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.

Winnipeg Improv Festival 2017

The Winnipeg if... Improv Festival is coming soon!

Oct 17th - 21st, 2017

Visit the NEW Website HERE

CRUMBS at the Fringe

CRUMBS returns to the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. How many times is it now? 10? 20? 30? Who knows? 
*the first CRUMBS fringe was in 1998 so this would be number 20

CRUMBS is going to do the improv show they do with DJ Hunnicutt. People are going to go to the show and be entertained. The show is NOT going to be at the King's Head, don't go to the King's Head, that's not where we will be. Poor King's Head. 

BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW!


When:

Wed July 19 10pm

Fri July 21 3:30pm

Sat July 22 9pm

Mon July 24 1:30pm

Tue July 25 9:15pm

Thu July 27 12 noon

Fri July 28 5:15pm
Sat July 29 11pm

Where:

Venue #4 The Pantages Mainstage

What:

An improv show with a duo who has worked together for over two decades. Fully improvised comedy theatre with a live DJ.

Why:

Because it's a good show and it's the longest running show at the Winnipeg Fringe.

What else?

Is there another show I should you see? Well check out this link here:

HERE IS THE LINK I JUST MENTIONED

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*thanks Dad

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.

Euro Touro 2016 Part 1

CRUMBS are back on tour in Europe. It hasn't been since 2014 that CRUMBS have been together on European soil. Pretty exciting stuff right? And to think that it was way back in the spring of 2001 that CRUMBS first hopped over the pond from Canada to Europe so if I do the math correctly and crunch the numbers... it is the 15 year anniversary of CRUMBS on a Euro Touro. Wow, time does fly by. 

Here's what the little Euro Touro looks like:

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

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

The Winnipeg Comedy Festival gets closer!

Check out the website for information about the 40+ shows featured in this year's festival.
We start featuring some FREE outreach comedy shows as we get closer to the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.

Thursday, March 17th
at the Handsome Daughter

Wednesday, March 23rd
at Jekyll & Hyde's

Thursday, March 24th
at McNally Bookstore at Grant Park Mall

Tuesday, March 29th
at the King's Head (Comedy Knights)

Wed, March 30th
at the Park Theatre (Comedy Amuse-Bouche)



Then we have the Winnipeg Comedy Festival actually start, which means that Winnipeg EXPLODES with comedy. So much comedy, so much stand-up, so much improv, so much sketch, so much funny and so many jokes.

Check out the website for information about the 40+ shows featured in this year's festival.



Some highlights?

 CRUMBS & Friends
Yes, you'll see CRUMBS with DJ Hunnicutt at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival with some very special guests.

The High School Improv Super Show
The return of this favourite show. Hand selected players from the Canadian Improv Games FINALS will be assembled into a Super Team. This show will be hosted by Caitlin Curtis and Stephen Sim.

Lost in Translation, Perdu en quoi? 
The French and English improv show all about miscommunication. A hit last year, sure to be a hit again. Get your tickets early for this one, the venue is small and the laughs are huge.

The Sketch Comedy Revue hosted by Kevin McDonald
A comedy festival must include sketch comedy. Here we have sketch comedy legend Kevin McDonald hosting this sketch comedy revue. The show will include Craig Lauzon (Royal Canadian Air Farce), Wes Borg (Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie), Hot Thespian Action, H.U.N.K.S., Stephen & Caity and Bucko.

But really... there are so many great shows to check out!


Thank you!

The Winnipeg Comedy Festival approaches

Well spring is feeling like it's here already. Is it global warming? Is it wishful thinking? Let's just enjoy the weather and smile and go to shows.

The Winnipeg Comedy Festival is almost here... well, it's here April 3rd - 10th but that seems like soon to me. I'm busy working on making sure all the festival things happen and that is no small feat. There are MANY amazing shows in the festival to announce, but there are also some shows coming up before the festival to talk about to. So many shows!

Versus Improv Show RE-MATCH
Tuesday, Mar 1st
at the King's Head Pub 9PM

This is part of the FREE comedy that happens at Comedy Knights at the King's Head at 9pm. The Versus Improv Show has two teams face off with SECRET improv challenges. Last time we had the U of M Improv group defeat the U of W Improv group. This show is the re-match. Last time we had secret challenges like "rap battle" and "write an improv poem"... who knows what secret challenges we will have this time?

Then we start featuring some FREE outreach comedy shows as we get closer to the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.

Thursday, March 17th
at the Handsome Daughter

Wednesday, March 23rd
at Jekyll & Hyde's

Thursday, March 24th
at McNally Bookstore at Grant Park Mall

Tuesday, March 29th
at the King's Head (Comedy Knights)

Wed, March 30th
at the Park Theatre (Comedy Amuse-Bouche)

Then we have the Winnipeg Comedy Festival actually start, which means that Winnipeg EXPLODES with comedy. So much comedy, so much stand-up, so much improv, so much sketch, so much funny and so many jokes.

Check out the website for information about the 40+ shows featured in this year's festival.

Some highlights?

CRUMBS & Friends
Yes, you'll see CRUMBS with DJ Hunnicutt at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival with some very special guests.

The High School Improv Super Show
The return of this favourite show. Hand selected players from the Canadian Improv Games FINALS will be assembled into a Super Team. This show will be hosted by Caitlin Curtis and Stephen Sim.

Lost in Translation, Perdu en quoi? 
The French and English improv show all about miscommunication. A hit last year, sure to be a hit again. Get your tickets early for this one, the venue is small and the laughs are huge.

The Sketch Comedy Revue hosted by Kevin McDonald
A comedy festival must include sketch comedy. Here we have sketch comedy legend Kevin McDonald hosting this sketch comedy revue. The show will include Craig Lauzon (Royal Canadian Air Farce), Wes Borg (Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie), Hot Thespian Action, H.U.N.K.S., Stephen & Caity and Bucko.
But really... there are so many great shows to check out!

The Canadian Improv Games
The FINALS for the Manitoba Regional Tournament
Were on Saturday, Feb 27th at MBCI (Jubilee Place) 7PM

The Canadian Improv Games have been produced in Winnipeg by the Manitoba Improv League since 1998 and has been sending a team to represent Manitoba at the National Tournament in Ottawa. Congratulations to KELVIN for winning the tournament and being the face of Manitoba improv for 2016!


This is the very best in High School improv from right here in Manitoba and across the country. This is why Canadians are famous for our improv!