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

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.

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!

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

Well, the Fringe is over...

Another Winnipeg Fringe Festival has come and gone. The crowds have dispersed and the laughter has faded. Now it is time to sleep.

Thank you to all that showed up at the CRUMBS show at the King's Head. Some really really funny shows happened!



Thank you to all the audiences and all the special guests at the Big Stupid Improv Show Fringe edition at the MTYP. Another great run of improv jam shows happened!



Thank you to all that showed up at "What Could Go Wrong?" at the Fringe. This was a risk and "out of the comfort zone" that was written by a couple of improvisers (Stephen Sim and Caitlin Curtis) and was a delight to get on stage. 



Thank you to everyone who went to see "Revenge of the Meek" a show I helped make happen. It was written by Andrew Lizotte and was a religious comedy. 





What's next?

The Winnipeg IF... Improv Festival Sept 29th to Oct 3rd! The festival line-up will be announced very soon and then tickets will go onsale!

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

CRUMBS gets ready for FRINGE 2014

 CRUMBS

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!

Wed, July 16 10:45 PM

Thu, July 17 10:45 PM

Fri, July 18 7:00 PM

Sat, July 19 10:45 PM

Sun, July 20 10:45 PM

Mon, July 21 7:00 PM

Tue, July 22 10:45 PM

Wed, July 23 10:45 PM

Thu, July 24 10:45 PM

Fri, July 25 9:00 PM

Sat, July 26 10:45 PM

Every night at Venue #14 The King's Head Pub

CRUMBS is an improv duo based out of Winnipeg. Stephen Sim and Lee White formed the company in 1997 and have since toured the world. CRUMBS stripped down long form improv show of comedy meets theatre meets comedy again has gone on to become the toast of the international improvised theatre scene. CRUMBS performs a fully improvised story and their cinematic style is further enhanced by the improvised musical soundtrack provided by Dj Hunnicutt. The show has convinced more that a few people that improv can be theatre, that theatre can be hilarious, that comedy can be touching and that you can make up a show right in front of an audience and have it be good.

CRUMBS has performed in every Fringe festival in Winnipeg since their first show in 1998 and therefore has the record for the most Winnipeg Fringe Festival shows produced and performed by the same company. We've crunched the numbers for you:

Number of Fringe Seasons in a row = this will be 17

Number of Fringe shows in Winnipeg = this will be 141

Number of musicians we've worked with = 5

Number of countries we've performed in = 16

Number of stars our show is worth = 69 (accumulative)

Number of venues we've Fringed at in Winnipeg = 6

Number of Improv shows at this Fringe Festival = 15

Number of Improv shows at CRUMBS first Fringe = 3

Number of planes CRUMBS has flown on = 147

Number of World Tours = 20

CRUMBS has toured internationally, headlining festivals, winning improv tournaments and teaching improv masterclasses. CRUMBS been lucky enough to tour their show all over the world, and have been lucky enough to perform with many of the great improv companies around the world and been smart enough to steal everyone's good ideas and bring them right back to Winnipeg every year for the Fringe.

Be sure the check out the BIG STUPID IMPROV SHOW at the MTYP during the FRINGE.

BUY YOUR BIG STUPID TICKETS ONLINE HERE!

The Big Stupid Improv Show

Venue #21 MTYP 2 Forks Market Road

Thu,    July 17    3:15 PM

Fri,     July 18   10:45 PM

Sun,    July 20    1:45 PM

Mon,   July 21   5:00 PM

Wed,   July 23    7:00 PM

Thu,    July 24    8:30 PM

Sat,     July 26       NooN!

Sun,    July 27    7:45 PM

And just so you know, we have some pretty amazing guests lined up for you as well as some surprise improv formats too!

Expect to see:

CRUMBS, Outside Joke, DnD Improv, Fraz Wiest, Caitlin Curtis, Rumble Pak, Parking Lots, Peter & Chris (Toronto/Vancouver), Chris Gibbs (Toronto), Ryan Gladstone (Vancouver), DK Rheimer (LA)... and even more. 

Thank you for taking the time to actually read the very last thing written on this post.