urban_improv

A Taste of Our Chivana show

2008-09-11T01:24:00.000-07:00

Diana is now writing for The Hour on CBC in Toronto, so here's a little tribute to a scene that at the time she hated.
The improv suggestions were the Sun Run marathon and Persian rug.

Sun Run part 1

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Sun Run part 2

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Sun Run part 3

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Cat Film #2

2008-01-09T22:37:00.000-08:00

Cat Film #1

2008-01-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

Canadian Money A Primer for Americans

2008-01-08T02:04:00.000-08:00

Urban Improv 10th Anniversary

2007-12-15T18:24:00.000-08:00

Well that was a nice surprise having Ryan Stiles drop by to join his pal Colin Mochrie in helping us celebrate Urban Improv's 10th year and raise money for The Children's Wish Foundation. http://www.childrenswish.ca/

The last project I worked on with Colin and Ryan was the 1980s CBC variety show Downtown Saturday Night starring Pat Bullard. This went much much better.

Thanks to everyone who did the show and came to it. A great time was had all around.

Ian

Drew & His Canadian Comedy Award

2007-11-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Night of the Living Dub

2007-10-16T01:16:00.000-07:00

Join us for an Evening of Live Undead Comedy

The night will feature…

A Live Dubbing of the film Night of the Living Dead by Urban Improv and Canadian Content

The Horror Comedy of Gerald Gerald Geraldson

Zombie Burlesque by Screaming Chicken’s Connie Lingus and Melody Mangler

Tuesday Oct 23rd 9pm
Pacific Cinémathèque
200 -1131 Howe St

Tickets are $10 at door.

Holy Crap Drew won!

2007-10-12T17:43:00.000-07:00

Drew McCreadie has just won the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Improvisor. He was so suprised most of his speech was stunned swearing. That type of thinking of his feet is what won Drew the award for most bestest improvititian in the country.

Well done!

It's an Honor just to be Honored

2007-10-10T11:05:00.000-07:00

Canadian Content and it's Earth 2 counterpart Urban Improv are headed to London Ontario for the Canadian Comedy Awards.
Along with the awards themselves we've got three shows we'll be appearing in both Sketch Madness and Improv Insanity Thursday and the Wild West show Friday. All the lines ups for each are great. http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/ has info on all the shows. If you're in that neck of the woods please say hi.

Canadian Content & Mr. Show

2007-09-23T22:37:00.000-07:00

now THAT was a fun show! 2 sold out audiences. awesome performances by Bucket, Sunday Service and Cody Rivers. and of course, the joy of working with Bob Odenkirk & David Cross. the night couldn't have gotten any better if David Cross had have squeezed his nut sack out of his pants on stage.

and then he did.

A Sketch Mr. Show that you'll have a Bucket of laughs at and cry a Cody Rivers if you miss and... no that's it.

2007-09-17T17:07:00.001-07:00

Canadian Content are going to be part of SKETCH with Bob Odenkirk & David Cross from 'Mr. Show' at The Global Vancouver Comedy Festival Saturday September 22.

Yeah that would be pressure enough but...

Local duo Bucket and The Cody Rivers Show (from the US of God Damn A) will also be performing. Now we actually have to rehearse and be good and stuff.

Have we got new material? Well how does a porno from 1917 sound? Not too good? Well screw you! It'll be funny. Maybe. I don't even know anymore.

There are 2 shows: 8pm & 10:30.

You can buy tickets at ticketmaster.com and enjoy a service charge that will make you go "no seriously?" or take your chances at the box office of the Cultch.

We hope you come, should be a good time.

check out www.comedyfest.com for more info or go to www.canadiancontentsketch.ca

Canadian Comedy Awards!

2007-07-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

Great news! The nominations were announced on July 25th for the 2007 Canadian Comedy Awards and we did well! There are only 5 nominees in each category and here's how we did:

Best Male Improviser - Drew McCreadie, Ian Boothby
Best Female Improviser - Diana Frances, Ellie Harvie
Best Improv Group - Urban Improv
Best Sketch Group - Canadian Content

YAY FOR US!!!!

