Improv and Creativity

Improv is a great tool for creativity. It's not only a dynamic art form, it's also a teachable way of thinking and communicating. For decades Stephen Sim (founder of the Winnipeg Improv Festival and CRUMBS) has been performing shows, directing shows, leading masterclasses and hosting events using the skills of improvisation.

To learn more about improv and Applied Improvisation go to his professional site -> The Improv Company

To learn more about the Winnipeg Improv Festival go to the official site -> Winnipeg Improv

Improv Festival 2018

The Winnipeg if... Improv Festival 2018

facebook page

online tickets

Date: Thu, Oct 18th 8PM

Title: SKETCH-PROV-MEDY

Price: $15

Line: Sketch plus comedy times improv equals sketchprovmedy!

Link: http://www.winnipegimprov.com/sketch/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/1372070129592164/

ticket: https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/sketch-prov-medy-gas-station-arts-centre-tickets/8714605

Description:

Sketch comedy meets improv comedy meets comedy comedy. What a strange and hilarious concoction will be created at this sketch comedy improv hybrid of a show. Featuring Kevin McDonald from The Kids in the Hall!

Date: Fri, Oct 19th 8PM

Title: Pixels and Friends

Price: $15

Line: Real-time animation live onstage

Link: http://www.winnipegimprov.com/pixels/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/341649253258760/

ticket: https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/pixels-and-friends-gas-station-arts-centre-tickets/8714645

Description:

Live animation live onstage! We have collaborated with Flipside XR who have developed a real-time animation application using Virtual Reality. After a smash-hit at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival with Pixels, we are bringing the show to the next level for the improv festival stage!

Date: Fri, Oct 19th 10:30PM

Title: The More You Know

Price: $15

Line: Experts dropping knowledge that improvisers pick up

Link: http://www.winnipegimprov.com/fri-lateshow/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/277508546425722/

ticket: https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/the-more-you-know-gas-station-arts-centre-tickets/8714685

Description:

We take a bunch of experts, we get them to talk about what it is they are experts in. Then we learn and are inspired by the knowledge to make the world a better place… and funnier… a funnier and better place.

Date: Sat, Oct 20th 8PM

Title: Mind Readers

Price: $15

Line: Writer’s read and then improvisers read their minds

Link: http://www.winnipegimprov.com/mindreader/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/893653444159272/

ticket: https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/mind-readers-gas-station-arts-centre-tickets/8714695

Description:

The Improv Festival continues their collaboration with the International Writer’s Festival. This time taking the written word and improv into the unknown future. We will be looking at the what the future holds, what fortunes we are in store for and what is going on inside the minds of the writers and the performers.

Date: Sat, Oct 20th 10:30PM

Title: Ghost Stories

Price: $15

Line: Just when you thought it was safe to laugh again!

Link: http://www.winnipegimprov.com/ghost/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/2063356633994499/

ticket: https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/ghost-stories-gas-station-arts-centre-tickets/8714715

Description:

This show will feature real ghost stories that then inspire the improv show with the festival ensemble. Special guests and spooky stories.  Ghosts are real but they fear rooms of laughing people.

The Winnipeg if... Improv Festival is almost here! It runs Oct 11th to Oct 15th and it is the best time in Winnipeg for Improv (plus sketch comedy and stand-up comedy and then even more improv).

The Winnipeg if... Improv Festival will be flying in some amazing guests performers from Seattle, Los Angeles, Montreal, Edmonton, Toronto, Port Coquitlam and Winnipeg (well, the guests from Winnipeg will maybe take the bus).

Get Tickets ONLINE NOW

We will showcasing Improvisation as well as collaboration withSketch Comedy and Stand-up Comedy. Not only will we be showcasing some great out of town improv shows, we also also invent some improv shows of our own. We will be creating a Festival Ensemble of players, as well as a Local Ensemble of players and aSketch Ensemble of players. What does this mean? It means we will be making up some amazing new improv and hilarious new sketch comedy. The improv ensembles will be directed by none other than Randy Dixon (Seattle's Unexpected Productions) and the Sketch ensemble will be directed by Kevin McDonald (The Kids in the Hall). You will also get to see some stand-up and sketch comedy from Mark Little and Andrew Bush (of Picnicface fame!)

