About Art Nefsky

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Art Nefsky Bio:

Art Nefsky’s artistic journey began in 1973 at the Ryerson Theatre Program in Toronto, where he honed his skills in theatre, acting, voice, and mime. His creative talent manifested in the creation of “Igor,” a character that captivated audiences and won “best costume” at Ryerson’s Halloween event. This character’s debut at Gene Taylor’s night at the Improv at the Friars Club marked the start of Art’s journey in comedy. Sharing the stage with notable performers like Larry Horowitz, Peter Gross, Marla Lukofsky, Rick Moranis, Dan Hill, Gino Vanelli, and Steve Shuster, Art became a feature act in the vibrant Toronto comedy scene.

Within six weeks, Art co-hosted “Monsters We Know and Love“ on Citytv with Gene Taylor, further establishing his comedic presence. From there, Art became one of the first comedians to appear on a Yuk Yuks stage, and again, shared the stage with up-and-coming comedians like Howie Mandel, Mike MacDonald and Bob Saget, contributing to the burgeoning comedy landscape. His experiences with Gene Taylor and the early days at Yuk Yuks were instrumental in shaping his path as an entertainer.

Art’s comedic talent also led him to tour as the opening act for legendary Elvis tribute artists Douglas Roy and Bobby Fisher, where he delighted audiences with his unique blend of humor and performance. This tour was a significant highlight of his early career, showcasing his ability to entertain and connect with diverse crowds.

Inspired by his transformative experiences in numerous Mastery Weekend Workshops and the profound teachings of their New York leaders, Art founded Showoffs Studio for Performers in 1987. The studio was born from a recognition of the need for a space where performers could conquer their fears and hone their craft. As Director of Showoffs, Art has been instrumental in guiding performers through their unique challenges, utilizing his expertise to help them overcome performance anxiety, shyness, and self-consciousness.

As Director of Showoffs, Art provides private or group performance classes, intensive weekend workshops, as well as vocal technique instruction to kids 8+, as well as adults. From beginner to experienced singers, to public and corporate speakers, to theatrical professionals, and even non-performers preparing for a speech or business presentation, Art addresses each student’s unique difficulties, helping them improve their vocal technique while breaking through insecurity, nervousness, stage fright, perfectionism, and a myriad of other obstacles.

As a professional actor and member of ACTRA for 18 yrs., he played a guest role as an alien janitor in the tv series, “War Of The Worlds” and has appeared in a number of TV commercials, including “Shake N Bake”, “Coffee Crisp”, and “Skippy Peanut Butter. He also performed throughout the 1980s and 1990s as an actor, comedian, singer and mime with some of Toronto’s top improv artists in dinner theatre murder mysteries, cabaret and corporate events across Canada and the United States.

Art’s journey into this intriguing world of live-action mystery comedy/improv began when he walked into Zaidlin’s Restaurant, a venue known for its murder mystery dinners run by Larry Zaidlin.

Art’s curiosity was piqued by the pictures of entertainers adorning the walls. After a conversation with Larry, Art found himself cast in a murder mystery two days later, playing the role of the first victim. This unexpected turn of events brought “Art Nefsky’s Showoffs” to Zaidlin’s restaurant on Tuesday nights. Here, Art showcased the talents of his students and introduced notable artists like country singer/recording artist David McLaghlan, and comedian actors Rob Trick, and Tim Progosh.

This collaboration with Larry Zaidlin flourished, leading to the creation of the first murder mystery dinner-train in Gowanda, New York, run by Bob Dingman performing the show in five cars simultaneously and often staging his death five times in one evening.

Art has also appeared on numerous television and variety talk shows, including CTV’s “The Shirley Show”, CFTO’s “Eye On Toronto”, City Tv’s “Lunch Television” and TV Ontario’s “More To Life”.

His contributions extend beyond the stage to the world of film festivals. He was invited by Frank Caruso to be one of the four jury members at the 2023 Ekran Toronto Polish Film Festival, deliberating on the top 7 feature films. Additionally, Art played a significant role as a juror at the 2022 Toronto “Films for Peace” International Film Festival, where he viewed and rated over 500 entries from around the world, offering his insights and expertise. His appreciation for the art of filmmaking and his insights as a juror have added another dimension to his multifaceted career.