WORKSHOPS

BIG ‘N’ BOLD CHARACTERS: FULL OF FLAVOUR with Gordie Lucius
Date: Thursday October 12, 5:00-7:30 PM at Jim Green House
GORDIE LUCIUS (Edmonton)
Gordie Lucius is an award-winning creator, comedian, and writer and most recently has become the co-creator/host of the totally wild and out-there comedic natural history series Frick, I Love Nature which you can totally watch on CBC Gem. Other than being a cheeky lil nature host, Gordie was a finalist of the National Screen Institute’s 2020 Totally Television Program and is a recent alumnus of the Corus Writer’s Apprenticeship program where he had the pleasure to work on CBC’s Run The Burbs. When he’s not writing, hosting, or making props out of old tennis ball containers he can be found performing improvised comedy with Rapid Fire Theatre, where he has been a senior member for over 13 years.
EVERY SCENE A PAINTING with Nick Gillette
Date: Sunday October 15, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM at Jim Green House
Nick Gillette (he/him) is a physical theatre artist and improviser. Co-founder emeritus of Almanac Dance Circus Theatre. Graduate of the Pig Iron School for Advanced Performance Training, 2014 New York Live Arts Fresh Tracks resident artist, and 2016 Colgate University Christian A. Johnson resident artist, 2021 FringeArts Audience Choice Award winner for Comedy/Improv. With Almanac, he has devised and performed dozens of critically acclaimed nu-circus works. Co-creator of improvised absurdist plays with The Wadsworth Constant. Had performed with Cabaret Red Light, BRAT Productions, Lighting Rod Special, Pig Iron Theatre Co., Alex Bechtel, International Contemporary Dance Festival of Mexico City, and Vancouver International Improv Festival’s International Ensemble. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and children.


FINDING YOURSELF ON STAGE with Shannon Stott
Date: Saturday October 14, 3:30-6 PM at Jim Green House
SHANNON STOTT (Austin) Shannon Stott is the Creator and Director of Improv | On and Off the Stage, an Improv Production Company, producing shows and content helping people connect to themselves and others through Improv. She teaches Improv for Design at the University of Texas and has been performing internationally for over 20 years. Shannon considers Improv a practice, a way to become aware of self. She encourages you to continue this practice in your theaters, workplaces, homes, relationships and lives.
FIRST BEATS: GROUNDED DUO SCENES with Dana Puddicombe
Date: Tuesday October 10, 7:00-9:30 PM at Jim Green House
Dana Puddicombe (she/her) is an Actor, Writer and Performance Coach from Roaches Line, NL. She has been a professional actor for over twenty years, with television credits including The Accused, Son of a Critch, The Handmaid's Tale, Baroness Von Sketch and Republic of Doyle. Dana co-wrote/ produced/ starred and played drums in the digital series Band Ladies and is the voice of Darcy the Driller on Thomas and Friends: All Engines Go!


GOT YOUR BACK with Kelly Turner
Date: Sunday October 15, 4:00-6:30 PM at Jim Green House
KELLY TURNER Kelly is an Edmonton based comedian who has been performing improv since 2009. She is a senior ensemble member of Rapid Fire Theatre, and a cast member of Die! Nasty, Edmonton’s improvised soap opera. Through Improv and sketch comedy Kelly has been delighted to perform in the several Edmonton Fringe Festivals, Next Fest, Grindstone Comedy Festival, the Toronto Sketch Fest, and the Minneapolis Black and Funny Improv Festival.
IMPROV FOR ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS - PAY WHAT YOU WISH with Kristen Schier
Date: Friday October 13, 5:00-7:30 PM at Jim Green House
KRISTEN SCHIER Kristen Schier (she/her) is an actor, improviser, teacher, and clown. She has extensive improv teaching, directing, and performing experience. She holds a BFA in Theater Arts from the University of the Arts where she also taught Acting for Non-Majors, Improvisation for the Actor, and first-year Acting Studio. She has toured all over the country teaching and performing at various festivals such as the Seattle Festival of Improvised Theater, Chicago Improv Festival, Vancouver Improv Festival, Boom Chicago Comedy Festival in Amsterdam, and more. Kristen is the former Co-Artistic Director of Curious Comedy in Portland Oregon and former Improv Producer at the Philly Improv Theater. She has studied improv at Second City, Magnet Theater, and Annoyance. Kristen has also studied Physical Theater, clown, extensively with Pig Iron Theater company and Movement Theater Studio.


