Category: Improv

Classes, Improv

Back to Class

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By: Dina Senior, Teen Improv Instructor

A new school year is upon us.  Though I have been out of school for 16 years, I always feel an excited anticipation for the beginning of September.  I love new beginnings, and September has always felt like a fresh start for me.  This year is particularly exciting since we will be resuming our in-person classes for youth! 

This year beginning on September 7, I will be teaching the Teens classes, which are ages 13-17, and Simon will be teaching the kids ages 8-12.  We have a fun-filled semester planned for them which ends is a fun showcase/recital at the end of the semester in December. 

Why would a young person want to take an Improv class, you might ask?  There are multiple reasons why this is a positive experience for a child or teenager (or even an adult!): 

#1 – If your child is already a theatre or film actor, improv will only make them better at their craft.  Many auditions in the industry are based in improv, so it is a good skill to have in your cap.  In addition, since improv helps you think quickly on your feet, you will know exactly what to do when someone forgets or drops lines in a show (which happens more often in theatre than you’d think!) 

#2- Elementary schools and high schools are often big fans of oral presentation.  You have to stand in front of a class of your peers and talk about a subject for a certain length of time. Improv can also help with this because we do tons of presenting in front of the class, constantly! Presenting will be a breeze once you have already done it 100+ times.  This will iron out any nerves and jitters someone might have before a big presentation for school. 

#3 – Improv is a confidence booster for all ages.  It forces you a little out of your comfort zone, but in a super fun way that is full of games and adventure! 

#4 – Improv helps with creative thinking.  Therefore, it can help you be a better creative writer.

#5 – You make new friends!  Some of them will be friends for a lifetime! 

#6 – We’re going to do it right – It’s been a challenging past several months, and Improv Niagara is dedicated to ensure a safe improv experience. We’re going to be following all of the government’s guidelines with regards to indoor gatherings to make sure everyone can play in a fun and safe environment.

If all of this sounds good to you, please sign your child up for Improv classes before September 7, 2021. Our Artistic Director Brie Watson will also be starting to teach adult classes the same week, so please check out our classes section to sign up and to get more information. 

Classes, Improv

What to Expect on Your First Day of Improv Class

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A lot of people are nervous when they think about improv. The idea of being

  • a) on stage
  • b) in front of a crowd, and
  • c) completely unprepared

is the stuff of nightmares for some folks.

So it’s understandable that people might have some hesitations when they’re considering learning improv.

I’m here to guide you through your first day of improv class and to put your mind at ease because guess what? Improv isn’t supposed to be scary. It’s supposed to be FUN!

Improv Niagara just started our classes back up. Online, of course, and after DAY 1 of our Intro to Improv class, one of our students sent a follow-up message saying:

“I had a freaking BLAST! I learned some new tools today and am overly excited to continue through this journey. Thank you for opening your tool box and letting me in!” 

-Becky B

I love how Becky put this. New tools. Opening up the tool box. What a great metaphor for what actually happens as of DAY ONE of your first improv class.

1. You will learn new tools right away

Yes, one of those tools will be “Yes And.” You’ve probably heard of it.  AND you’ll find out a LOT more about how that concept can help you in improv and also in your workplace, in environments where you need to think more creatively and spontaneously, in situations when dealing with your children or your parents and honestly, literally in ANY social situation.

2.  You Will Meet People

They might even become your best friends! Improv is inherently a social art form. You need other people to play. When you’re starting from scratch, you share your experiences as a beginner with other people, with your ensemble. This often has a lasting impact.

3. You will Laugh

So much your face might hurt. Be warned. In improv, we’re re-learning what it is to play. We learn that mistakes are gifts. We learn to celebrate our failures.  Throughout it all, it turns out grown adults accepting to behave freely and playfully just happens to be hilarious. What an awesome side-effect!


Keep an eye out here on improvniagara.com – our next round of improv classes are set to begin in April 2021 and we’d love to see you take a leap!

Improv, NEWS, Shows

Q & Aaron | Meet Our Awesome New Member

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We’re happy to announce, in a time where happy announcements are few and far between, the welcoming of Aaron Boyd to our cast!

