Winnipeg Improv

We're astonished that last show of the Winnipeg IF is in mere hours! The Saturday Mainstage show at the Gas Station Arts Centre will be one to remember, that's for sure. Tonight's audience will witness the fusion of four amazing minds on stage making improv magic: Stephen Sim and Lee white of Winnipeg's Crumbs, and George Basil and Christian Capozzoli of New York City's 4Track. Putting these four veterans on the same stage is actually quite dangerous, seeing as that hundreds of minds being blown simultaneously is probably a huge fire hazard. But we're willing to take that risk, just for you to get a chance to see this. L-R: Lee White, Stephen Sim, Christian Capozzoli and George Basil. And that's not even the whole show! Our talented festival ensemble will be playing together, presenting a BRAND NEW long-form of improv. Witness the historical debut tonight! To guarantee yourself a seat, you can order online at the Gas Station Arts Centre site . You can ...

A note to all of our modern-minded fans out there, you can buy Winnipeg IF tickets ONLINE ! That's right! On the internet! So get ready for more insanely inspiring improv this weekend! Click here to buy tickets to any of the shows below. Friday, Nov 12th 2010 THE FRIDAY MAINSTAGE SHOW Featuring: Rapid Fire Theatre (Edmonton), Outside Joke (Winnipeg) and Ghost Jail Theatre (Toronto).     The first set features an improv mash-up of two companies, Outside Joke and Rapid Fire Theatre. The second set features the Festival ensemble playing with Ghost Jail Theatre's improv, fusing improvised writing with improvised performance. Gas Station Arts Centre, 445 River Ave.   |  8 p.m.   |  $10 Friday, Nov 12th 2010 THE FRIDAY NIGHT LATE SHOW     This late-night jam show will feature players from across North America and from our own backyard, playing together like only the spontaneous improv make 'em up masters can. The late nigh...

Wow! The Winnipeg Improv Festival is off to a roaring start, with some face-melting performances on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Seriously. My cheeks still hurt from all of the laughing. On Tuesday, we kicked things off with a sampler platter that had a packed house going nuts over the special guests Christian Capozzoli, Kayla Lorette, George Basil, RobYn Slade and Fraz Wiest. Winnipeg's favourite improv duo, Crumbs, tied the whole night together, and our photographer Janet Shum took some lovely photographic documentation.   Stephen Sim, Christian Capozzoli, Lee White   George Basil, Fraz Wiest's shoes Don't miss tonight's Dungeons & Dragons Improv show at the Gas Station Arts Centre! Starts at 8 pm, doors are at 7 pm. See you there!

The 11th Winnipeg IF… Improv Festival kicks off tonight and runs until November 14. Get ready for a hilarious night this evening, Winnipeg! You can catch the free "Festival Sampler" at the King's Head Pub, 120 King St., beginning at 9 pm. Did we mention it's free? Hosts Stephen and Lee of Crumbs will do scenes with out-of-town guests and local players in this Improv Festival tradition. The Festival Sampler show is a part of the ongoing Free Laughs Comedy Series that puts on free live comedy shows at the King's Head every Tuesday night. Make sure you check out the rest of the stunning lineup for this week of amazing improv, featuring perfomers from New York City, Los Angeles, Edmonton, Toronto, Regina, and of course, Winnipeg. Tickets for the rest of the Winnipeg IF… Improv Festival shows are available through the Gas Station Arts Centre website at www.gsac.ca or by calling (204) 284-9477.

Fraz is an improv nomad. Fraz is an improv mercenary. Fraz is your favourite improviser, isn't he? He has been a part of Regina'snThe General Fools and Toronto's Ghost Jail Theatre. He has also been a part of several Winnipeg IF... Improv Festivals as well as other international festivals across Canada. He is a powerhouse of energy and hilarity; he can't just be on stage and not make you laugh. It might even be a disease that he has. I once almost died while I was giving Fraz a ride in my car. He was joking around in the backseat and I was laughing so hard the tears in my eyes prevented me from being able to see... I had to pull over, and I was barely able to do even that. Come and see the shows that Fraz will be in and witness the phenomenon that is Fraz. You will laugh, you might even die. – Stephen Sim, IF Artistic Director Want to see more of Fraz AND you like Bill Cosby? Click here! See Fraz live at the festival: Tuesday, Nov 9th 2...

