always with the more shows...

there is always a show on the horizon and always a show just under the surface. i am only sane when i have the next project within grasp (as i have mentioned before).

next shows:

CRUMBS show weekly at the PULFORD STREET IMPROV PALACE
This show is every Saturday at 10pm and only $4.99.
The show is our weekly jaunt into improv that will keep our muscles toned and our bones strong. Sometimes we will even have some guests, i promise.

CRUMBS Christmas Crusade of Comedy (not the official name)
Thursday, December 29th 2005
at the Gas Station Theatre
This show is the CRUMBS semi tradition. A show after X-mas and before New Year's Eve. The show could have some guests, could have some sketches and should have some improv. Maybe we will even have some music...

shows that just passed:

LAUGH RIOT 4
at Mondragon on Thursday, November 24th
The show was another success. We have booked the next one already for January 12th at Mondragon of course (91 Albert Street). Comedy and anarchists do mix?!?

The Jist (at Pulford)
The Friday Night Midnight shows at Pulford have troupes rotating through, performing awesome improv for Winnipeg. Last night The Jist performed. Now the troupe usually has Jeff, Jarrett (also known as Double Tease) and RobYn Slade performing. RobYn was in Toronto so she couldn't make it. Jeff had a hurt ankle and almost didn't make it (he missed the laugh riot 4 show because of it), and Jarrett is always there when you need him. Ron Moore and Stephen Sim (that's me) took on the job of replacing RobYn and i think we did an alright job. The show was small on crowd but big on laughs.

Keep checking out the shows folks, they aren't going away.

Laugh Riot 4

Laugh Riot is a comedy night that Mondragon aproached me to produce last winter. Mondragon is an anachist bookstore and coffeeshop. They serve very nice vegan stuffs. The comedy night had some success, being a free show made it easy. This year we are having the first one of the season (thursday november 24th at 9pm) and i am hoping that it is just as successful.

Yes, it is still free.

The line up will include:
Andre Clement as the gracious host (and excellent MC).
Stephen Sim as the almost a comic (and it is me, so of course i get the job).
Jeff Sinclair if his ankle isn't too swollen that he doesn't come out.
Janet Shum as one of the most interesting comics out there today.
Andrew (last name pending) as a brand new up and comer who kills (in the good comedy way).
Derek Kreoker of Drunken Finger and Steve Breadstone fame
Eton Harris as the Mondragon funny guy who has a story or two for you.
Ron Moore as Ron Moore, local comedy whore and mystifyer...

You are looking at about an hour of comedy, you are looking at sitting in a nice cozy cafe, sipping on wine, downing cold beer, snacking on snacky snacks and having a good time.

Lundar???

Well, how about that.

CRUMBS just did a gig in Lundar Manitoba. What a crazy show. It is damn hard to go to rural towns, walk into the town watering hole, stand up on a "stage" and do some improv comedy for them. No we didn't get the shit kicked out of us, no we didn't get run out of town. But we did have to deal with racist and homophobic guys (and girls) all night as we hammered our way through 3 sets of interactive improv. Lee and I sure did earn out keep that night. And i suppose it was a good thing we had our good friend Jeff Sinclair there to watch our backs.

The weirdest part is, we would probably go back and do it again.

A picture of improv


A picture from the 2005 IF... Improv Festival that just happenned at the Gas Station Theatre (and around the city of Winnipeg). Photo credit goes to Janet Shum. This picture was taken during the final scene of the night on Firday night's Improv DEATH Match. Team Atlanta (the A-Team) walked away the champions.

Next shows

Always to the next show, the next poster i can keep in my car and put up. Always to the nexg project, to distract me and keep me going. Always to the next thing, to put food on the table. I have numbered them, so i can keep track of them. I always number things and make lists.

Always...

1 - CRUMBS to perform weekly at The Pulfrod Street Improv Palace at 109 Pulford Str. will be starting up on the weekend of Nov. 18 &19. The Saturday night shows at 10pm will feature CRUMBS. The show will sometimes feature some musical guests. The Saturday night shows at 8pm will feature all the newest Manitoba Improv League (alumni and otherwise) troupes. The Friday night midnight show will feature Outside Joke, The Jist, George and Young Lungs. A lot of shows under one roof.

2 - The Laugh Riot 4 is playing at Mondragon on Thursday, November 24th at 8pm. This is an extremely well received FREE comedy show event of the best stand-up and cutting edge comedy money can't buy.

3 - The Toad Pub in Osborne Village will be having me host the 11pm time slot. This evening of improv has been around for years now. Every Monday night people know they can give improv a real try with a real professional. With sets happening at 8,9,10pm. The 11pm set could have anything and anyone. Sometimes it will be audience volunteers, sometimes it will be featured pro players. Always, it will be a good time.

Till the next thing...
...always

The IF... Improv Festival has ended!

Well it came and went and was wonderful (as in filled with wonder).

The Friday mainstage show at the Gas Station Theatre went very well. It was a competitive improv show in the style of theatresports or a grdge match. It was the perfect example of how to do it well and the Winnipeg audiences got a treat. Team Atlanta walked away with the very first title. Team Winnipeg and Team Edmonton did bring their game, and wowed the audience with wonder.

The Friday late show (which were the experimental shows) was at the Pulford Street Improv Palace. The show was the "Improv vs Writing" and it was a very interesting show. We had the poet group Poor Tree writing their typewriter poems while the fabulous improv actors did improv scenes. Very fun.

The Saturday mainstage show featured two very special Winnipeg guests. Terry MacLoed (CBC radio) and Big Dave McLean (Blues Legend). The guests would tell true stories and the cast of improvisers would make up neat-o scenes inspired by the stories.

The Saturday late show was a brand new show invented for the festival. It involved the dark and flashlights. It was a dream like flash of characters and scenes. A trip.

And now the festival is over, the dust has settled, the paperwork is done and now i get to sleep.................

The IF... Improv Festival has begun

There is no stopping the festival now (not that there ever really was a time anyone could stop it). The 6th Annual IF... Improv Festival has burst through the event horizon.

Last night's show was a stellar showing at the Toad Pub in Osborne Village. The Monday night "Improv Supper Club" has been running weekly for years now and so it does have its built in audience. The audience of people who want to get up on the stage and try it with the pros. Many laughs, many volunteers and many sweet scenes (and some dirty ones) made the first night a huge success.

Looking forward to the other nights now...

Tuesday at the Park Theatre for a local showcase and a Jack'um & Attack'em set of improv. We will see CRUMBS, Outside Joke and The Jist. All at 8pm and all awesome.The Park Theatre is in South Osborne.

Thurday at the Park Theatre is a live improvised cartoon. How is this possible? Witht he mad genius Rene from Dad's Garage in Atlanta, Georgia. Check this show out.

Friday at the Gas Station Theatre for a mainstage show of the improv Death Match variety. Winnipeg vs Atlanta vs Edmonton. Then a midnight show at the Pulford Street IMprov Palace for some Improv vs Writing.

Saturday at the Gas Station Theatre for another mainstage show, this time with a very special guest (we will have Big Dave McLean the Blues Legend and Terry McLeod the CBC Radio personality). Stick around for the late night show happening at the Pulford Street Improv Palace for an improv show in the dark...

There you have it (again and again) see you at the shows.