CRUMBS does SHOWS!

Holy Sh*T folks!

CRUMBS is Soooooooooo damn excited for some upcoming shows. We simply must tell you all over again about them.


#1
Our good friends The National Theatre of the World (known as NTOW) are traveling from the comforts of Toronto to the icy wonderland of Winnipeg to do some shows at the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre (knows as WJT). They will be performing Jan 25th - 29th. They do a show called Impromptu Splendor that has them improvising a show in a theatrical style, and they are great. They are so great that they have invited CRUMBS to perform with them on Thursday, Jan 26th, the show will be in the style of HAROLD PINTER and it will be great. So great in fact, that you should go see the show.

#2
While our good friends NTOW are in Winnipeg, we decided to also put on a special midnight show of NTOW + CRUMBS for everyone to see. We are doing the show on Friday, Jan 27th at the ECC (which is at 75 Albert Street). The show will only be $5 (which is way way too cheap) but the show will be starting at MIDNIGHT SHARP (latecomers will be charged $10, which is still soooo cheap). Get there early folks, early!

#3
CRUMBS continues to do our regular shows at the King's Head Pub as part of the ongoing and super awesome FREE LAUGHS comedy shows. The first show will Tuesday, Feb 7th at 9pm and Tuesday, Feb 21st at 9pm. These shows are always a good time and always free and always a double good time.

#4
CRUMBS doesn't only do strange guest shows and free shows, oh no, we also do shows at REAL theatres for ACTUAL MONEY! We will be putting on our annual Berlin or Bust improv show at the Gas Station Arts Centre on Saturday, Feb 18th at 8pm. The tickets will be only $10 and advance tickets will be on sale at our regular CRUMBS shows (see above postings). This show is the fundraiser show we put on every year before we head off on our European Tour! Come on down and support us by laughing at us (we would love that).

#5
CRUMBS continues to bring you live radio every single Monday at 5pm CST on 101.5 UMFM. We also broadcast and podcast on the Internet as well (because the future is NOW!). We have been doing this show at UMFM for almost a decade and we would love your ears tuned in.

#6
CRUMBS then tours Europe for months. Look for our European Tour schedule on our official European Website and then stalk us all across the Old Country.

What? You want links to help you out?

The Winnipeg Jewish Theatre

Map to the King's Head Pub

Map to the ECC (where the midnight show is on Friday)





See y'all at the shows folks

The iF... Improv Festival is almost here

So, because the improv festival is almost here in Winnipeg, and because I am so excited about it, I will tell you a bit about it.

First of all, the official iF... Improv Festival site is here.

Secondly, what festival is a festival without special out of town guests. So here we go.

Fraz Weist:
He has improvised all over and he has broken hearts in all of those places. Why has he broken hearts? Because he never stays in one city long. He has performed in PROJECTproject, Ghost Jail Theatre, The General Fools and the Big Stupid Improv Show.
Check out the IMP of Fraz

Bob Banks:
He is a former Winnipegger who moved to Toronto and now is coming home. He moved to Toronto to follow his improv dreams and instantly started working with the Impatients, PROJECTproject, Big in Japan and PB&J.
Check out the IMP of Bob Banks

Sean Tabares:
This Toronto improviser is a core member of PROJECTproject and has worked with practically every improv group in Toronto. He has also created an improv show inspired by the pending zombie invasion called "Turned". He will be here to premiere this show in Winnipeg, we are lucky to have this... but beware.
Check out a video featuring of Sean Tabares

Mike Robertson:
Mike is an improviser and filmmaker. He has been working with with Rapid Fire theatre for years. Rapid Fire Theatre is a legendary Canadian improv company which has been producing improv shows for longer than most people have even heard of improv. He has also been making films with the Production company Highwire Films.
Check out the Highwire Films Youtube channel

Other people in the Festival?

Stephen Sim (the Artistic Director and member of CRUMBS)

Lee White (member of CRUMBS)

RobYn Slade (member of Outside Joke)

What shows are people going to check out?
Well, all of them right... but let me sell you on a couple.

The Thursday show is the cult classic D&D the improv show. This show is gonna be stuffed full of audience members dressed like wizards and goblins. If you don't have a chain mail shirt to wear, don't worry, the show will bring you into their world.

The Friday show is going to be a gourmet show of improv. We are going to get the ingredients from the audience and then prepare a full meal of funny and drama. It will be like going to a fancy restaurant and watching Iron Chef all at the same time.

The Saturday show will have a live improvised movie and a live zombie show! What? How does somebody do a live improvised movie... wait, did you say zombies? Yes folks, there is a way to do a live improvised movie and all the way from Toronto we are presenting the Winnipeg premiere of "Turned" the zombie themed improv show.

