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Dawn Whitwell on a watershed moment for women's comedy

Dawn Whitwell has had a serious hand in nurturing Toronto's female-centric comedy scene. Now she's witnessing her baby grown up.
Comedian and mentor Dawn Whitwell has taught scores of funny women in Toronto how to own the stage. (Ali Eisner)

Dawn Whitwell has had a serious hand in nurturing Toronto's female-centric comedy scene. Now she's witnessing her baby grown up.

The longtime stand up teacher, seasoned performer and Baroness Von Sketch writer joins Shad in the lead up to a special post-Orlando performance at Toronto Pride. 

She shares what she's learned from years in the business, how to work a recent mass shooting into an act, and what she sees as a watershed moment in women-led comedy. 

"There's something going on right now," she says, adding that funny women are finding strength in numbers. "It seems possible to them." 

Whitwell's Pride edition of Dawn Patrol: GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS takes place at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto on Saturday night.