the Opening Night Gala of TIFF’s 50th edition on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Roy Thomson Hall. The documentary offers a heartfelt portrait of John Candy’s life and work through rare archival footage and personal testimonies from family and collaborators, blending warmth, laughter, and honest reflections on his personal struggles. Following TIFF, the film will debut globally on Prime Video on October 10, 2025.
About Chris Candy

Chris Candy, a Canadian-born actor trained at Groundlings, Second City, and Upright Citizens Brigade, hosts the weekly radio program Neuz Pollution on KXLU 88.9 FM and co-hosts the Too Much Movie Podcast. He has acted in and produced films shown at festivals such as Napa Valley, Raindance, and Calgary International Film Festival, and produced the short documentary Kinda Crazy on Rip City Skates. He appears in the new film Adulthood (starring Josh Gad), which premieres at TIFF on September 11 – the night after this performance. Most recently, Chris directed Coldplay’s “All My Love” lyric video and the music video for “The Karate Kid.” He also plays bass in his band Bull Shannon.