We will be kicking off the entire festival with our FREE SAMPLER SHOW on TUE, OCT 11th at 8PM where you can sample all the amazing improv and comedy that will be featured all week. The Sampler show will be at the Albert Street Cocktail Company (91 Albert Street) So you can sample great improv and fancy cocktails!

The Winnipeg Fringe!

With summer in Winnipeg comes the hot hot heat. No it isn't just a time for escape to the cabin or the beach. No it's not just a time of fighting mosquitoes and other pests. No it's not just a time to remember that it isn't winter. It is also a time of great improv and comedy. Live shows are not only a winter sport.


The Winnipeg Fringe Festival? What fringe shows should you really be getting excited about? Is the Fringe happening in Winnipeg July 13th - 24th?

Winnipeg Fringe Website LINK!

CRUMBS
Every Night it's the same... It's Different!
(Every night at the King's Head pub at 8:45pm)

CRUMBS returns with the already sold-out run of already hilarious shows. It's crazy, the tickets aren't even on sale yet and they're sold out. It's ridiculous, the show hasn't even been created yet and it's already hilarious. A fully improvised show scored by DJ Hunnicutt and created by the power of imagination. All in the comfort of the King's Head Pub. Get your tickets early, because as we've already mentioned, they're already sold out.

Advanced Tickets on sale NOW

CRUMBS Facebook event LINK


The Big Stupid Improv Show
Asper Centre for Theatre (at the U of W)

The Big Stupid Improv Show returns in all it's Big and Stupid improv glory. This is the now legendary improv jam show that gathers improvisers, comedians, and fringe performers and throws them onstage together. The show has been running at the Fringe since 1999. Who will you see this year? What will you see this year?

July 13 6:30pm

July 15 1pm

July 17 2:45pm

July 19 4pm

July 21 10:15pm

July 23 12 noon

July 24 7:30pm

Advanced Tickets on sale NOW

Big Stupid Improv Facebook Event Link


Comedy Isn't Funny Anymore
Onstage at the Pantages Playhouse Theatre (Venue #4)

Comedy Isn't Funny Anymore is a post-modern take on 

the golden age of comedy.

Stephen Sim is funny. Caity Curtis is funny. They want you 

to laugh. More than that, they want you to laugh at the 

right parts of the show. How will you know when to 

laugh? How will you determine when the funny is 

happening? Is comedy even funny? Good luck, Audience 

People. 

These are two comedians. (CRUMBS, The Winnipeg 

Improv Festival, The Winnipeg Comedy Festival, The Big 

Stupid Improv Show, King’s Head Comedy Knights, The 

(Improvised) Bachelorette, Vancouver Sketchfest, TEDx 

Winnipeg, general international fame…)

july 14 11:30pm

july 16 3pm

july 17 5:45pm

july 19 1:45pm

july 20 7pm

july 22 12 noon

july 23 5pm

Advanced Tickets on sale NOW

Facebook Event Page






Are there more shows to see at the FRINGE? You bet. In fact, you should go see them all!

Next Act 2016 is coming to Winnipeg, Manitoba! 

From August 2 – 6 improvisers from all over Canada will be joining the Next Act ensemble for 5 days and 5 nights of intense improv training and performances.

Winnipeg is known internationally for its unique style of long form improv. The Next Act Ensemble can expect to be challenged and charmed by the ‘Prairie Style’ improv experience. The Ensemble will be directed by Winnipeg improv legends, Aaron Merke (BUCKO), Stephen Sim (CRUMBS) and Caity Curtis.

Improv rushes towards summer

As spring rears it's pretty head, improv blossoms with the flowers. Here are some of the upcoming improv things you can look forward to as we rocket towards the summer times.

