2 Workshops and 1 Beer Garden

I’m back in yyc for a few weeks and I want to mention two things.

1. I’ll be at the Calgary Fringe performing in A NOTORIOUS Beer Garden. It’s basically the most fun you can have at a NOTORIOUS show. It’s outside, there is delicious local beer and NOTORIOUS runs the stage. Last year was amazing. We even performed in a thunderstorm. If you’re in Calgary, come.
2. Two I’m teaching two intensives on Sunday, Aug. 9: Unforgettable Characters from 2-5pm and Stories Worth Telling from 6-9pm at the Lab (112 16 Ave NW). It’s the only time I’ll be teaching in Calgary for the rest of 2015. I’d love to see you there. I’ve learned so much in the last year in Toronto and I’m excited to bring it all home. Both intensives are $50, but I’m doing 20% off ($80) if you book both together. Email me to confirm your spot. I’m only taking ten students in each.

Unforgettable Characters Intensive

Sunday, August 9 | Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm |Location: The Lab – 112-16th Ave NW Instant characterization is one of the most important skills a character can have. This intensive will provide the tools you need to create believable, dynamic characters on the spot that last until the scene ends. Learn how to identify who the scene what your character can do to get the most out of any situation.

Stories Worth Telling Intensive

Sunday, August 9 | Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm |Location: The Lab – 112-16th Ave NW Within about 15 seconds, the audience can tell if a story is worth watching. This intensive examines what we can do to hook an audience right away, and keep them on the edge of their seat until the fat lady sings. Using longform and shortform narrative approaches, this course will breakdown the art of spontaneous storytelling for improvisers of all levels.

YYC March Improv Madness

I’m back in Calgary for the month of March producing Fresh Notes: Festival of Musical Comedy. And I gotta say, what an incredible gift it is to come home to such a vibrant improv scene. Having lived in Toronto for the past six months, I have witnessed some incredible performers, formats and tacos. Lest I forget tacos… So coming home I didn’t know how I would feel. Would the improv hold up? Would I get stir crazy with the lack of shows? Rest assured YYC faithful that Calgary, as usual, did not disappoint. March is a packed month, comedy wise. So I thought I’d give everyone a quick rundown of the shows I’m involved in, as well as a few that I’m not.

Fresh Notes: Festival of Musical Comedy

I am so stoked to be producing the innagural year of a brand new, guaranteed-to-be-hilarious-festival. I feel so strongly about this that I need to hyphenate. Anchored by NOTORIOUS, this festival will run four days at three great downtown venues. I’m especially excited about A NOTORIOUS Finale, which will feature a full length NOTORIOUS romp as well as the best of Calgary’s sketch scene at Yuk Yuks. It’s going to be off the hook. And I don’t say that lightly. Check out the festival website for all the details.

The Improv Games: Catching Funds

This event was perhaps my 2014 highlight, improv wise. And it is back in 2015, better than ever on April 4 at 8pm. All of Calgary’s best improv troupes come together to battle it out in a Hunger Games style fundraiser where the audience is truly king. No holds are barred as teams fight for survival, representing their districts with pride and ridiculous costumes. And the food spread last year was to die for…

Kinkonauts Week

Darling of the Calgary indie scene, the Kinkonauts have been producing these mini festivals five or six times a year for the last few. Each week has a different theme and special guest making these shows incredibly brave and unique. If the only improv you know in Calgary is the Loose Moose, you owe it to yourself to check a Kinks show out. I’ll be performing in the Obviously Improv Showcase on Thursday, March 12 at 8pm and in the Mixtape show on Saturday, March 14 at 10pm.

Troublemaker

Rebbaca Northran is back with another show which is getting its world premiere run in Calgary. Blind Date and Legend Has It are two incredible shows and I’ve no doubt this one will follow suit. I have nothing to do with this show, but if Rebbecca is attached to a project you usually can’t go wrong.

Improv Macbeth

Doing Improv Hamlet was the most fun I have ever had onstage. Period. After more than a year’s hiatus, the Improv Guild is back with the Scottish play completely improvised. If it is anything like Hamlet it will be worth checking out. Again, I’m not involved in this project. But it is a rare chance to see a true blend of theatre and improv.