For a full list of nominees go to www.canadiancomedyawards.ca

Other West Coast nominees include Taz Vanrassel, Penelope Corrin, Erica Sigurdson, Peter Kelamis and Graham Clark

Will Sasso likes to play with us!

2007-07-24T22:59:00.000-07:00

Last Monday special celebrity guest Will Sasso came down to improvise with us. The show was sold out in advance and the room was packed!

Both halves of the show rocked ass. Eric, Shaun, Jazz and Sean Pratt did a great first half and Nathan, Diana, Drew, Chris, Toby, Roman and Gary Jones rounded out the second half.

Gary Jones took his shirt off and was mercilessly ridiculed. That was the only thing I remember from the show, other than the overall excellence.

Sasso says he MIGHT be back next week for the second half. And don't forget, Canadian Content is taping their sketch comedy set for a CD recording, so don't miss out!

Canadian Content Live Recording

2007-07-17T00:14:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

On Monday July 30th, Canadian Conent (the sketch bastard step-child of Urban Improv) will be recording a live show for a future album.

C'mon down and get your cackle on compact disc! The recording will take place in the first half of the Urban Improv show and the second half will be the usual improv jamorama featuring the Canadian Content folks plus special guests.

Here's the details:

Canadian Content live CD taping!
Monday July 30, 2007
Chivana Restaurant & Lounge
2340 W4th Ave (across from the Safeway @ Vine)
Showtime: 9pm
Tickets: 7 bucks at the door

2007-07-10T04:52:00.000-07:00

Pluggin' Comics

Just a quick hardsell on three comics I've written coming out in September. The Treehouse one has a story by me and my wife Pia Guerra (co-creator and artist of Y The Last Man), Thomas Lennon (Reno 911), Patton Oswalt and Brian Bosehn (The Comedians of Comedy). Should be fun.

-Ian

2007-07-08T19:49:00.001-07:00

WORKSHOPS - THREAT OR MENACE?

Patton Oswalt (Comedians of Comedy, Ratatouille) offers this advice on his blog to people who ask how to be a comedian…

“The answer is very simple. It's so simple, that no one can ever accept that it's the ONLY WAY. But rest assured, the lucky few who understand how simple it is, and go and do this simple thing, ALWAYS succeed:Go onstage a lot. Go onstage as much as you can. Don't read books on comedy. Don't take comedy classes. Don't ask anyone how you should write material, or what they think of your material. Develop on your own.Go onstage. A lot. Every night. If there isn't an open mike in your town, start one. And then go onstage. A lot. That's it.”

When I was starting in improv comedy if you wanted to do it professionally you were told to take workshops. Not just one day drop ins to learn to basics but level one, level two, level three, master classes, intensive classes and on and on. It was mandatory. There was always a new workshop and it was always hundreds of dollars. The tease was this would get you stage time for the real show on weekends in front of an actual audience. But like a drunk girl wanting you to buy her drinks at the Roxy while it increased your chances of getting what you wanted the odds were still slim.

Those who can do and those who can’t teach is the old saying but with comedy those who can still often don’t make as much money as they need to pay the rent and workshops are a way to get some extra cash. Companies like Theatresports, Second City, UCB and the Groundlings do good business with workshops.

Comedy isn’t comfortable. You’re going to fail more that you succeed and it’s understandable for people to want a safe place to start off. Comedy workshops are good for letting you know the basics. In improv, things like saying yes, moving action forward and theatre tricks like voice projection and how to cheat your body so everyone on stage isn’t standing in a line talking. In stand up it can be good for exposing you to different styles of comedy and basic microphone technique. But the most important thing a workshop can give you is practice performing. It’s also a good place to meet people who are just starting off like you. For myself meeting Randy Schooley, Christine Lippa and Dean Haglund made it easier to keep going when things got rough (and if you’re trying to do something new it’ll get rough).

