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Diana Frances (comedian)

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Diana Frances
Born
Diana Frances Clent
NationalityCanadian
Alma materDouglas College
Occupation(s)Comedian, writer, business manager
Websitedianafrances.ca

Diana Frances (born Diana Frances Clent) is a Canadian comedian, writer, and business manager. She has written and performed comedy for stage, television and radio for three decades, and served as the managing director of the Vancouver-based Rock Paper Scissors comedy collective. Her writing has been recognized with a Canadian Screen Award and a Writers Guild of Canada Award, and she has also been nominated for a Gemini Award and nine Canadian Comedy Awards.

Early life and education

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Diana Frances Clent moved from Langley to Maple Ridge, British Columbia, when she was 13, after what she later described as a "rather traumatic family shake-up".[1] She was adopted[2] and lived with her aunt and uncle while attending Maple Ridge Secondary School.[1] She took drama courses and initially pursued dramatic Shakespearean acting,[3] but was repeatedly cast in comedic roles and was thrilled by the audience response.[1] She studied theatre at Douglas College.[3] As she entered the entertainment business, she dropped her surname which she felt sounded like "a cartoon sound effect".[1]

Career

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Frances joined the Vancouver Theatresports League, where she learned improvisational techniques. Her quick wit gained her a place in the Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) comedy collective.[3] In 1991, she replaced an actor in the RPS production A Twisted Christmas Carol, an improvisational play based around a framework of the Dickens classic.[4] She returned to be a part of every seasonal production of the play to 2005, and later relaunched the play in 2014 at the Arts Club.[5]

RPS attracted corporate clients and found steady work performing customized comedy for conferences and also offering workshops for employee relations. As managing director of RPS, Frances was named one of the "Forty Under 40" by Business in Vancouver magazine in 2003.[6][3] Frances also performed with the Impolite Company (IMPCO) sketch collective,[7] Urban Improv[8][9] and Canadian Content.[10]

In July 1997, Frances starred in the one-act musical comedy I'd Probably Be Famous.[11] She directed a production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) in January 1998,[12] and staged a portion of the play as a song-and-dance number when she found that her actors could tap dance.[13] In 2001 and 2002, she performed with RPS in the improvised musical Blankety Blank: The Unknown Musical [14] and Design For Living.[15] In 2005, Frances began performing Leave it to Cleavage, an improv show she had developed with Ellie Harvie, in which their housewife characters provide 1950s-era solutions to modern problems posed by the audience.[16][17][18] They were recognized with a 2004 Canadian Comedy Award nomination for Best Improv Troupe.[19]

A demand for television programming came in the late 1990s with the launch of The Comedy Network, for which Frances wrote and starred in the sketch-comedy series Slightly Bent TV (1999) and Sucker Punch (2001–2002)[20][21][22][23][24] and wrote for the 2002 satirical newsmagazine Point Blank.[25] She wrote for CTV's Comedy Inc,[26] and co-produced and performed in a comedy tour in support of its fifth season.[1] She later wrote for This Hour Has 22 Minutes.[18] Frances was nominated for a Gemini Award for writing for The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos.[27] Frances later wrote for Corner Gas Animated,[28] which won her a 2020 Canadian Screen Award[29] and a nomination for a 2020 Writers Guild of Canada Award.[citation needed] She has also written for The Beaverton, Aunty B's House and Still Standing.[citation needed]

Frances has developed material for Vancouver and Victoria fringe festivals,[7] and is credited with bringing improvisational comedy to the Yukon after insisting on an improv segment at the 2003 Nakai comedy festival. Organizers and audiences were so impressed that Frances was booked for full improv shows the following years[25] and closed the 2007 festival with Leave it to Cleavage.[19]

In 2004, Frances wrote a CBC Radio documentary about women in comedy.[30] She has written and appeared on several episodes of The Debaters and Definitely Not the Opera,[31] contributed to the sketch comedy show The Irrelevant Show, and served as a relationship columnist with her feature Dating Diana.[32] Frances continues to write for The Debaters, which was a finalist for the 2024 New York Festivals Radio Awards.[33][relevant?]

Frances performed with RPS on two tours for the Canadian Armed Forces: a one-month tour in 1997, visiting CFS Alert, Bosnia, Egypt, Israel, and CFB Goose Bay;[1][34] and a nine-day tour of Afghanistan in 2003, performing at Camp Julien in Kabul[35] and nearby Camp Warehouse.[36]

In 2018, Frances began touring with Elvira Kurt and Friends[37] and Girls Nite Out.[38] In 2023, she performed six shows of Leave it to Cleavage at the Incanto Theatre in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with Second City alumni Karen Parker and Vancouver TheatreSports alumni Christine Lippa.[39][relevant?]