Being the new guy, I figured we could all get to know Aaron a little better. I asked the cast to put together a few questions for our new pal. Read on:

Q – Which/What archetype of “child” were you growing up? The cool, bad boy? The studious, quiet one?

This one was very specific, heading deep into Aaron’s backstory.

Aa – I was the nervous quiet kid, looking for approval, but never knowing how to get it. I was always picked last for teams, probably with good reason.

Q – What comedy movie best reflects your style of humour?

OK, now we’re getting on track. Comedy. Relevant. Here we go:

Aa – Airplane.

Honourable mentions: Shaun of the Dead, Sightseers.

Q – Do you have any interesting phobias?

OK great gang. Back to the weirdly personal stuff.

Aa – Arachibutyrophobia. (Fear of Peanut Butter) Probably due to my allergy. (Take note, fans. No Reeses for Aaron!) Also heights without safety equipment. I struggle to climb a ladder, but I have bungee jumped, enjoy air travel, and have done the CN Tower Skywalk!

Q – Can you tell us a little bit about your experience performing comedy?

Finally, the good stuff. (Although it is super good to know about the peanut butter!)

Aa – When I was a kid I wanted to be the funny one, but was too shy to go for it. As David Letterman used to say, “I wasn’t the class clown, but I wrote for him.”

After taking Drama class in High School I finally got the guts up to try some stand-up in my youth groups’s talent shows. The audience seemed to enjoy the jokes I “borrowed” from Robin Williams, but it was my Ronald Reagan impression that really killed.

At University I met a great group of guys, and after creating a sketch comedy show based on Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time”, we formed Cavalcade of Whimsy and produced several Summerworks and Fringe Festival shows.

A young Aaron backstage at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts.
Look. At. That. Hair!

We all participated in the writing, and I directed and stage managed. For the next (too many) years, I was a non-practicing comedian, with my performances limited to keeping my staff entertained during sales meetings, and the occasional karaoke night, until my friend Kate suggested we attend an Improv Niagara workshop. I caught the comedy bug once again, and look forward to playing with this awesome group of performers.

Q – Any weird piercings?

OK. This has gone too far. Thanks for reading folks. And don’t miss your chance to see Aaron in socially-distanced action at our “Laughs & Lattes” show Saturday, October 17th at the Queen Bean Café.

Birthday, Improv, Shows

Cheers to Two Years & The Best is Yet to Come!

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On this, the date that would have been Improv Fallout's 2nd Anniversary Show, rest assured there's nothing we wish we could be doing more than performing improv for you, dressed to the nines, on stage at our St. Catharines home of two years, Mahtay Café.

Instead, as I type this, I’m wearing yoga pants I haven’t warn in two years because over the past few weeks I’ve worn all my better yoga pants, and they’re now all in the wash and these are all I have left.

The point is, we can’t be on stage right now. We’ve made the responsible choice of staying home for the sake of keeping our community safe. Also, we tried to break into Mahtay this morning and Chris fought us all off with only his bare hands. It was quite a sight to behold.

Instead, we offer you this – the written word. A post from each of Improv Niagara’s performers, who are holding you in our thoughts during this time of collective uncertainty.

We miss you, but think about how ballin’ the party will be when we all get to be together again. – Brie

We’ve had some good times these past two years. Fun fact: It is Improv Fallout’s 2nd anniversary, but Improv Niagara has been going on a little longer, closer to three years.

Back when we weren’t called Improv Niagara yet, it was a very different show. I clumped together a few friends in Niagara who I knew could do improv, and Brie brought her Toronto “What If?” improv show. We packed the house at a tiny venue in Thorold called “Think Space.” It was so successful I recruited a few more people and we did a full run of monthly shows this way in the summer from June to August at Warehouse in St. Catharines.

But now here we are.

Here are a few highlights that come to my mind since last year:

  • Our intimate Q&A session with Colin Mochrie
  • Winning Fallout in January
  • Many hilarious rehearsals where I nearly pee my pants and my ribs hurt from laughing so much
  • Hosting our first big corporate teaching gig (over 250 people!)

And, I could name more! The list goes on and on!

Thanks so much for another year of great memories. As soon as we are able, we will resume our Fallout Anniversary show and we can all cheers together to another great year, and more to come!