But like Patton says it’s all about practice. Get on stage as much as you can anywhere you can. Workshops are much less important than any time in front of an audience and if you find yourself taking a class that tells you not to perform any other shows while doing it, then put down the Kool Aid and walk out the door. Don’t worry about ruining your chances to perform at a venue because you didn’t take the classes. You get good enough and either they’ll hire you anyway or you won’t need them and will find your own path.

-Ian

Canadian Content Movie

2007-03-19T03:53:00.000-07:00

What? Who said anything about a movie? Where are you getting this from? Stop spreading rumours.

If anyone knows where we can get a horse really cheap please let us know...

SF Sketchfest 2007

2007-01-31T02:09:00.000-08:00

Canadian Content (Ian Boothby Toby Berner, Drew McCreadie and Chris Casillan) opens for the Bruce McCulloch at the San Francisco Sketchfest 2007.

Whoah!

2007-01-23T02:47:00.000-08:00

Chicago SketchFest 2007

2007-01-22T13:12:00.000-08:00

Hello Chicago,

Canadian Content (the bastard-son spawned by Urban Improv) is back in Chi-town in 2007 with a hilarious mix of video and sketch comedy.

Urban Improv has a new home!

2007-01-22T13:10:00.000-08:00

Hey Peeps,
We've moved to: Chivana Restaurant & Lounge
2340 West 4th Ave, Vancouver
Tel: 604-733-0330

Come join us for hilarious improv comedy every Monday at 9:00pm.

7 bucks! So cheap! Bring a pal!

See you there!

Happy To Have Done the Fringe

2006-09-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

What a great run! Almost all of our shows almost all sold-out almost! Canadian Content had a great run, with large crowds and lots of laughs. Lots of great reviews, or reviews worded in such a way as we can edit them to make them sound great! And now it is on to the Canwest Comedy Fest. ONE SHOW ONLY! September 22 at 7:00pm at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre! Tickets available at the door or through ticketmaster! It is a BEST OF show, so you will be seeing some of the BEST OF Canadian Content.
Come and see. It will make you happy you did.

Fringe 2006 - last show pic

2006-09-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

Our Sunday 11:15pm time slot did not hold back the Canadian Content faithful. They braved the downpour of rain to catch the hilarity, one last time at Vancouver's 2006 Fringe Festival

How Badass is Chris Casillan?

2006-09-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

How Badass is Chris Casillan?

We were rehearsing our Fringe show when a large hornet flew into the room.
Chris punched it.

Badass!

2006-09-08T19:30:00.000-07:00

Not only is Canadian Content in the Vancouver CanWest ComedyFest (starring many familiar faces like Ian Boothby, Drew McCreadie, Diana Frances, Penelope Corrin, Nathan Clark, Chris Casillan and Toby Berner) but Urban Improv's Monday Night show has been included as a MUST SEE show in the festival as well.
Sept.18, 2006 at 9pm, a special Urban Improv show will be held down at The Well (corner of Yew and Cornwall) with Shaun Majumder as a special guest. Tickets are still only $7. Should be a good night to come. Lots of people, lots of hot sexy people, and lots of comedy.

See you there!

Which show is which?

2006-08-31T23:30:00.000-07:00

People are asking what's the difference between our Canadian Content Fringe show and the Can West Comedy Fest one? The Fringe is an all new show Canadian Mounties Vs. Atomic Invaders with things like the bottom image.

The Can West show is the Best Of Canadian Content with material from our previous Fringe show and the set we did at the Chicago Improv Festival. And there's some new material in there as well. Also we have the musical genius of Geoff Berner opening for us(will the feud between the battling Berner brothers finally end that night?) The top image is from the Best Of show.

So you see the real difference is in one Chris is a dictator and in the other apparently he's a cat or something. I don't know I never pay attention to scenes I'm not in.

