PERFORMERS

Here are the performers at this year's festival:



Randy Dixon is regarded as one of the most experienced improvisational artists in the field. He is a founding member of Unexpected Productions, Seattle’s longest running improvisational theater company and has served as the company’s Artistic Director since 1988. During his tenure Unexpected Productions has established a reputation of presenting high quality shows, classes and workshops.





Catch Randy Dixon in these shows:
Tue, Oct 11th at the Sampler Show
Wed, Oct 12th at the Stand-up vs Improv Show
Fri, Oct 14th in the Improvised Man (improv in the style of Ray Bradbury) at the GSAC
Fri, Oct 14th Late show (10:30pm) as the director of the Ensembles.
Sat, Oct 15th Late show (10:30pm) as the director of the Ensembles.

















Mark Little is one of the founders of the sketch comedy group Picnicface. He stars in the CBC sitcom Mr. D, is a regular performer at the Just For Laughs festival, and was named one of Variety’s 10 Comics To Watch for 2013. Mark has won Canada's two most prestigious stand-up comedy competitions, the Yuk Yuk's Laugh Off and the JFL Homegrown Competition, and in 2012, he co-wrote and starred in the feature film Roller Town. Mark recently appeared on Conan.



Catch Mark Little in these shows:
Tue, Oct 11th at the Sampler Show
Wed, Oct 12th doing a Stand-up set at the Stand-up vs Improv Show
Thu, Oct 13th doing a Sketch set as part of the Sketch Comedy Night Show
Fri, Oct 14th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble
Sat, Oct 15th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble



Andrew Bush is a writer/actor/director who’s been working in the television industry for over fifteen years. He’s written for This Hour Has 22 Minutes and was a writer/director for the award winning TV sketch show Picnicface. Andrew currently lives in Los Angeles

Catch Andrew Bush in these shows:
Tue, Oct 11th at the Sampler Show
Wed, Oct 12th doing a Stand-up set at the Stand-up vs Improv Show
Thu, Oct 13th doing a Sketch set as part of the Sketch Comedy Night Show





Kevin McDonald is a Canadian actor, voice actor and comedian. He is known as a member of The Kids in the Hall, the voice of Pleakley in the Lilo & Stitch franchise, Waffle in Catscratch, Pastor Dave in That 70s Show, and the Almighty Tallest Purple in Invader Zim. Kevin also stars as a co-pilot in the new web comedy series Papillon. Kevin has appeared at the last few Winnipeg if... Improv Festivals, we are ALWAYS glad to have him!




See Kevin McDonald in:
Thu, Oct 13th doing a Sketch set as part of the Sketch Comedy Night Show. He has directed the Sketch Ensemble.



Vinny Francois is an improv teacher, performer, director at Montreal Improv.
He is a producer for Mprov: The Montreal Improv Festival & co-created the improv suggestion site can-i-get-a.comHe runs Canada's biggest scavenger hunt, Impossible Montréal & curates the blog Gems of Wikipedia & did a bit of writing for McSweeney's.
Vous pouvez le trouver sur twitter & instagram. He also likes high-fives, cakes & fireplaces.



See Vinny Francois in these shows:
Tue, Oct 11th at the Sampler Show
Wed, Oct 12th doing improv for the Stand-up vs Improv Show
Fri, Oct 14th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble
Sat, Oct 15th Early show (8pm) in the French/English Improv show
Sat, Oct 15th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble



Toby Hughes is an improviser and actor from Winnipeg, MB.  He has performed in plays on many Winnipeg stages, is an artistic associate with Shakespeare in the Ruins, and a founding member of the musical improv company Outside Joke. Toby has travelled the country with Outside Joke, performing at festivals and theatres and making up stories and songs.






See Toby Hughes in these shows:
Wed, Oct 12th doing improv for the Stand-up vs Improv Show
Fri, Oct 14th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble
Sat, Oct 15th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble



Sarah Mattiello has been improvising since 2009, starting as a performer in the Canadian Improv Games and Edmonton's own Nosebowl Festival. Since 2011 she has been a member of Rapid Fire Theatre, creating and performing in weekly Theatre Sports and Chimprov shows. Sarah is very blessed to have performed in various festivals across Canada such as Improvaganza and UBC's Impulse festival, to name a few. She is a former member and president of The University of Alberta Improv Group and is happy to now be a graduated "adult". 