I can’t believe it’s been 2 years. I remember auditioning and being super nervous to just throw myself into a scene. Then, after getting a taste of that live adrenaline, in front of a huge group of people, I couldn’t get enough!

We now have so many committed fans who come out every month to play and support our troupe; we’ve become a big extended family at Mahtay Café!

I am proud to be an original IN member and so thankful for our regulars and our hard working troupe. We take funny very seriously and wouldn’t be as funny without our laugh track of an audience supporting us every month.

I have been so thankful for Improv Niagara and Mahtay Cafe over the past two years. In some ways it seems as though there is no way that we have been going for two years now and in other ways it feels so natural it seems as though we have been doing this forever. Mahtay and the patrons have been so kind and giving to us; it has been a joy to be involved in Improv Fallout. It is easily the highlight of my month and am looking forward to all that is to come.

There have been so many amazing memories, but there are two that come to mind naturally. I know everyone is thinking it, but the first one is that I was the FIRST EVER IMPROV FALLOUT CHAMPION!!!! I really set the bar for the group. So even now, as an audience marvels at the talent before them, I really feel that I am in their mind as well. You’re welcome.
 
Memory number two is when my extended family from Michigan came to see our show. Parents, cousins, and aunts. They absolutely loved it. They wanted to talk to everyone after the show and even asked to come up on stage to take pictures with all of the performers. When you invite people to a show (particularly family), there can be some anxiety about whether they will like it. That never crossed my mind and apparently didn’t cross theirs either. I was proud of our group and of the fans that get so into it that it becomes a big fun party every month.
 
Thank you everyone. Whether you have been to one show or all of them. We love you. We are so thankful that we can do what we love for such kind, wonderful people. Thank you Mahtay Cafe for giving this opportunity and cheers to many more crazy Fallout Nights.

I’m definitely missing  performing for our wonderful crowds, even though I’m still wondering if they’re laughing with me or at me…

Whatever it is, it’s special and it and warms the cockles of my wee meaty heart.

Know that I’m laughing back at you and that I just scared this poor lady in line in front of me as I’m writing this.

I wasn’t with the troupe for its first year, so I had a lot of catching up to do in terms of getting warmed up to the cast and the audience.

I’m shy and guarded in the beginning so it took me a while to get there, but I remember my tipping point for letting my guard down to the audience was in an extra show back in September. The format called for each of us performing to embody a character throughout the whole set. That was my third show with Improv Niagara, so I thought it’s now or never to get as silly as I really am in rehearsal. I chose to become a pigeon man — my arms as its wings, my feet its talons. At one point in the show, I was flailing my “talons” in the air, and my “wings” went everywhere, because that’s how pigeon people fight “snakes that are coming out of the ground”. I’m thankful to the audience because after that, I never had to worry about committing to a character and looking like a fool on stage.

Wow, two years! I’ve been so incredibly lucky to witness the birth and experience the growth of this Niagara-based improv troupe.

I remember humble beginnings, auditioning in a small after-school classroom in Fonthill to now, monthly sold out shows in St. Catharines’ Mahtay Café.

I remember attending each show with, beverage in hand and a busy month in the rear view mirror. Then, months later, being a part of the show and looking forward to every second of stage time.

I remember rehearsing and discussing technique, referring to improv masters such as Colin Mochrie. Then, weeks later having the opportunity to discuss technique with Colin Mochrie!

I have two years of amazing memories with Improv Niagara and am looking forward to many many more!

Thanks to our improv team and organizers and all of you amazing audience members. I can confidently say; cheers to two years and the best is yet to come! 

Being part of the IN ensemble for this past year has been so wonderful – it’s given me the chance to play with some incredible folks and laugh a ton alongside them.

Following university improv, I wasn’t sure what my future in performance looked like, but when the IN members welcomed me whole-heartedly into the group, I was at ease because I knew I would be able to perform with super-talented people who were also so so kind.

I’m so thankful to call this cast my friends, and am so looking forward to performing even more silly scenes with these pals!

Who would have thought we’d be here? Two years ago, when Improv Niagara started, the idea of getting to perform every single month was such a dream to me, and one that I never thought I’d see.