Ian

Canadian Mounties Vs Atomic Invaders collector picture #12

2006-08-31T17:08:00.000-07:00

One Week Until Fringe!

2006-08-31T17:06:00.000-07:00

It's one week until we open Canadian Content presents: Canadian Mounties Vs. Atomic Invaders. As for what the show is going to contain, all I can tell you at this point is I'm buying 99 red balloons today, we spent last week filming ourselves jumping out of trees in black masks, Anne Frank might finally get her revenge and I'm building a Megatron outfit.

If that's not enough to get you into the theatre well then we're very different people.

Blunt-O-Gram

2006-08-14T03:49:00.000-07:00

A Canadian Content sketch from the upcoming Canadian Mounties Vs. Atomic Invaders show at the Vancouver Fringe Festival. http://www.vancouverfringe.com/

On Notice...

2006-08-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

If You Missed Tonight's show at the Urban Well...

2006-07-04T01:15:00.000-07:00

You missed the return of Drew McCreadie. The superhero debut of Backwards Girl and Circus Boy, Anal Santa, a randomly amorous Zeus in the form of an eagle, a shrink ray gone wrong, a spelling bee trying to promote diversity and the longest apology we’ve ever done for the contents of a show.

Hey! Look what I found!

2006-06-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

Found a bunch of pics on the web of Ellie, Roman and I performing with Martin Short at the Orpheum as part of the 2005 Vancouver International Comedy Fest.

Shortly after this pic was taken, Ed Grimley dry humped Ellie on the stage. Too bad they didn't get a shot of that.

Canadian Content will be appearing at the Vancouver Fringe Festival

2006-06-16T00:06:00.000-07:00

I don't think this image has much to do with our show.

At least I hope it doesn't.

No offense.

I'm sure this image works for a lot of different fetishes.

Ian Boothby becomes Mr. Ian Boothby

2006-06-05T17:57:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well. Isn't this grown up? Mr. Ian Boothby is now married. Here are some U.I. regulars at the 40's themed wedding party. Diana Frances (in pink), Joanne (Drew's super-hot date), Drew (Joanne's super-super-hot date), Urban Well regular John J. Murphy, and of course Harrison Ford (in the Toby Berner costume).
Fun was had by all. Congrats to the happy couple!

Penelope and Matt Damon's brother, Todd.

2006-05-19T12:41:00.000-07:00

Urban Improv loves Knuckle Sandwich

2006-05-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

2006-05-02T18:52:00.000-07:00

Drew, Ian, Toby, Chris and their biggest fan in Chicago.

Pic courtesy of the hot, sexy, hilariously fun women of Knuckle Sandwhich, a New York improv group

Canadian Content in Chicago

2006-05-01T00:10:00.000-07:00

This is everyone post show, pre-wrap party drunken stupour.

L-R is Chris Casillan, Penelope Corrin, Ian Boothby, Toby Berner, Nathan Clark, Drew McCreadie and Diana Frances

Proof Urban Improv was in Chicago!

2006-05-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

The Chicago Deep Dish Pizza is a surefire way to be sure you won't shit yourself with nerves before your big show at the Chicago Improv Festival. That's ALOT of cheese.

Our Canadian Content sketch comedy show kicked ass and took a long list of names. Our improv opening act were adorable kids call Child's Play and they all looked a bit like Taz 10 years ago.

I'm sure Drew, Chris and Ian will have more embarassing photos to post so stay tuned. I may put a few more up myself.

Thanks to all who bought 50/50 tickets and helped sell them. Due to the fact that the hotel was 8 miles away from the theatre, we racked up alot of cab bills so we'll be fundraising for a few more weeks. And deep dish pizza ain't cheap either.

Old Man Drew says 'Get off my lawn and into the Urban Well!

2006-04-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

This Monday the 24th we're BACK!

Give Me A Beat!