See Sarah Mattiello in these shows:
Tue, Oct 11th at the Sampler Show
Wed, Oct 12th doing improv for the Stand-up vs Improv Show
Fri, Oct 14th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble
Sat, Oct 15th Early show (8pm) in her duo the Doodle Bop Girls
Sat, Oct 15th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble




Josephine Hendrick has performed with Rapid Fire Theatre since 2011. Over the years she has been very involved in reffing, coaching, and judging the Canadian Improv Games. Josephine was recently seen in The Red Shirt Diaries, an improvised Star Trek show that ran in Edmonton's Fringe Festival. 






See Josephine Hendrick in these shows:
Tue, Oct 11th at the Sampler Show
Wed, Oct 12th doing improv for the Stand-up vs Improv Show
Fri, Oct 14th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble
Sat, Oct 15th Early show (8pm) in her duo the Doodle Bop Girls
Sat, Oct 15th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble





Mikaela Myers has always had a penchant for the stage ever since she starred as Wilbur the talking pig in a Grade 4 production of Charlotte's Web. Though this was, in many ways, the peak of her scripted theatre career, she began dabbling in improvised comedy and then started performing at Second Storey Theatre (SST) in Port Coquitlam in 2011. Since then, she has performed at the Upfront Theatre in Bellingham, at the International Seattle Improv Festival in Seattle, in numerous seedy bars throughout BC, and is very excited to be performing in this year's Winnipeg Improv Festival.

See Mikaela Myers in these shows:
Tue, Oct 11th at the Sampler Show
Wed, Oct 12th doing improv for the Stand-up vs Improv Show
Fri, Oct 14th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble
Sat, Oct 15th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble





Graham Myers has a personality that is as big as his stature and his passion for improvised theatre. He started his professional improv career in 1998 and is the Artistic Director of Second Storey Theatre. Graham is also honoured to be a mainstage performer of the world renowned Vancouver Theatresports League and can be found regularly on stage all over Vancouver and the Tri-City area. He has emceed, performed and taught at various Improv Festivals, Drama Conferences, Special City Events and has had the chance to work and play with professionals from all over Canada, the USA and recently travelled to Europe to perform and teach. He hopes to keep this up until someone tells him to stop!

See Graham Myers in these shows:
Tue, Oct 11th at the Sampler Show
Wed, Oct 12th doing improv for the Stand-up vs Improv Show
Fri, Oct 14th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble
Sat, Oct 15th Late show (10:30pm) as a member of the Festival Ensemble





Plus more performers to be announced soon!



The Local Ensemble
See them in the Friday and Saturday Late Shows!




Frances is an Anishinaabe artist based in Winnipeg. Though new to improv, she is definitely not new to the terror of standing in front of an audience and having no idea what to say. A Taurean vegetarian whose fav colour is purple, she has proudly seen the complete cinematic works of Keanu Reeves. Much love to her improv crush. xoxo







Tristen Foy is a Winnipeg improviser, actor, and barista. He is a co-founding member of the improv group Rumble Pak and is a cast member of The Dungeons and Dragons Improv Show. He has performed and worked with improvisers all across Canada but is proud to call Manitoba home!








Tim Gray is a local comedian who dabbles in stand-up, sketch and improv comedy. He's so excited to be back doing his first love - improv! You should all go to his comedy album recording on November 26th at the Park Theatre (please). 




Thomas Toles has performed improv for over 8 years, beginning in the MIL and more recently directing the Oxford Imps at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He currently performs in Winnipeg with Club Soda, facilitates U of M Improv, and teaches improv classes at MTYP. He is extremely grateful to Stephen Sim and Lee White, whose coaching in the ’09 PTE Improv Company remains unforgettable.








Anna Currie first started improvising in 2006 through the Canadian Improv Games. She currently teaches with the University of Winnipeg Improv Group and is 1/3 of the local troupe After School Special. Beyond improvising she loves reading fiction, writing philosophy, and eating (vegan) cake.









Jesse Bergen has been improvising for the last ten years. He’s performed in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival with his troupe Parking Lots and couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the IF…! He’s know for his quick wit and deadpan delivery, as well as really talking himself up in his bios.









Riva Billows got her start improvising in the CIG:MB when she was 15 years old. Four years later, she has been behind the scenes as a coach and producer, and in the spotlight as a member of the improv troupe Them and the ThisThats. She's oh so excited to be a part of the Local Ensemble and is already wishing that the Winnipeg Improv Festival could go on for forever!







Anjali Sandhu considers herself to be a stand-up comedian, improviser and actor. The rest of the world considers her to be an adequately functioning human being, based on the fact that she is literate, as well as proficient in both printing and cursive writing. Are you STILL reading this bio?









Carson Koschik (Bio pending)














Bo Dyck started with improv when he was 15. It was his first exposure to performing comedy and nearly 5 years later still his favourite. Partnering with Common Crow Improv company he plans to have a long, healthy, well communicated relationship with improv.