Christian Capazzoli is an improviser in New York City, and that is a famous city. Not only is he from a famous city, he is also an amazing improv player and teacher. He is just so excited about improv he can barely contain himself; he can barely form words. But when he does, they are beautiful words, strung into beautiful sentences. I first got to play with Christian in Vancouver and have loved every time I have been on stage with him since. He still has the honest playfulness of a kid playing in a sandbox, except his sandbox is the stage and he will let you use his best shovel. He plays with 4Track and he will make you wish you had seen them a hundred times after you see them the first time. Winnipeg, hold onto your seats, though you might want to stand up when you see him. – Stephen Sim, IF Artistic Director See Christian live at the festival: Tuesday, Nov 9th 2010 THE IMPROV FESTIVAL SAMPLER PLATTER   King's Head Pub, 120 King St.  |  9 p.m.  |  Fr...

Amy Shostak is now running things at Rapid Fire Theatre in Edmonton. For those of you that don't know, Rapid Fire and the improv in Winnipeg have a long and beautiful relationship. First of all, those of you who don't think a long-distance relationship can work just need to witness the Winnipeg and Edmonton improv bonds that have been forged with comedy and love many years ago. Rapid Fire puts on one of the largest improv festivals out there, and one that includes sketch comedy, video, music, art and the improv you all know and love. Amy lives and breathes this: she improvises, she writes comedy scripts (most recently featured at Regina's Globe Theatre), and performs stand-up comedy as well. There is nothing she can't do, and she is going to be in Winnipeg to show you all. – Stephen Sim, IF Artistic Director See Amy live at the festival: Friday, Nov 12th 2010 THE FRIDAY NIGHT MAINSTAGE SHOW Gas Station Arts Centre, 445 River Ave.   |  8 p.m.   |  $10  ...

Kayla Lorette is a darling, and a darling in a good way. She has performed with Second City, YTV's sketch comedy show “That's So Weird” (which has garnered her a Gemini nomination), and Ghost Jail Theatre in Toronto (which she currently is running). I first met her... You know, I don't remember when I first met her or when I first improvised with her, probably because when I did I felt like I already knew her. She is always a joy to play with and a joy to watch, Winnipeg. I am so glad you finally will have a chance to become a life long fan of Kayla Lorette. – Stephen Sim, IF Artistic Director See Kalya live at the festival: Tuesday, Nov 9th 2010 THE IMPROV FESTIVAL SAMPLER PLATTER   King's Head Pub, 120 King St.  |  9 p.m.  |  Free Friday, Nov 12th 2010 THE FRIDAY NIGHT MAINSTAGE SHOW Gas Station Arts Centre, 445 River Ave.   |  8 p.m.   |  $10   Friday, Nov 12th 2010 THE FRIDAY NIGHT LATE SHOW Gas Station Arts Centre,...

Ladies and Gentleman, the hardest working improviser in Regina will be in Winnipeg. Now I know that Winnipeg gives Regina a hard time, mostly because everyone gives both Regina and Winnipeg a hard time and we feel like if we bash Regina look better. Well, why do we do that? We should stick together with Regina and beat up on those other cities (I'm looking at you, Toronto). When Jayden is here at the Improv Festival and you are falling in love with him as a performer, and then you meet him after the show and are charmed by him as a person, you will then realize that Regina can't be all that bad. Jayden has been performing with Regina's The General Fools since the early '90s and runs an improv festival of his very own in Regina. I have been there; it is great. Let's show him some love Winnipeg. It will be easy. – Stephen Sim, IF Artistic Director Watch Jayden as Richard "Dick" Baby, Musket Cop's partner against crime. See Jayden live at the festival: We...

Oh boy, Winnipeg, wait until you meet the charm and handsome that is George Basil. I first met him in Vancouver at the International Improv Festival there in 2008. He's such a cool guy, down to earth, looks you in the eye when he talks to you. Then I saw him perform with 4Track and was just blown away by the fierce attack of improv that they do on the stage. No offer gets dropped, no idea goes unexplored. If you don't know who 4Track is, they just happen to be New York's hottest improv group. Thankfully, I have since had the pleasure of enjoying George's company at several other festivals on the improv circuit and have always looked forward to getting onstage and playing with him. What a joy. And now Winnipeg, I am so excited to have invited him here, so that I don't just keep it my little secret we can all enjoy his amazingness. – Stephen Sim, IF Artistic Director Want to see more of George? Click here. See George live at the festival: Wednesday, Nov 10th 2...