Now, not only do I get to perform improv on stage in front of an audience all the tram, but I get to it all with a group of people who never fail to make me smile.

My time in Improv Niagara has given me confidence in myself as well as allowing me to put my confidence in a team that I know will always have my back.

In February 2018, I was living in a basement in Merritton, raising my sweet little child, working as a breakfast server and going about the simplicity of life. My child was about 2.5 years old and for a while, I’d been craving to put myself back out there, get some acting work, feed the creative soul, etc.

I wasn’t entirely convinced when I first saw a post for an improv audition if improv comedy was something I wanted to dip my toes in; not because I wasn’t interested, but because I wasn’t sure I’d be any good. It frightened me. I had some training, but it just seemed like the most bizarre thing that an improv group was being formed here- in Niagara!

It definitely peaked my curiosity. I read more and discovered that actually, these people were the real deal; trained professionals and instructors from Second City, experience at Bad Dog, studied at Humber. Could this be? That I wouldn’t have to drive to Toronto to take classes? That I wouldn’t have to spend gas money and arrange child care to just play and have fun with some local comedians?

I arranged to audition. When I got there, the vibe was so inviting, so friendly, and just felt cool.

Over the next few weeks I kept attending some rehearsals and making new friends, until eventually it became very clear that our group was forming not just a solid improv troupe, but a really strong family!

Improv Niagara turned into more that I could have possibly imagined and entered my life at the most opportune time. We love performing our monthly show at Mahtay, and we love seeing all of our fans and audience members old and new. We will continue to get up on the stage and infuse you with buckets of laughs.

Thank you for the support!

Two years have gone by so quickly. I guess the saying ‘time flies when you’re having fun,’ holds true. I look forward to every show. 

As a full time artist, it brings me joy to see the Niagara community fully support Improv Niagara and our creative endeavours. 
 
Whether through attending shows regularly, sharing our content, or opening up new opportunities for us to share laughter with your business, family or team members – it’s a gratifying experience. 
 
I look forward to seeing what our third, fourth and fifth seasons of Fallout will bring. 

Hello everyone!

I can’t believe it’s already been two years! From being invited to an Improv Niagara workshop, which then lead to an audition, and then lights up – stage performances! What a remarkable little journey this has been for me so far.

We’ve rehearsed in our very own space, which we called home for a while! We also practiced in basements. We performed improv in the park, and also in
some groovy Toronto locations. Birthday celebrations, and also shows in the street. (Yes, I mean the actual street.) It’s clear there’s nowhere this group won’t go to perform, and no venue too big or too small.

I’ve been lucky enough this past couple years to say I’m a part of it.

Thank you to everyone who has come out to our shows! You are the reason we do this. We do our best to bring some fun and entertainment your way. So thank, you thank, you thank you.

Adios!

Thank you, Niagara. Please stay safe.

Improv, Longform, Shows

Isn’t Armando a Person?

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This Saturday, in addition to hosting an Improv Jam for everyone in Niagara’s improv community to come play, the cast of Improv Niagara will be performing a well-known longform format called “Armando” (named after Armando Diaz, NYC improviser and founder of the Magnet Theatre.) 

We asked Mickie Krish to tell us how he feels about Armando:

Over the past year I was asked if I wanted to participate in an “Armando”. At first I thought, “Isn’t Armando a person? How do you participate in a person?" Secondly, “Isn’t that the name Will Ferrell says in Elf? Armando, Armando... Francisco. Nope it isn’t that name.” Thirdly, “I desperately want to be liked and to have attention, so whatever it is, the answer is; “YES!” Of course, I played it cool and agreed. “Yeah, uh... If I could fit it into my schedule...” One of the best decisions I have made!

As I have had the opportunity to perform Improv, the Armando style has been the form that appeals to me most. A brief summary is that the performers will get a suggestion word from the audience. One of the performers then comes forward and tells a true story about their life that the suggested word brings to their mind. Then the rest of the performers move forward and improvise scenes that the story brings to their mind.

This style allows for so much creativity and fun. You truly get to see a little bit of how the performers' minds work based on what they create from the given material.