#1

The Improv After Party at the King's Head

Tuesday, May 3rd at 9pm

This is the kick-off for the U of W Improv Festival after party. Teams from all across Canada converge in Winnipeg to celebrate improv. The after party invites them to the King's Head stage where they get a chance to improv with Stephen & Caity. Always insanely good times.

#2

CRUMBS back in Europe!

It's true, after a couple years in hiatus, CRUMBS has reunited on another European tour as a duo. Look for our dates and locations here! So far we have:

Sat, May 7th - Hamburg

Thu, May 12th - Berlin 

Sat, May 14th - The Hague

Thu, May 19-May 21 - Leipzig

Sun, May 22nd - Baden (CH)

Sun, May 29th - Berlin

#3

The King's Head continues doing shows!

Look for the free comedy and improv on a Tuesday.

#4

The Fringe is here and that means it's summer time. Thankfully I have taken a little bit of time to give you a heads up to the TOP THREE shows you should be checking out before the program is even released! Take the test:

a) CRUMBS every night at the King's Head Pub

b) The Big Stupid Improv Show improv jam show

c) Stephen & Caity writes another Fringe double act

d) All of the above

e) This isn't a multiple choice test

CRUMBS in 2016

CRUMBS makes up shows in the new year. The very first improv show of 2016 is always filled with prophecy and magic. Many of the story lines end up coming true.

CRUMBS does a show at the King's Head on Thursday, Jan 7th 2016. Now usually CRUMBS would perform at the King's Head on a Tuesday... but the pub isn't open on that Tuesday, so we've opted for the other day of the week that starts with a "T". We will be doing the show with DJ Hunnicutt.

The FACEBOOK EVENT


You can catch Lee White hosting a stand-up show at the King's Head on Tue, Jan 12th

You can catch Caitlin Curtis and Stephen Sim as they take they're double act Stephen & Caity on a little West Coast tour. They'll be in Victoria teaching some improv and then they'll be in Vancouver teaching some improv workshops and taking part in the Vancouver SketchFest.

Victoria improv workshops FACEBOOK LINK

Vancouver Sketch Comedy Festival LINK

Vancouver Sketch Comedy Festival FACEBOOK 

Of course you'll be looking forward to seeing the amazing Virtual CRUMBS show happening in... well in Berlin on Feb 4th. Some of the show happens in Winnipeg and then it's stuffed into small tubes and the digital information is sent to Berlin and projected live onstage at the Ratibortheater. A CRUMBS show that happens with the help of technology.

Of course, you can also catch Lee White in Europe because he is in Europe in the new year.

LINK to CRUMBS in Europe site

Of course you can also catch CRUMBS on the radio

on 101.5 UMFM every Monday at 5pm

Of course you catch live comedy and improv at various venues in the city every week...

Sundays at the Cavern

Mondays at the HUB

Tuesdays at the King's Head Pub

Wednesdays at Jekyll & Hyde's

Thursdays at handsome Daughter

Thank you

CRUMBS at the Winnipeg Improv Festival

The Winnipeg if... Improv Festival is approaching so quickly, that by the time you read this, it might already be here (I don't know how fast you can read).

The festival dates are Sept 29th to Oct 3rd, 2015.

The Winnipeg if... Improv Festival kicks things off with a free sample show at the King's Head on Tuesday, Sept 29th. This show is hosted by CRUMBS with music by DJ Hunnicutt. This show has always been a great time. You get to see short improv scenes with a great number of improv guests and it's a nice way to see some improv and rub some shoulders.

There are of course other great shows to see, but another CRUMBS show happens right at the end of the festival too. Yes, CRUMBS is the bookend of the festival, first and last. Anyways, the show is a CRUMBS show with special guest Kevin McDonald from The Kids in the Hall. Last year we did this show and it worked so well, we are doing it again. That show is Sat, Oct 3rd at 10:30pm at the Gas Station Arts Centre.