Beverley Katherine is excited to be back in her hometown of Winnipeg after recently moving to Toronto! When she isn't taking workshops with stellar instructors, she is rehearsing and performing as 1/6th of the local improv troupe the Neighbourhood Watch or with an ensemble at Bad Dog Theatre in Toronto. You may have seen her rolling the gold die in the Dungeons and Dragons Improv show, performing in Zahgidiwin/Love in Winnipeg Fringe 2016, or eating chicken wings.






The Sketch Ensemble
See them at the Sketch Comedy Night
Thu, Oct 13th 8pm at the GSAC

Directed by Kevin McDonald

with some sketches from Mark Little and Andrew Bush of Picnicface fame!




The Stand-up comics
See them at the Stand-up vs Improv show
Wed, Oct 12th 8pm at the GSAC





Ashley Burdett

Ashley Burdett has been doing improv for over 10 years and spent 5 glorious seasons with the improvised soap opera Soap Scum. She is new to stand up but has already appeared in the The Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Oddblock Comedy Block Party, and the Winnipeg Comedy Showcase. She is the current title holder of Winnipeg's Funniest Person with a Day Job. Her style has been described as "thoughtful, honest and wickedly silly."






Jordan Welwood

Jordan Welwood is a Winnipeg born comedian and writer. In 2016 he performed at Just for Laughs Montreal, and soon you can catch him on Kevin Hart’s LOL, a brand new comedy based streaming service. Jordan made it to the finals of Sirius XM’s Canada's Top Comic in 2013. In 2015 he returned to JFL42 for the finals where he won 2nd Runner up. Since then he has performed in the ‘Best of Fest’ show at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and opened for many big names including Gerry Dee, Mark Forward, Jen Kirkman and Pete Holmes. 





Lauren Cochrane

Lauren Cochrane is an improviser/actor and writer who hails from Calgary, AB. She is a graduate of the Comedy: Writing and Performance Program at Humber College in Toronto. There, she became a founding member of the all-girl improv troupe, Ladystache. Later, she studied improv at the famed iO(improv olympic) in Chicago and Acting for Film and Television at the Acting Corp in Los Angeles. In addition to improv and theatre, Lauren has appeared in various film and television projects. She is privileged to be a founding member of the Calgary improv theatre company, The Kinkonauts as well as the sketch/improv comedy duo BUCKO alongside her husband, Aaron Merke. Through the years, Lauren has been fortunate enough to study and perform all over North America. Currently, she performs sketch and improv regularly with Bucko and is co-founder of Royal Awesome Society, which produces original content for themselves and other awesome people. 




Aaron Merke
Aaron Merke- Comedian, actor, writer and partner in comedy duo Bucko started his comedy life in Chicago training under improv comedy legend Del Close at the iO theater. Soon after Aaron returned to Canada and became a member of Toronto’s Second City National Touring Company. Aaron’s Stand-up led to his TV work on Much Music’s Video On Trial and a sketch show he hosted called LOL. As a screen and TV actor, Aaron has been fortunate to work on many great projects and you can check ’em out on IMDB. (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2430074/Aaron is the co-founder and co-producer with the Royal Awesome Society alongside Lauren Cochrane, the most important partner of www.Buckocomedy.com Bucko is planning a nation wide tour of their Improv and sketch.



Andrew Bush (from Picnicface, Funny or Die)


Mark Little (from Picnicface, Funny or Die, Mr. D and Conan)

Check out his set on Conan





Also check out our local showcase acts:




Bucko

Formed in the summer of 2009, Bucko is a comedic duo featuring real life
Husband and wife team Aaron Merke and Lauren Cochrane. This acting/writing/improvising team are known for their eclectic characters, bizarre relationships and unique settings. 
Together, they regularly perform Sketch and Improv in shows and festivals around North America. In 2012, they formed a production company Royal Awesome Society, where they produce awesome and original content for themselves and others. Check it out!www.buckocomedy.com






Neighbourhood Watch
The Neighbourhood Watch folks are experienced improv performers, and it shows. In 45 minutes, the six Winnipeg performers sucked the audience into a vividly-crafted small town, and managed to make them laugh, groan and genuinely care about the townsfolks' bizarre problems. The action never lagged, and the story was at turns delightful, heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud ridiculous.

5 STARS









Parking Lots
Parking Lots is an improv group that hails from right here in Winnipeg. This quintet is a regular sight at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. They are known for their clever and energetic style. Keep an eye out for them this year at Winnipeg Theatresports!

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