Tag: whose line is it anyway?

The cast of Improv Niagara on stage at Mahtay Café, posing with Colin Mochrie.
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In Conversation with Colin Mochrie

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What do you say when you get that chance to meet one of your role models? Well, it turns out quite a bit! Last week, the crew from Improv Niagara got to have a private sit-down talk with Colin Mochrie, on our home turf of Mahtay Café, for over an hour!

We talked about everything Improv: What are his favourite games? (“Greatest Hits” with Ryan were always memorable ones for him.) What was it like to audition for Whose Line is it Anyway? (He got turned down the first time he auditioned for the British version of the show, believe it or not!)

We also got to learn a lot about his new show “Hyprov,” where he performs with professional hypnotist Asad Mecci. In this show, Mecci brings people on stage and hypnotizes them, removing all their fears and self-doubt, then proceeds to get them to improvise scenes with Colin. Most of the IN team also got to see the show later on in the evening and we were all thoroughly entertained. We're so thankful Colin took the time to meet with us! Maybe someday we will all get to meet again... maybe even on stage!
Dina Senior
Co-Founder, 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.