BUY TICKETS FOR SAT, OCT 3RD LATE SHOW


You also might want to check out Lee White's creation "Knowledge & Punishment". This is a game show themed improv show where improvisers will do hilarious scenes, answer trivia questions and be punished cruelly when they do anything wrong. So much fun... to watch. This show is on Fri, Oct 2nd at 8pm at the Gas Station Arts Centre.

BUY TICKETS TO KNOWLEDGE & PUNISHMENT SHOW



But really, you are going to want to see all the shows. Why not get a FESTIVAL PASS that way you get to see it all AND you get to jump to the beginning of the line to get in first, get your good seat.

BUY FESTIVAL PASS ONLINE NOW!

See the official festival schedule:

Go the Winnipeg if... Improv Festival WEBSITE

FACEBOOK event

FACEBOOK fan page

Festival on TWITTER

Summer is coming!

 Summer is coming and that can mean only one thing... or several things... but mostly that the weather is going to start actually acting like summer.

It also means that Winnipeg forgets about hockey after a great a run. Winnipeg turns its sights on the arts and the culture (when we aren't escaping to the cabin and camping in the woods).

What's that? You are interested in some upcoming live shows? Okay, I'll tell you about some of them.

CRUMBS is going to be doing a strange and cool and strange experimental Skype show in Berlin. Lee will be live in Berlin and Stephen will be "live" via skype in Berlin while comfortably sitting in Winnipeg. The show will be at the Ratibortheater in Kruezberg on May 7th. It will be great, so get to Berlin.

Comedy Knights continues to offer you the FREE and GREAT comedy and improv shows at the King's Head Pub. Every single Tuesday at 9pm there is a show to enjoy.

Tue, May 5th is the next one!

FACEBOOK LINK


More shows?!?



How about Outside Joke with Hot Thespian Action at the Gas Station Arts Centre on May 2nd at 8pm?

OJ LINK

How about H.U.N.K.S. sketch comedy with Outside Joke at the Park Theatre on May 20th at 8pm?

How about H.U.N.K.S. sketch comedy with The Big Stupid Improv Show at the Park Theatre on June 24th at 8pm?

PARK THEATRE LINK


What else does summer mean? The Winnipeg Fringe Festival!

CRUMBS returns to the King's Head and The Big Stupid Improv Show returns to MTYP. Look for all the rest of your favourite Fringe super stars... but I'm sure I'll post more about the Fringe as we get closer because there's even more Fringe shows that I can't wait to tell you about.

Winnipeg Fringe Festival LINK

The Winnipeg Comedy Festival approaches!

Well hello there readers of websites, lovers of improv and seekers of the good comedy. You have come to the right place. I'll hook you up to the proper information that will reward you with comedy + comedy + comedy. While Lee White is touring the CRUMBS name across Europe (Here and Here and also Here), Stephen Sim is making the most of being in Winnipeg... helping out with the Winnipeg Comedy Festival!


The Winnipeg Comedy Festival returns for it's 14th year, produced by the Gas Station Arts Centre. The official festival runs from April 6th to April 12th and there are many, many events to enjoy.

Here are some of the shows that I suggest, and I suggest them because I have something to do with putting them together.

Tuesday, April 7th

Gas Station Arts Centre

The High School Super Improv Show

Hosts Stephen Sim and Caitlin Curtis have hand picked high school improv students involved in the Manitoba Improv League and will be showcasing the future of improv in Winnipeg.

7PM $5 

LINK TO BUY TICKETS

Thursday, April 9th

Metropolitan Entertainment Centre

T.V. Dinner A Multimedia Improv Show

Don't touch that dial! We turn down the sound and then turn up the Comedy on Classic Canadian TV. Plus you get to eat a delicious meal (inspired by TV Dinners) while the expert improv comedians weave the hilarity.