The other reason I love this form is that, my experience shows that a lot of improv is finding the first person willing to step out with an idea and then the rest of the performers are in many ways scrapping their idea to fully commit to what has been presented. In an Armando, we see multiple scenes of where the suggested story takes people. So you can see multiple people's creativity on full display. And ALL OF THIS, comes from a one word suggestion!

As we have performed the Armando style, I have been more and more impressed with the performers from Improv Niagara. The creativity and level of skill that is demonstrated in being able to go from one idea to the next and the various ways that the performers are able to go to create a hilarious scene from a one word suggestion is remarkable! I am so thankful to be performing with this group and so excited for you to come experience this creativity before your eyes.
Mickie Krish
Improv Niagara Cast Member

Don’t miss Improv Niagara’s Improv Jam Night + Armando, Saturday January 18th 2020 at Mahtay Café & Lounge, beginning at 8pm.

Improv Niagara's cast outside their home of Mahtay Café in downtown St. Catharines
Events, Improv, Shows

A FREE Improv Niagara Show for a Good Cause

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Christmas time is finally here! And, I have always found that giving is way more fun than receiving. Improv Niagara truly wouldn’t be what it is today without the many people who come to see the shows every month, and for that we are truly grateful. I can honestly say that without you, there would be no show (I mean, we do have great fun at rehearsals, but there is nothing like a laughing crowd of people!) 

This year, we are doing two “After-Christmas Specials.” Our first is “Improv Fallout” on Friday evening – the show you’ve come to know and love, but with a festive twist! The second show, Saturday evening, will be our first ever “Audience Appreciation” show!  This means, if you come to see Improv Fallout on Friday night, you will get the second Saturday show for FREE! (Pfffft…and they say that nothing in life is free!) 

If you are unable to attend the Friday Fallout show, that’s OK! Just bring a canned good or non-perishable food item and you will be admitted into our Holiday Improv Gathering.  All of the goods received will be donated to Community Care – St. Catharines & Thorold. 

It feels good to give back to the community that has supported us for nearly two years now! 

Happy Holidays from Dina and all the other improvisors at Improv Niagara! We hope to see you at the show. Maybe you can bring your out-of-town family too?

– DINA SENIOR
Co-Founder of Improv Niagara

Improv Niagara at the District School Board of Niagara's Professional Development Day
Events, Improv, Workshops

IMPROV IN EDUCATION: Using Improv to Help Teachers

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Evie Jones recounts her recent experience representing Improv Niagara at DSBN’s Fall Professional Development Day. Teachers, take note!

Many years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a soft, kind, talented man by the name of Jack Wieler. Jack is an actor in St. Catharines, and during my youth, my mother was making lots of independent theatre in our town. She would often bring me to rehearsals and I would get to watch from the distance, with my young, fresh, impressionable child’s mind. One of her colleagues was Jack. They would put on shows together at the old NAC- you know when it was on Bond Street before our friends from Liberty Bikes arrived on the scene. It was through these in-and-out rehearsal halls that I would come to formulate my dreams, by watching people with talent, dedication and a love for the Arts. 

Jack is now the Secondary Consultant for the Arts in Education programs with the District School Board of Niagara. He helps to generate social momentum surrounding arts and culture in our city and within our educational system. He works with high school students and educators.

Much of what we do with Improv Niagara- other than performing our monthly “Improv Fallout” each month at Mahtay- and building a lively,  fun and interactive comedy presence in Niagara- is outreach to the community. We reach out to groups such as seniors, youth groups, people struggling with anxiety- etc. We do this because improv offers wide variety of activities and games that help relieve stress, build self-confidence, and support team building!  

It only made sense to have an afternoon coffee with Mr. Weiler to discuss how Improv Niagara could bring our skills, knowledge and expertise to our local high school teachers. 

Each year the District School Board of Niagara hosts a few Professional Development Days. Their purpose is to facilitate new and innovative ways of teaching for educators to bring into their classrooms and help guide their students through their learning journeys. Myself and Brie, Head Instructor and Owner of Improv Niagara had the pleasure of being able to offer what we do in a workshop setting. Teachers participated in games, discussed some improv theory and focused on some basic themes that cover how improv supports learning. 

