By Junita Thakorlal

Leena Manro

Vancouver: Now in its fourth year, the 2019 Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts runs August 9-13, 2019 in Vancouver and Surrey. Presented by the South Asian Arts Society, the Monsoon Festival of Performing Arts celebrates local performing arts, artists, and the wealth of knowledge they have to offer individuals and our community at large.

The 5-day festival kicks off with a stand-up comedy night featuring Vancouver’s finest comedians which includes Leena Manro, featured in Aaarzu Magazine’s Power List as one of BC’s most influential South Asians. A successful practicing lawyer by trade, she turned her sights to acting and soon became an award nominated actress, toured international film festivals, and co-wrote and co-founded the first South Asian sketch comedy show I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Chicken, which brought sell-out crowds for five years running.

Manro, along with comedians Rae Lynn Carson, Ash Dhawan, Rajneesh Dhawan, Al Hassam, and Devon Kandola, will be on stage at the Elements Casino on Friday, August 9, followed by an dance party presented by the acclaimed High Voltage Roadshow.

The festival will also present an expanded Industry Series featuring FREE staged readings, talkbacks, and development workshops to support the next generation of aspiring local artists.

For tickets and information, visit monsoonartsfest.ca.