Niagara's Home for Improv Comedy
May 24 @ 6:21 pm
It’s time! Finally. Celebrate the holidays! Enjoy friends, drinks and live comedy. And rejoice. Spend time with your pals at Improv Niagara!
So, come on out! Have fun. It’s the “Improv Fallout End of Year Bash!”
Don’t miss out.
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-fttmk-1353910
Heather Eyman is a fitness coach and improviser among many other things and in this episode, we see the path Heather took to narrow down on what’s important when there isn’t enough time to do everything and when you’re the kind of person who enjoys the abundance of what life has to offer.
We also ask her advice on how to fix Nick’s darn back! Find out what kind of tips she offers Nick, and all of us when it comes to making deposits into your body bank. (That’ll make more sense when you listen!)
Your Creative Tips
Health and Wellness, Fitness, Improv, Time Management
MORE HEATHER EYMAN:
Brie’s Updates:
Nick’s Updates:
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
#StruggleOn
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-4jsj8-1302243
Our first episode in over four months! Why the break? Well you’ll just have to listen to the episode and find out. HA! Masters of the tease.
But really, it’s a doozy of an episode where Brie & Nick dig deep into some real talk about physical and mental health, motivation, relocation and the whole thing gets a little vulnerable.
It’s not all struggle though. There’s life. There’s travel. There’s a mandatory Maron reference!
Take a listen & let us know if it resonates with your journey.
Your Key Creative Tips
Comedy, Writing, Improv, Stand-Up, Performing, Pain Management, Depression and Anxiety, Goals.
Brie’s Update:
Don’t miss the remount of End with a Kiss, this December in Hamilton!
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
#StruggleOn
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-5ywbi-121430e
All wordplay aside, this is a delightful and informative episode featuring Genevieve (Evie) Jones, playwright, actor, director and mom of Daphne. Evie’s located in the Niagara Region, and chats with Nick and Brie about starting out her artistic career in Niagara, spreading her wings beyond the peninsula and her parents, and the reason for her epic return.
Evie provides us with some deep insight into how the pandemic has been helpful to herself and many artists in finding focus, and the now existing struggle to maintain that focus as the world opens back up.
Writers will appreciate learning more about the process of writing and producing live plays in Canada and the evolution of the artist in motherhood.
Your Key Creative Tips:
Writing, Playwriting, Parenting, Theatre, Acting, Directing, Performing Arts in Niagara and Halifax.
Nick’s Update:
Brie’s Update:
RESOURCES:
More from Evie Jones
Website: https://genevievejoneswrites.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/EvieJones11
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
#StruggleOn
We recently welcomed our newest improv performer Heather Eyman to the cast, and since she’ll be performing with us, we thought it best to do a big of digging (eg, we straight up asked her a bunch of questions) to get to know her a bit better.
Q: Heather, what’s your favourite thing about Niagara?
A: I love being outdoors, so my favourite thing about Niagara is how many awesome places there are to find to go hiking, canoeing and on other outdoor adventures. I’ve lived here pretty much my whole life, and I still discover places I didn’t know existed!
Q: Is there a specific person in your real life that you emulate on stage?
A: I think I take little interesting elements and influence from lots of people in my life.
What drew you to fitness?
(For clarity’s sake, Heather is also a fitness instructor at Fit Collective, so if you were wondering what that had to do with improv, now you’re caught up!)
A: I’ve always loved sports and fitness! I have so much energy to burn off every day that I get grumpy if I don’t move. My passion is helping others find excitement in exercise and movement.
Q: Favourite comedy of all time?
Hot Fuzz & The Blues Brothers
Q: Who were your favourite funny people growing up?
A: Jim Carrey. Every Whose Line cast member. Robin Williams.
Q: Where did your need to do improv come from?
A: Life’s too serious most of the time. We need to have more fun and laugh more. Improv makes people happy, and I like being a part of that.
Q: Are you thinking of branching out to other acting outlets?
A: I wouldn’t say no if other opportunities came my way!
Q: Do you have a default character your body does naturally on stage?
A: My big, inner tough guy likes to appear on stage. That, and the character that moves erratically for no particular reason.