2006-04-21T00:45:00.000-07:00

The Uranus show was a lot of fun. We had to do the show with the pounding stripper music from above which gave all the acts a strong pounding back beat.
To see us without the beat come to the Urban Well this Monday!

WEDNESDAY!!!

2006-04-17T15:13:00.000-07:00

The fundraiser is WEDNESDAY the 19th. NOT Thursday as listed in the post below.

And just because it's fun...here's another picture of Drew in an embarassing costume.

Send Drew and his Semi-Racist Horse to Chicago

2006-04-15T14:50:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder of the Chicago Fundraiser this WEDNESDAY at Uranus.

This post said Thursday for a while. But that was wrong. Very wrong.

Get Outta Town fundraiser

2006-04-12T00:31:00.000-07:00

HELP SEND OUR 'CANADIAN CONTENT' TROUPE TO THE UNITED STATES!
Fundraiser to send Canadian Content & Instant Theatre to the Chicago
Improv Festival (April 24-30th)

Wednesday April 19 @ 8pm:
Uranus Lounge (Broadway & Kingsway...in the lounge downstairs without the strippers)
Tickets: 10$ advance @ wink (153 e 8th) or $12 at the door

Join us for a great night of sketch comedy (Canadian Content)
and improv comedy (Instant Theatre)
plus special guests and strippers upstairs for later!

Canadian Content is: Toby Berner, Ian Boothby, Chris Casillan, Penelope Corrin,
Nathan Clark, Diana Frances & Drew McCreadie

Instant Theatre is: Taz Vanrassel, Alistair Cook and Ryan Beal

Chicago Reviewer Helper

2006-04-12T00:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Chicago Improv festival reviewers,

We at Urban Improv realize that during the festival your time is stretched to the limit. With this in mind we have provided a review of our April 29th show below for you to use. To be fair and to not compromise your integrity we have supplied both a positive and negative review. Feel free to use the one you see fit.

Sincerely,

Urban Improv presents Canadian Content

Good Review

The discovery of fire, the invention of penicillin, man landing on the moon, all good in their own ways but now Urban Improv presents Canadian Content puts them squarely in the back seat strapped in their child safety harnesses. As a critic I try to avoid hyperbole but this show is the reason theatre was invented. Off the top, I couldn’t believe how many free cars they gave away. But this just set the stage for what was to be the greatest night of my life.

Diana Frances opened with a sketch about a doctor’s office, similar to the ones Mike Nichols and Elaine May performed in the 1960s. But in the course of the scene she ad-libbed a cure for all known diseases. Ian Boothby built on this offer and in doing so ended the sketch with a joke so good it restored the sight of a row of blind audience members.

Nathan Clark’s impression of a video game addicted lawyer made an audience member laugh so hard that she spit out her false teeth. Penelope Corrin’s song about a Monkey Prime Minister made the same audience member laugh so hard she grew a new set of adult teeth and her supposedly permanently damaged spine repaired itself. She may have come to the theatre in a wheelchair but she was dancing all night long.

The pressure was now on Toby Berner, Chris Casillian and Drew McCreadie to wrap the show up with a sketch that would top everything we’d seen. Adding to the strain was the fact that Drew was appearing by live video feed while doing charity work overseas. But their sketch, “A Jew, a Buddhist and a Catholic Walk into a Bar” was not only hilarious but logically and definitively explained who is the one true God. As word of the sketch spread, all the religions of the world breathed a sigh both of surprise and relief and have vowed to put all religious difference aside and form the one true church. Not bad for a sketch that was mostly fart jokes.

They say one person can’t change the world but let me tell you, one comedy troupe truly did. Every show is a little different they promise so don’t expect the show I’ve described here but take my advice and see “Urban Improv Presents Canadian Content”. I’m going to take a week off now to weep with joy.

Bad Review

“Urban Improv Presents Canadian Content” is a swift kick in the unfunny nuts.
Starting three hours late because cast member Nathan Clark wanted to take a nap after a night of drinking, we were told the exits were locked and there would be no bathroom breaks. We were then cruelly shown a film montage of waterfalls, sprinklers and children standing waist deep in warm swimming pools.