IMPROV FOR WELLNESS with Dan Dumsha
Discover how improvisation can serve as a powerful vehicle for improving mental health, reducing stress, and enhancing overall well-being. Explore the myriad ways in which the principles of improvisation can be applied to your daily life. Dan's dedication to the queer community and his work in creating safe spaces will be evident throughout the workshop. Participants will experience firsthand how improv can foster a sense of belonging, acceptance, and empowerment for everyone.
Whether you're an experienced improviser or stepping onto the improv stage for the first time, this workshop is designed for participants of all levels. Dan's warm and supportive teaching style ensures that everyone can benefit from the experience.
Date: Sunday October 15, 7:00-9:30 PM at Jim Green House
DAN DUMSHA (Vancouver) Dan Dumsha is a prominent figure in the world of improvisational theater, known for his passion for creating safe and nurturing spaces for individuals from all walks of life to express themselves freely through the power of improv. As the President of the Queer Improv Society of Vancouver, Dan has dedicated his career to using improv as a tool for empowerment and self-discovery. His extensive experience in the field and commitment to inclusivity make him the perfect instructor for this transformative workshop. Dan has performed with Queerprov for 15 years, and has studied with UBC and Annoyance in New York City, founding the Dirty Little Secrets Improv show. Dan was a mainstage performer at Vancouver TheatreSports for 7 years before co-founding Tightrope Theatre to advance the artform of improvisation.
IMPROVISING SHAKESPEARE with Brent Hirose
Date: Sunday October 15, 7:00-9:30 PM at Tightrope Theatre
Brent Hirose is an actor, director, writer, voice over artist and improviser based out of Vancouver B.C. He served as the co-artistic director of Instant Theatre from 2016-2019, and is currently a company member and instructor with Tightrope Impro Theatre, a founding member of Fistful of Kicks and the current artistic director of the Spontaneous Shakespeare Company. He has performed improv all over Canada, and has participated in the Seattle Improv Festival, the Stumptown Improv festival in Portland and the Festival of Improvised Plays at the Hideout in Austin, Texas.


LGBTQ+PROV with Syd Campbell
Date: Wednesday October 11, 7:00-9:30 PM at Jim Green House
SYD CAMPBELL Syd Campbell (they/them) is a queer comedian working as an improviser, stand-up, sketch writer/performer, director, and instructor. They’re an alum of Rapid Fire Theatre where they improvised as a member of the senior ensemble, as well as taught through Rapid Fire’s outreach program, and the Citadel’s Foote Theatre School. Syd now teaches sketch and improv with Blind Tiger Comedy and Tightrope Theatre. They are a current cast member of various improv troupes including Treat Show Comedy, Tightrope Theatre, and Queerprov. Syd writes and performs sketch comedy with their troupe Gender? I Hardly Know Them, just finishing up both a national tour, and the filming of the first season of the Gender? I Hardly Know Them webseries this past year.
THE QUEER AND NOW with Mariah Mercedes Munōz and Roland Mechanick
Date: Saturday October 14, 1:00-3:30 PM at Jim Green House
Mariah Mercedes Muñoz (she/her) is a Portland-based artist, performer, producer, and teacher at Kickstand Comedy. She joins us with over a decade of experience on stage and teaching. Mariah creates an empowering space for growth all while fostering a safe, trusting environment for her students. She is a member of the improv group Queer Ye Queer Ye. A queer improv group born out of the Kickstand Community. Improvisational Theatre has been a through-line of her life and career. Mariah is a Lead Facilitator at On Your Feet, a creative consultancy that uses improv to help businesses achieve better results. Just ask and Mariah can point you towards the top 3 burgers you should be eating in Portland right now.
Roland Mechanik (he/him) is an improviser, standup, and teacher currently residing in Portland, OR. He graduated with a theater degree from the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU and studied at the Upright Citizens Brigade before moving to Portland and joining up with Kickstand Comedy. He’s been teaching improv (levels 1-4) at Kickstand for almost 5 years and loves seeing all the new talent in Portland. He’s performed at the Stumptown Improv Festival as part of their local ensemble and with Papa? at the Vancouver Improv Festival. In addition to improv, Roland has performed stand up at Comedy in the Park, Curious Comedy, Helium, as well as many other places around town. He’s proud to have been the first trans masc improviser in Portland (as far as he knows)!


STARTING STRONG with Michael Haycock
Date: Sunday October 15, 1:00-3:30 PM at Jim Green House
Michael Haycock is the Artistic Director of the Upfront Theater in Bellingham WA and the Co-founder of the Wasatch Improv Festival. He frequently tours with his improv duo Murder Fairy and Arson Leprechaun.
THE SLACKER WITH BRANDED SILK'S SAUCE with Aaron Laroche and Jeffrey Kitt
Date: Saturday October 14, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM at Jim Green House
BRANDED SILK (New York City) Branded Silk is a trio based out of NYC. They started their journey at UCB when they formed to participate in their annual three on three tournament. From there they have performed all over New York City including having their own monthly show currently at The Brooklyn Comedy Collective! They have also toured doing various improv festivals across the country. Using the slacker form they explore and create worlds lampooning the realities and the absurdities of being black in the world, but when it's not that it's just plain ole ' dumb improv. Branded Silk consists of Aaron Laroche, Onyi Okoli, and Jeffrey Kitt. Some of their credits include Full Frontal With Samantha Bee, FBI Most Wanted, and Astronomy Club on Comedy Central.

FOR ALL WORKSHOPS
All workshops are mask-optional. Please respect the choice to wear a mask.
If you are feeling sick or test positive for COVID-19, please do not attend in-person workshops or shows. Questions? info @ vancouverimprovfest.com
Workshops open to improvisors aged 19+. All participants will be required to sign our Anti-Harassment Policy prior to the workshop. Please note, we will not be able to offer refunds for workshops.
If finances are a barrier to your participation in a workshop, please email info @ vancouverimprovfest.com.