Born and raised in a smelter town in Northern Ontario, Canada, Chris Hawes grew up less than a mile from the NASA lunar landing practice site. The moon they called it. A barren desolate landscape just outside of Sudbury. Not much to do but play sports and dream of getting the hell out of there. As a child, he would revel in the few and far between opportunities to watch the Tonight Show. Like many before him, it was his dream to one day grace the Tonight Show stage, and be waived over to a coveted spot seated across the desk from Johnny Carson.
Beginning in comedy in the Late 80s, Chris placed second in The Search for Canada’s Funniest New Comic at the People's Comedy Festival. Within a few short years, he signed an agreement to become a Contributing Writer to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and over the next decade, Chris toured professionally across Canada and the US. In 1995 he opened his own Comedy Club. He appeared in a couple of feature films and a number of television ads. In 1996 and 1998 his two children were born. The life of a fledgling Canadian comic was not conducive to feeding the family or remaining married. So… in 1999 after a successful final tour entertaining troops in the Balkans, Chris retired from comedy… or rather, took an extended leave.
With his children finally grown and off to pursue their own dreams, Chris began thinking about returning to comedy. Certainly there must be room in Hollywood for a 50ish (how many years are in an ish? ) year old fat guy with grey hair and no formal acting training.
Living on Borrowed Cash was conceived in a small pub in Ireland. While sitting around joking and playing Johnny Cash tunes, a well-known Irish musician encouraged Chris to take his talents and blend them together. Initially believing it was the drink talking, Chris dismissed the thought. But after floating the idea around, folks thought it could be something.
This Preview Tour is a test of new comedy material and classic Johnny Cash woven into a laid back performance by a guy in his living-room with friends. Where better to perform it than the place it was born… a pub in Ireland.
Living on Borrowed Cash takes place on Friday, April 21 at 8pm in Róisín Dubh, tickets are €11 and can be purchased online at www.roisindubh.net