It was an awesome experience for all. We learned so much! We learned that high school students struggle with self-confidence and that can sometimes make or break their openness to a learning environment. It can prevent their cognitive processes and hinder them from getting a full experience of a lesson. We showed teachers how improv can relieve some those issues. Improv is designed to generate “messing up.” It is designed to allow participants to “let go” and have fun. Once those two goals are accomplished, the sky’s the limit! 

It was a great opportunity for me to reconnect with Jack. He has inspired me over the years, and now I got to bring something that I am practicing in my own artistic life to the table. Brie and I had a fantastic experience holding such a unique, important workshop. Repping IMPROV NIAGARA in the community is a great feeling, and we hope to keep connecting with Educators and students alike. Let’s keep up that social momentum surrounding arts in St. Catharines and beyond!

– Genevieve (Evie) Jones
Actor, Director, Playwright
Cast Member at Improv Niagara

Improv, Shows, Sketch Comedy

Variety Comedy Show

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Improv Niagara recently held a Variety Comedy Show in St. Catharines. We wanted to challenge our comedic abilities and present a show completely different from the improv shows we normally perform. Our newest member Pat shared the following about his experience branching out into the word of musical comedy:

I’ve been a super fan of Improv Niagara since their very first show at Mahtay Café. I’ve attended improv shows in Chicago, New York City and Toronto. And I love shows like ‘Whose Line is it Anyway?’ It became very clear to me how quick, versatile and in-tune one had to be to ‘play’ in the big leagues.

I wanted to play in the big leagues.

I was lucky enough to study improv at The Second City Training Centre in Toronto, but driving two hours around the lake was becoming less and less of an option for me. Along came Improv Niagara; led by amazing improv and theatre professionals, they’ve added to the heartbeat of downtown St. Catharines. I watched as they found their rhythm, grew their skills and packed the house!

I wanted to get involved. Just over a year after seeing their first show, I was finally in a place where I could participate in my first show with Improv Niagara. And it wasn’t even Improv! It was a Variety Comedy Show!

Watching the gang perform improv over the year, I thought I knew what they were capable of. But gee golly, was I wrong! Every single person left their comfort zone at the door and took a chance doing something spectacular! Collectively, we had acts ranging from stand-up to sketch comedy and even interpretive dance!

I chose to combine my love of music and a few accents and performed a Christmas song I used to hear when I “lived above a hostel.”

It was a great and eye opening night, one of many I’m looking forward to sharing with my new peers at Improv Niagara. 

Patrick Gagliardi, Improv Niagara’s Newest Cast Member

Don’t miss Pat in our upcoming Holiday Edition of Improv Fallout, actually performing improv this time, on Friday December 27th 2019 at 8pm.

An imagine of Improv Niagara's Mickie and Tino posing with the guest of honour Mickey in a frame that says "Mickey's Roadshow".
Birthday, Events, Improv

Mickey’s Surprise Birthday Party

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One of the many ways Improv Niagara brings humour and joy to the Niagara Region is by performing at special events. Recently, IN was asked to participate in a Surprise 70th birthday Party in Port Colborne, Ontario. Take a look at what our cast member Mickie Krish had to say about the event:

What a wonderful party! Improv Niagara players, Tino Notarianni and I had the pleasure of sharing in a surprise birthday party for Mickey Mayne. It was a fantastic opportunity to use improv as a way to celebrate and honour a lovely woman.

Mickey is has been a fan of the “Antique Roadshow” television program for years. Her family decided that it would be fun to surprise her with an Antique Roadshow-themed party! Guests were invited to bring any items that they would like to have appraised. Tino and I came dressed in bowties and improvised histories and details about what made each item uniquely special and the price these beloved possessions would fetch from motivated buyers. Some of these “heirlooms” included, an old doll, a rotary telephone, a straight razor, and even some “dinosaur dung”. The audience enjoyed hearing what made each piece so special, while also seeing their family and friends present and become part of these histories.

Everyone had a fantastic time and we were so pleased that we could bring a bit of joy to such a lovely woman. Improv is a wonderful tool that allows people to come together and create.

– Mickie Krish

If you’re looking for a fun and unique way to bring joy to someone important in your life’s special event, say “Yes And!” to Improv Niagara!