Ian Boothby provided audience warm up by flirting with every woman over 80 years old in the audience. Soon we realized he had nothing to do with the show and a police officer escorted him from the theatre.

When the first sketch finally started, “9/11 at the 7-11” I couldn’t decide if this tasteless exercise was more racist, sexist, homophobic or misanthropic. I couldn’t decide because it was performed entirely in French by Penelope Corrin, Diana Frances and Chris Casillian, none of whom apparently speak French.

Toby Berner and Drew McCreadie took the stage for a skit about how annoying people with cell phones are at the movies. A fine premise but when an actual cell phone went off in the audience Toby in a fit of rage pulled out a knife and leapt into the audience stabbing wildly. Drew decided to cover for this awkward moment by setting the theatre on fire and telling everyone to run for their live. Sadly he forgot that the exits were locked.

I write this from a hospital bed at the St. Paul’s hospital burn ward. My doctor says that by writing about the experience I’m making the first step in my recovery and increasing my odds that the nightmares where the show replays in my head will soon stop, at least during my waking hours. I’ll never forget Urban Improv Presents Canadian Content. If I can just warn one person about this show then all my third degree burns and permanent psychological damage will have meaning.

Loonie Lundi

2006-03-24T02:02:00.000-08:00

Until April 10th Urban Improv is presenting Loonie Lundi Mondays at Chivana on West 4th.
It's only a dollar. Yep a buck. One loon. That's all. Full show. 2 hours. One dollar. 50 cents an hour. The best improv talent in the city.

Why so cheap? Well, we could either spend a lot of money on advertising to tell everyone about our temp home until we're back at the Urban Well April 17th or we could just pass the savings onto you, the audience.

You can do the old, "Hey pals, I'll pay for the show if you buy the first round of drinks". Then you pay their $1 admission and get free drink after free drink until you get alcohol poisoning. *

Mondays 9pm Chivana 2340 west 4th

* The BC Liquor Board, Chivana, Urban Well, Urban Improv, and anyone with half a brain advise that you drink responsibly.

Blackout Broadcast

2006-03-14T04:36:00.000-08:00

We’ve done some dark material in our shows before but tonight at Chivana looked like it was going to be our darkest show ever thanks to a power outage. But good on Chivana for staying open when all the other scaredy cat businesses closed their doors.
We ended up doing a show for Becky’s stagette and what we lacked in crowd size we made up for with some great audience members.
What did they end up seeing? Well, in a Wreck Beach scene Drew’s enormous penis got carried away by the ocean’s undertow, we went to an all clown dimension, we saw what happens when all you put in your wedding registry is a 72 inch Plasma TV and you get dozens of them, we saw a one armed Safeway sale announcer try to get revenge, and we learned why when you make a wish on towel genie you should always be very very clear.

Foster Home Temporarily Adopts Improv Group

2006-03-11T18:32:00.000-08:00

Until our return to the Well on April 17th you'll be able to find Urban Improv at Chivana 2340 West 4th at 9pm on Mondays. Same time, same folks, same show.

It's like a road trip. Except it's just a couple of blocks away. But still, road rules apply. We're away from home and what happens on the road stays on the road. See you there!

We'll be back April 17th!

2006-03-07T01:04:00.000-08:00

the urban well will be closed for the next 5 weeks, but we'll be back on monday april 17th.

we had a GREAT audience tonight...

but then they got drunk

McGowan's all grown up!

2006-03-07T01:00:00.000-08:00

not only was it the last show for several weeks, it was mcgowan's bday and he turned 28. and did the improv to prove it.

2nd half of last show for 5 weeks

2006-03-07T00:52:00.000-08:00

clockwise from top left:
dave mcgowan, ian boothby, toby berner, nathan clark, taz vanrassel, diana frances and chris casillan

WWJD?