Frances has written for a number of award shows in Canada, including the 2018 ACTRA Awards in Toronto show, hosted by Colin Mochrie,[40] and the 2019 and 2024 ACTRA Awards hosted by Martha Chaves.[citation needed] For 11 years, she has written the Banff World Media Festival Rockie Awards.[citation needed] She also wrote for the Just For Laughs Galas for 2017–2019.[citation needed] Frances has written for the Canadian Screen Awards in 2018[citation needed] and 2019, the latter of which earned her a Canadian Screen Award nomination.[41] and she has also written for The Directors Guild of Canada Awards (host Arisa Cox),[citation needed] and the Scotiabank Giller Prize.[citation needed]

Frances's first feature film script, The Burning Season, won Best Screenplay at the Whistler Film Festival and Canadian Film Festival[42] and at the Writers Guild of Canada Awards.[43]

Selected works

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Improv Productions

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  • A Twisted Christmas Carol with Rock Paper Scissors,[44] seasonal 1991–2005, 2014
  • The X-Mas Files with Vancouver Theatresports, December 1996[45]
  • Blankety Blank: The Unknown Musical with Rock Paper Scissors, April 2001,[14] August 2002[46]
  • Sword Play, Improv Outlet Co-op, August 2004[47]
  • Leave it to Cleavage: The Original Desperate Housewives, with Ellie Harvie, January 2005.[16] Reprises 2007,[19] 2023[39]
  • Canadian Content, with Urban Improv, September 2005[8]
  • Girls Nite Out, 2018–current[citation needed]