Who is in the show:

Kevin McDonald (The Kids in the Hall)

Wes Borg (Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie)

Ryan Belleville (check out his credits)

Tricia Cooper (The Royal Lichtenstein Theatre Company)

Stephen Sim (Yes... me)

and music by DJ Hunnicutt

5PM cocktails

6PM Dinner

7PM Show

$40 Dinner and Show

$15 Just the show (Balcony and no dinner)

LINK FOR SHOW INFO

LINK FOR TICKETS

Thursday, April 9th

Gas Station Arts Centre

Hot Thespian Action UNCORKED

In the first ACT we will be showcasing some sketch comedy. Sketch comedy by Bucko and Wes Borg, as well as a presentation of some brand new sketches by a group of Winnipeg comedians under the direction of Kevin McDonald. The second ACT will feature Winnipeg's premiere sketch comedy troupe Hot Thespian Action.

9:30PM $18 (plus agency fees)

LINK FOR INFO

LINK FOR TICKETS

Friday, April 10th

Centre Culturel Franco Manitobain

Lost in Translation/Perdu En Quois?

The French and English improv show that was inspired by CRUMBS playing improv all over the world and in different languages (and how we don't understand what the hell everyone is saying). We've now done the show a couple times with our French improv friends. Come and see our latest bilingual creation.

8PM $10 (plus agency fees)

LINK FOR INFO

LINK FOR TICKETS

What other shows are cool?

Pre-Festival Outreach shows leading up to the festival will be a great way to get a free taste of some comedy, and to get you into the comedy mood. It will also be at these Outreach events that the Comedy Festival will be giving away free tickets to some amazing shows.

Mondays

HUB (at the U of M)

Host: Ben Walker

9PM FREE

Tuesdays

King's Head Pub (Comedy Knights stand-up show)

Host: Dan Verville

9PM FREE

Wednesdays

Jeckle & Hyde's stand-up comedy

Host: Ben Walker

9PM FREE

Thursdays

The Handsome Daughter stand-up comedy show

Host Mike Green

8PM FREE

Thursday, March 26th

McNally Bookstore

(Officially Winnipeg Comedy Festival Outreach Show)

Host: Al Rae

Improv with Stephen Sim & Caitlin Curtis
Sketch Comedy with Bucko
Stand-up comedy by Mike Green & Rachel Sommer

7PM FREE

Sunday, March 29th

The Purple Room

(Live Taping of The Supporting Act Podcast)

Host: Matt Moskal and JD Renaud

Guests: Al Rae (Artistic Director of the WCF)

Stephen Sim (Outreach Overlord of the WCF)

Melanie Dahling and Paul Rabliauskas

8PM FREE

Wednesday, April 1st (April Fool's Day!)

The Park Theatre 

(Officially Winnipeg Comedy Festival Outreach Show)

Host: Jared Story

John B Duff, Keener, Dana Smith, Tyler Penner, Matt Nightingale

8PM FREE     INFO LINK

And then... well... and then we have the rest of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.

Lots and lots of shows and lots and lots of great local comedy, and lots of lots of great comedy and comedians coming into town to make the funniest city in Canada that much funnier. Now that's one hell of a sentence!

Friday, April 10th

Good Will Social Club

Portage Street Live

The comedy show that is "street" and "urban" that has "street smarts" and is filled with "hardcore hilarity". This show will be "off the hook". Am I in this show? No. Will I be there? Hell yes. Oh, and my good buddy DJ Hunnicutt will be there too.

9:30PM $15

LINK FOR INFO

LINK FOR TICKETS

What else should you do? Go see all the rest of the shows! There will be FREE shows every day at noon somewhere in the city. There will be huge Gala shows at the Pantages Playhouse that will be made into TV specials.

There will be shows at the Park Theatre. There will be shows at the King's Head Pub.

There will be comedic theatre shows at the Gas Station Theatre (like "HA!" starring my friend Wes Borg... which just happens to be THE BEST play ever written about being a stand-up comedian).

LINK FOR THE OFFICIAL WCF WEBSITE

LINK FOR THE WCF TWITTER

... Now go see all the shows, buy all the tickets and laugh at all the jokes!





Thanks Dad for the typo finding.