2006-03-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

On tonight’s show we learned WWJD (Who Would Jesus Date). Had an intervention for the Holy Spirit to talk about his drinking problem. Met a police officer with a tendency to blame all murders on Teen Wolf. Had a man explain why he was wearing lingerie in the sun run. A French teacher tried to make a difference in a child’s life. The Grad 2000 class went on a party binge that never ended. And we saw a lot of children’s dolls meet horrible car accident endings in the dubbing of the 1960s safety film “A Seatbelt For Suzie”.

We're off for a few weeks while the Urban Well does renovations. We'll be back April 17th! It'll be big. Very big. There might be cake.

Or not. I can't really promise anything.

Michael Robinson remembers...

2006-02-24T18:34:00.000-08:00

In a debate we're having at www.comedycouch.com/forum in the improv section under New Theatresports Show, Michael Robinson brought up a horrible Urban Improv show he saw once. Here's how he remembers it...

(Drew) endowed (Ian) as a giant piece of poo and then spent 10 minutes shitting you out. Everytime you tried to speak he jammed more poo in your mouth, then he inexplicably became a cross between a scottish pirate and Pearce's fat man character, chanted in latin, and peed himself.

Sometimes It's Good Just to Watch

2006-02-24T17:38:00.000-08:00

Having played almost every Monday night at the Urban Well for the past umpteen years, it was good to take a night off and just watch the show. I missed the first half, unfortunately, as I heard it great. But I did catch the second half, and it was fantastic. This really is some of the best improv you will ever see. It's consistantly funny week after week after week. But if you are reading this, you already know.

2006-02-21T01:47:00.001-08:00

Can you see the difference?

2006-02-21T01:47:00.000-08:00

Sad Clowns and the Mirrors

2006-02-21T00:51:00.000-08:00

If you missed tonight's show... well maybe you didn't it was pretty full.

Anyway...

There was a film about how children can turn into clowns when things go wrong. We saw what happens when Burger King and Dairy Queen have a child. We saw the perils of using X-Ray glasses. We saw what happens when your ex girlfriend runs a speed dating night. We saw a hitchhiking banana escaping from a very disturbing past. There was a haunting version of the James Blunt "You're Beautiful" song by Nathan and Chris followed by a hip hop performace by the Neo Nazi group the Heimlich Maneuver. Also we learned what it means to be on the recieving end of Randy's "Pimp and Leave".

2006-02-19T22:07:00.000-08:00

This is a word cloud based on everything posted on this blog. Is it as cool as one of those black clouds that tries to kill people on Lost? No. No it's not. But it's odd and late on a Sunday, that's what matters.
http://www.snapshirts.com makes them up.

Last Monday...

2006-02-18T14:51:00.000-08:00

...the second half got way better looking with the addition of Allen Morrison making his debut with the seasoned haggered looking pros.

AND he was funny.

fucker.

Canadian Content going to Oprahland

2006-02-16T06:53:00.000-08:00

Canadian Content (Urban Improv's sketch spin-off) has been accepted for the Chicago Improv Festival. Will we still offend south of the border? Only time will tell.

We Pity the Fool...

2006-02-07T03:30:00.000-08:00

We pity the fool who didn't see Roman Danylo's many Mr. T scenes tonight at the Urban Well.

Yep, Urban Improv, staying on the cutting edge of comedy...

of the year 1983.

If you missed our show tonight...

2006-01-31T00:10:00.000-08:00

You missed seeing what Oliver Twist would be like if it starred a monkey.
A live dubbing of the 1950's film "What to Do On A Date" (let's just say it involved a double entendre regarding pudding).
An A+B Sound manager learned the true meaning of trust.
A wake for someone who might not be dead.
We learn the many rules for getting into heaven including no toe fungus, no murderers and no fatties.
And Vancouver police spokesperson Anne Drennan has a run in with some very amorous TV boom microphones.