Scripted plays

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Television

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Radio

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Feature Film

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Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Local comic seeing the world with humour". Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows Times. Maple Ridge, British Columbia: Southam Publications. 27 June 2008. p. 24. ISSN 1202-9408. ProQuest 357832602. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  2. ^ "Rockie Awards | Judges". Playback. Toronto, Ontario: Brunico Communications. 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Down, Susan (8 August 2002). "Actors flex improv muscles: Blankety Blank is a dream job for actors who can't remember their lines. They only have to remember to keep the audience laughing". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. p. D6. ProQuest 345887431. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  4. ^ a b Conner, Shawn (4 December 2005). "Ghosts of improv's past deliver Dickens with a twist". Vancouver Courier. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 39. ProQuest 359320744. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  5. ^ Leiren-Young, Mark (27 November 2014). "Audience the author of Christmas Carol twists; Arts Club lets the public decide on details of Scrooge's life". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. C15. ProQuest 1628624873. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  6. ^ a b "Business in Vancouver's Forty under 40 winners". Business in Vancouver. Vancouver, British Columbia. 30 October 2012. p. 15. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  7. ^ a b Carlson, Tim; McIntyre, Anne (4 February 1999). "Laughing live: Comedy nights at local bars and cafes provide an opportunity to see amateurs and veterans work out new material". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. C16. ProQuest 242832325. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  8. ^ a b Wasserman, Jerry (13 September 2005). "Fringe Today". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. B2. ProQuest 269415931. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  9. ^ "Seven days ahead". Vancouver Courier. Vancouver, British Columbia. 9 July 2003. p. 35. ProQuest 359542267. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  10. ^ a b Chai, Daniel (8 September 2006). "Busy Boothby prepares for Fringe and comedy festival". Vancouver Courier. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 35. ProQuest 359364257. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  11. ^ a b Armstrong, John (15 July 1997). "Two dreams face same reality". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. B7. ProQuest 242948639. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  12. ^ a b "Cafe Culture". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. 5 January 1998. p. B7. ProQuest 242911184. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  13. ^ Birnie, Peter (8 January 1998). "The complete works of Shakespeare - in two acts: Vancouver's RPS Productions attempts to squeeze all of the Bard's plays into one giddy two-hour evening". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. C1. ProQuest 242897545. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  14. ^ a b Birnie, Peter (12 April 2001). "Well Hello, Ruthie Nichol! It's so nice to have you back where you belong". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. C4. ProQuest 242611663. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  15. ^ a b Perry, Malcolm (7 March 2002). "Campagnolo, Taylor give Jansson his due: Board of Trade suits assemble to fete one of their own". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. B3. ProQuest 242492120. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  16. ^ a b Hilborn, Dan (12 January 2005). "Cats and dogs at Shadbolt". Burnaby Now. Burnaby, British Columbia. p. 11. ProQuest 358614936. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  17. ^ "Solving today's problems,'50s style". The Morning Star. Vernon, British Columbia: Torstar Media Group. 19 October 2005. p. 25. ProQuest 373062399. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  18. ^ a b c d "Fresh, funny and fast; Leave it to Cleavage riffs on the virtues of the good ol' days". Chilliwack Times. Shilliwack, British Columbia. 27 September 2012. p. A31. ProQuest 1081218410. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  19. ^ a b c Waddell, Stephanie (30 November 2006). "Nakai poised to serve up some mirth". Whitehorse Star. Whitehorse, Yukon. p. 4. ProQuest 362364376. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  20. ^ a b Blakey, Bob (3 February 2001). "Worth Watching". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta. p. G14. ProQuest 244845553. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  21. ^ a b Carlson, Tim (28 February 2002). "Variations on a screen: Whether to explore pop culture myths, improvise music or just go for laughs, three different groups are inventing new soundtracks for old films at Blinding Light Cinema". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. D14. ProQuest 242526195. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  22. ^ a b "Move over, it's the original desperate housewives". The Morning Star. Vernon, British Columbia: Torstar Media Group. 12 October 2005. p. 25. ProQuest 372995216. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  23. ^ Edwards, Ian (9 August 1999). "Schwarzenegger and Willis in the wings". Playback. Toronto, Ontario: Brunico Communications. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  24. ^ Edwards, Ian (2 October 2000). "Comedy Network shows retooled for year-two runs". Playback. Toronto, Ontario: Brunico Communications. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  25. ^ a b c Waddell, Stephanie (4 December 2003). "Festival's yuk-yuks to warm up January". Whitehorse Star. Whitehorse, Yukon. p. 4. ProQuest 362237597. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  26. ^ a b "Leave it to Cleavage at Evergreen Oct. 29". Coquitlam Now. Coquitlam, British Columbia. 21 October 2005. p. 26. ProQuest 358484716. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  27. ^ a b "Gemini Nominees: Craft Categories". Playback. Toronto, Ontario: Brunico Communications. 12 October 2009. p. 24. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  28. ^ "Diana Frances". Corner Gas. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Diana Frances: Winner, Best Writing, Animation". Canadian Screen Awards. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  30. ^ Chamberlain, Adrian (2 December 2004). "Comedy isn't pretty, but it's funny". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. p. D4. ProQuest 347980073. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  31. ^ a b c "Wily writers do battle in Literary Death Match; War of words waged to attract new audiences to reading events". Vancouver Courier. Vancouver, British Columbia. 6 October 2010. p. 28. ProQuest 757032981. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  32. ^ a b c Minty, Melanie (6 November 2014). "'Leave it to Cleavage' comedy comes to Surrey". The Tri-Cities Now. Port Moody, British Columbia. p. A34. ProQuest 1621693441. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  33. ^ "Winners Gallery". New York Festivals. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  34. ^ Inwood, Damian (5 November 1997). "Improv comedy troupe off to humor troops". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. D9. ProQuest 267599789. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  35. ^ Pedwell, Terry (24 November 2003). "Canadian soldiers treated to racy down-home tour show at base in Afghanistan". Toronto, Ontario. Canadian Press Newswire.
  36. ^ McCreadie, Drew (3 January 2004). "Drafted into the Afghan improv corps". The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ontario. p. R10. ProQuest 1368556901. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  37. ^ "Greater Saint John journal". Telegraph-Journal. Saint John, New Brunswick. 16 January 2018. p. B2. ProQuest 1987634937. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  38. ^ "Emotional journey awaits at Civic Chorale concert". The Post. Burlington, Ontario: Torstar Syndication Services. 22 April 2019. ProQuest 2212932756. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  39. ^ a b "Leave it to Cleavage Brings an All New, All-Female Improv Comedy Show to Incanto March 14 to 31, 2023". Out and About Puerto Vallarta. 6 March 2023.
  40. ^ "The 16th Annual ACTRA Awards in Toronto Nominees" (Press release). Ottawa, Ontario: PR Newswire Association. Canada Newswire. 13 January 2018. ProQuest 1987009109. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  41. ^ a b "Monica Heisey, Aisha Brown, Diana Frances, Zoe Whittall – Nominees, Best Writing, Variety or Sketch Comedy". The Canadian Screen Awards. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  42. ^ a b Donahue, Anne T. (10 May 2024). "The Burning Season's heart-wrenching take on infidelity examines the perils of best intentions". The Globe and Mail. ProQuest 3053032928.
  43. ^ a b "Awards". Writer's Guild of Canada. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  44. ^ Birnie, Peter (17 December 1998). "Scrooge twisted into season's best Christmas spoof". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. C21. ProQuest 242830781. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  45. ^ Doruyter, Renee (1 December 1996). "Improv troupe makes sport of X-Files". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. B15. ProQuest 267570466. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  46. ^ "Go! Calendar". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. 1 August 2002. p. D11. ProQuest 345888219. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  47. ^ Birnie, Peter (13 August 2004). "Antics of improv Musketeers range from clever to puerile". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. D3. ProQuest 242325337. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  48. ^ Birnie, Peter (9 September 2006). "The fringe of a new Empire". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. F20. ProQuest 242159809. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  49. ^ Strachan, Alex (2 October 2002). "Hockey Nightmare in Canada: Don and Rex". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. D8. ProQuest 242506045. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  50. ^ "Nominations & Awards Archives". Canadian Comedy Awards. 2001. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  51. ^ "Nominations & Awards Archives". Canadian Comedy Awards. 2002. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  52. ^ "Nominations & Awards Archives". Canadian Comedy Awards. 2004. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  53. ^ "Nominations & Awards Archives". Canadian Comedy Awards. 2005. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  54. ^ "Nominations & Awards Archives". Canadian Comedy Awards. 2006. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  55. ^ "Nominations & Awards Archives". Canadian Comedy Awards. 2007. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  56. ^ "Nominations & Awards Archives". Canadian Comedy Awards. 2008. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  57. ^ Sumi, Glen (30 June 2015). "2015 Canadian Comedy Awards nominees". Now Magazine. Toronto: Now Communications Inc. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  58. ^ Yeo, Debra (25 April 2017). "Letterkenny and X Company take Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario. Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
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