THE WINNIPEG IF... IMPROV FESTIVAL BECOMES A TEENAGER, THINKS IT'S NOW BETTER THAN EVERYBODY
13th Annual Festival Offers Improvised Game Show, Theatre in Complete Darkness and Dungeons & Dragons
The Gas Station Arts Centre is proud to present the 2012 Winnipeg if... Improv Festival,
November 6 to 11, 2012. This year's festival - while experiencing the
early symptoms of puberty - boasts performers from Chicago, Montreal,
Toronto and Edmonton for six nights of world-class improvisational
theatre.
Thirteen
is an awkward age. A new body is developing, hormones are racing, and
body hair on an improv festival? The awkward festival will rebel so,
please, keep your eye on your drinks.
This year's talented improv guidance counselors includes:
The amazing JOE BILL. One of the founding members of the Annoyance Theater in Chicago, Bill has performed, coached, directed and innovated with a vast number of successful groups including The Screw Puppies at Annoyance, The Armando Diaz Theatrical Experience, and the Georgia Pacific at iO Chicago, with whom he developed "The Bat" - an improvised show performed in compete darkness - which he brings to Winnipeg for the very first time.
"One of the best comic storytellers around" (Now Magazine), MARK LITTLE is best know as one of the founding members of the internet/TV phenomenon Picnicface. Little also released a book in 2011 (Picnicface's Canada, HarperCollins) and co-wrote and stars in the feature-length film Roller Town, currently in theatres. He also plays Simon Hunt in the CBC sitcom Mr. D.
JULIAN FAID and JESSIE MCPHEE, two members of Edmonton's premiere improv company, RAPID FIRE THEATRE. Rapid Fire Theatre has been producing improv for over 30 years, including hosting Improvaganza, one of North America's largest Improv festivals.
KIRSTEN RASMUSSEN will also be joining the cast of players. Originally from Saskatchewan, Rasmussen moved to Alberta and then ended up in Montreal, where she quickly started to build a strong improv community. She has been touring the country with theatre and improv and Winnipeg is lucky to have her perform and teach workshops while in town for the festival.
In addition to the out-of-town guests, the Winnipeg if... Improv Festival showcases plenty of homegrown talent in the improv, sketch and stand-up comedy communities. Internationally renowned improv duo CRUMBS, the extremely popular DUNGEONS & DRAGONS IMPROV SHOW, members of the improv musical group OUTSIDE JOKE, and FRAZ WIEST - whose solo show, Lonely At Last, was a hit at this year's Winnipeg Fringe Festival - all join the festival ensemble. Additionally, this year features sketch groups HOT THESPIAN ACTION and the WEEK THUS FAR, as well as stand-up comedians MIKE GREEN, AISHA ALFA and MATT NIGHTINGALE.
JULIAN FAID and JESSIE MCPHEE, two members of Edmonton's premiere improv company, RAPID FIRE THEATRE. Rapid Fire Theatre has been producing improv for over 30 years, including hosting Improvaganza, one of North America's largest Improv festivals.
KIRSTEN RASMUSSEN will also be joining the cast of players. Originally from Saskatchewan, Rasmussen moved to Alberta and then ended up in Montreal, where she quickly started to build a strong improv community. She has been touring the country with theatre and improv and Winnipeg is lucky to have her perform and teach workshops while in town for the festival.
In addition to the out-of-town guests, the Winnipeg if... Improv Festival showcases plenty of homegrown talent in the improv, sketch and stand-up comedy communities. Internationally renowned improv duo CRUMBS, the extremely popular DUNGEONS & DRAGONS IMPROV SHOW, members of the improv musical group OUTSIDE JOKE, and FRAZ WIEST - whose solo show, Lonely At Last, was a hit at this year's Winnipeg Fringe Festival - all join the festival ensemble. Additionally, this year features sketch groups HOT THESPIAN ACTION and the WEEK THUS FAR, as well as stand-up comedians MIKE GREEN, AISHA ALFA and MATT NIGHTINGALE.
Each
year, besides presenting a fresh, new cast of international players to
the city, the Winnipeg if... Improv Festival prides itself on
introducing new formats to local audiences, as well. Besides Joe Bill's
"The Bat," many exciting show concepts are making their festival debut
at this year's festival, including:
"The Big Smart Improv Show" - An improvised game show paying homage to the classics like Family Feud and The Price Is Right, developed by Lee White (CRUMBS) and complete with sound effects, team scores and battles of wit.
"The Photo Show" - An improv show using photographs projected onto the big screen as inspiration. Winnipeg's CRUMBS bring this new format to Winnipeg after working with Die Kaktussen in Würzburg, Germany.
"The Big Smart Improv Show" - An improvised game show paying homage to the classics like Family Feud and The Price Is Right, developed by Lee White (CRUMBS) and complete with sound effects, team scores and battles of wit.
"The Photo Show" - An improv show using photographs projected onto the big screen as inspiration. Winnipeg's CRUMBS bring this new format to Winnipeg after working with Die Kaktussen in Würzburg, Germany.
As
in previous years, the festival kicks off with the always popular
"Festival Sampler Platter" on Tuesday, November 6 at the King's Head
Pub. The night - part of the venue's ongoing Free Laughs weekly comedy
series - allows audiences a chance to see some the dynamic performers
that will be playing the festival throughout the week... for FREE!
Tickets for the 2012 Winnipeg if... Improv Festival are on sale now through the Gas Station Arts Centre website at gsac.ca or by calling (204) 284-9477. They are also available through Ticketmaster.
The
Winnipeg if... Improv Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of
its sponsors: The King's Head Pub, 101.5 UMFM, CKUW 95.9 FM, Half Pints
Brewing, Johnnies Sticky Buns, and the Gas Station Arts Centre.
For the full list of performances, click here.