Q: Since before you tried improv and now that you’ve performed with Improv Niagara, have you noticed any difference in how you observe it?
A: On stage, particular moments can feel like an eternity, but from the audience’s perspective it was just a brief second or pause. I’m trying to get more comfortable with silence and pauses.
Q: What was one thing about improv you didn’t know until you trained or performed?
I’ve learned so much! Listen to your scene partners; pay attention to the little details; there’s humour in the most mundane things; explore the scene – it’s not a race!
Q: Who would win in a fight: Pink Panther or Scooby Doo. And why?
I’m embarrassed to admit how much time I actually spent thinking about this question. Based on size and stature, I’m gonna have to give this one to Scoob if he’s able to land a few shots right off the bat and use his size and strength to his advantage. Pink Panther’s pretty lean and probably has better endurance than Scooby (too many Scooby Snacks), so Pink Panther could stand a chance if he can dodge Scooby’s shots and tire him out.
Q: If you were stuck on a desert island, what 3 objects would you HAVE to bring with you?
A: Presuming I already have access to shelter, water, and food:
Q: Favourite ice cream flavour?
A: Chocolate peanut butter.
Q: Favourite pizza topping?
A: Pepperoni. Oh man, that’s so boring. I promise, I’m not boring!
Q: Any secret, unusual talents?
A: I can make my eyes move in opposite directions.
Q: Favourite James Bond movie?
I only VERY recently watched my first James Bond movie (Don’t come at me.) I think I’d say the newest one! What the hell was it called lol?
Q: Toilet paper roll: over or under
Is this even a question? Over. Always.
Heather Eyman everybody. Don’t miss your chance to catch Heather performing live with Improv Niagara! Stay tuned for all upcoming shows! (What’s a zune?)
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-dkzh8-10f1a98
Chances are if you’ve performed comedy in Toronto, you’re likely one degree of separation from this episode’s guest; Gary
Rideout Jr., owner of Toronto’s famous Comedy Bar & Director of Business Development at The Second City in Toronto. This episode dives into Gary’s timeline as a budding comedian-turned-business owner and tracks the many successes he’s had along the way, the struggles that come with taking risks and putting yourself out there, as well as some truly great lessons learned along the way.
With the recent tease on social media announcing the opening of a second Comedy Bar location, on the Danforth, we’re thrilled to get to chat with Gary about his journey in Toronto comedy and his excitement for all that’s to come.
This is an episode for comedians and for fans of comedy. You’ll see what it takes to create a space for an entire community of comedy artists; how to foster that community and the heights where it can lead.
KEY CREATIVE TIPS:
Comedy, Writing, Performance, Touring, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Accessibility.
Nick’s Update:
Editing again, and prepping for NaNoWriMo
Brie’s Update:
Niagara Falls Night of Art, Improv Fallout back at Mahtay Café, Writing Accountability Partner
RESOURCES
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
#StruggleOn
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-b32jz-1075a0c
In this episode, Nick and Brie celebrate the end of the school year with improviser, producer, and Kindergarten teacher Kirk McCullough. Kirk came into the Toronto improv community as one of the most organized show producers on the scene. One half of the improv duo Cadley Brooper, Kirk produces Duo Derby, one of the only live shows to seemingly seamlessly transition to an ideal online improv experience. Having studied at The Second City and now a member of the Assembly, Kirk is bringing positive, supportive and joyful vibes to the community, both online and off.
When it comes to splitting focus between teaching kids and improvising with grown-ups, balance is required, and we learn some of the challenges Kirk has faced along the way when it comes to making sure he’s putting his energy in the right places.
Teacher by day, performer by night. This episode answers the ultimate question: “HOW DOES SHE DO IT?”
Key Creative Tips:
Live / Online Comedy Show Producing, Improv, Teaching, Teaching Online, Finding Balance, Going with the Flow, LGBTQ Pride.
Nick’s Update: No writing. Spending time with Kids.
Brie’s Update: New Second City class on Hosting. Having enough students signed up to hold classes.
RESOURCES:
More from PATRICK & RYAN
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
#StruggleOn
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.
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.
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