So, I think you can agree that coming to these shows will be necessary.

CRUMBS still does shows

So CRUMBS is still fresh from their 12th year anniversary, and we would love to thank all the well wishers and fans that showed up and laughed their asses off at the Gas Station Theatre on Nov 14th (the lost and found is full of asses, to collect your ass please show up in person!)

Just because we have turned 12 doesn't mean we are going to stop, hells no! We have shows shows shows coming up up up.

1) CRUMBS tonight (nov 17th) at the King's Head Pub 9pm and free

2) CRUMBS performing with PB&J at the Exchange Community Church (corner of McDermott and Albert) on Thursday Nov 19th (the early show)

3) Stand-up show at the Standard on Sherbrook on Thursday Nov 19th (the late show)

4) Shitz N Gigglez the Stand-up show at the King's Head Pub on Tues Nov 24th as part of the ongoing Free Laughs Comedy Series

5) CRUMBS at Degrees on the U of M campus on Thursday Nov 26th

CRUMBS to be in Toronto

Yes, CRUMBS is being flown into Toronto for the big 1 year Comedy Bar celebration. This is quite an honour

1- to perform at Comedy Bar now already a legendary venue (legendary after only 1 year? Yes!)

2- to perform with Projectproject while in Toronto

3- to perform with Tim Meadows of Saturday Night Live Fame

4- to perform at Catch 23

5- to perhaps perform with Ghost Jail Theatre but at least see the show

6- to perhaps perform at the Bad Dog Theatre but at least see the show

7- to perhaps perform with The Second City but at least see the show (for free)

8- but yes mostly to help party at the Comedy Bar and with all of our Toronto friends

improv vs writing

Thousands of people (maybe even more) have fought on both sides of this war. There are no winners and no real victim. You see, writing is improv.

There is a show that runs weekly in Toronto called Ghost Jail that does an improv/writing form. They are quite cool.

I first ran into this type of format through Becky Johnson while we were doing some improv in Toronto years back. She then did a version in Winnipeg while she was doing the Fringe with Kevy G. We then produced our own version at the Winnipeg Improv Festival in 2005 and in 2008.

The way it generally works (with variations of course) is the audience gives a suggestion. A couple of improvisers are sitting with pens and paper. The rest of the improvisers on stage start improvising scenes. Whenever an improviser has finished a bit of writing they take the stage and read their piece. The "writer" then joins the acting cast and one of the "actors" becomes a "writer". The written piece then inspires some more scenes. And so on and so on and so on...

Here is one of the improvised writing pieces that was produced:

(stethoscope was the suggestion)

stethoscope
periscope
telescope
microscope

losing hope
using soap
smoking dope
at the end of our rope

it's frayed at the end
around the bend
around the corner
over the rainbow
under the table
over the counter
over the shoulder
under my skin

take a sample

put it on a slide ... microscope

reach for the stars ... telescope

from under the sea ... periscope

to the beating of my heart ... stethoscope

CRUMBS at Catch23 TOW 2008

Well well

Fun times again had in Toronto with all the great people at Catch23. TOW means Tournament of Wonders and this week has been full of as much wonder as a Triceracorn could offer.

Their website is here to understand the ins and outs of this improv format.

An article written about it is here.

We showed up at their first ever TOW in 2005 and we walked away with the severed head of a unicorn after battling it out with team Calgary, team Vancouver and many more foes.

Fast forward to now and we have again reclaimed what was always ours... the stuffed head of a unicorn mounted to cardboard. That and the World Champion status.

Thank you to all the greatness of Catch 23 for making us who we are.

Two more shows to check out:

Sunday night at Clinton's (8pm) Ghost Jail Theatre

&

Monday night at Clinton's (9pm) Catch 23 Audience Appreciation Show! (...free)







photo credits: keithbarker@hotmail.com
all shows performed at The Theatre Centre at 1087 Queen St W
all shows as part of the 2008 Tournament of Wonders

Crumbs in Catch 23

Well, CRUMBs have been having some fun in Toronto yet again. And after a couple nights of playing some make'em up skits we are moving on to the FINALS. It turns out that The General Fools and the Calgary team threw the match so we could move on (we got the pity spot) so now it is time to up our game for the FINALS (like i said).

The finals are held on Saturday night at 1087 Queen St W

CRUMBS will also be having fun on Sunday night at Clinton's for the Ghost Jail show. And then the next night (which is Monday for all you people "lost in the week") we will be returning to the Clinton's for the audience appreciation show at Clinton's (this means the show is free).

This is our last little kicks at the can here in Toronto before we go rocketing across the Atlantic. We then start right into our European tour by performing in the Berlin International Improv Festival.

keep on keepin' on,