Motivational Poster of the Day

2006-01-30T02:59:00.000-08:00

Well Hung Comedy

2006-01-24T01:22:00.000-08:00

If you missed tonight's show at the Well.
You missed our tribute to Roman Danylo's recent eye surgery.
Learning why not buying the right mattress at Sleep Country can give you testicular cancer.
Seeing a man use time travel to have sex with Louis Riel.
Curious George joining a drum circle to fight the war in Iraq.
Penelope Corrin making a very funny radio jingle which I can't really remember now but damn it, it was funny.
Us going on for about 20 minutes longer that we should have.
And some sort of angry scenes about the new Conservative government.

Vote and Laugh

2006-01-22T21:45:00.000-08:00

After voting why not come by the Urban Well at 9pm for a few laughs. If the folks who look like they're going to win are going to win, then we'll all need them.

Ian

Talk About Vancouver Comedy

2006-01-22T21:42:00.000-08:00

http://www.comedycouch.com/forum/

There's a new forum for talking about Vancouver comedy. This is the link. If you click on it you will be hypertexed there as if by internet elves.

Attention Cheapskates and Comedy Lovers! Free Canadian Content!

2006-01-13T03:19:00.000-08:00

Urban Improv's sketch comedy half brother Canadian Content is doing a comedy showcase this Tuesday along with many other of Vancouver's top sketch comedy groups. Okay, maybe if you Google most of their names nothing comes up but still, I'm sure they're good.
And it's free.
Not that that alone means you should go. Gum on the street is free but you shouldn't chew it.
Why should you go?
Because your taxes pay for the CBC. CBC is holding this showcase. When the CBC offers you something for free it's like getting some of your money back. Like a tax refund.

Here's the info...

ZeD/CBC Television Comedy Showcase
Tuesday, January 17th, 2006
Doors Open at 7pm, Show at 8pm, Free Admission
The Media Club
695 Cambie Street
Vancouver, B.C.

I actually just cut and pasted that info from Assaulted Fish's web site. Those guys have their shit together waaaaaaaaaay more than us. I'm sure they'll be funnier too.

Bastards.

God Likes Us!

2006-01-07T01:07:00.000-08:00

Ethics in Improv

2006-01-06T03:21:00.000-08:00

Somebody please explain this to me...because maybe i'm Johnny Retarded, but I just don't get it.

How can an organization like Theatre Sports tell their players that they are not allowed to take gigs from anyone who charges less than them, yet pay their players LESS THAN EVERYONE ELSE!!!

If i have this information wrong and this is NOT a policy of theirs, please enlighten me.

I eagerly await being bitch slapped with knowledge.

Diana

First improv of the new year...

2006-01-02T23:53:00.000-08:00

Aaaaahhhhhh.....after 37 shows of A Twisted Christmas Carol at The Arts Club Theatre, I'm happy as hell to be out of wigs and bonnets and back on the Urban Improv stage. I think I can say the same for Drew. Though he still enjoys wearing bonnets.

Tonight had a great audience and the show was smashingly fun and confusing. I apparently need to see The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe to keep up with Pearce's newest character, the phylydimide goat man from Narnia.

Here's to another great year of improv at The Well.

Cheers,

Diana

Hit Or Miss part 2

2005-12-31T20:08:00.000-08:00

Jerry Wasserman www.vancouverplays.com and I were recently debating if improv shows were always hit or miss. He feels they are, I have disagreed. I recently sent him this letter.

Dear Mr. Wasserman

In a recent performance of the semi-improvised show A Twisted Christmas Carol a giant sized puppet head came loose and fell towards John Murphy, who was playing Scrooge. It could have hit him but John moved in time and it missed him.

So to be fair, I have to change my stance. In some cases an improv show can be hit or miss.

Sincerely,

Ian Boothby
www.urbanimprov.ca

The Times Why Aren't They A Changin' ?

2005-12-29T22:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a quote from a Patton Oswalt interview I found linked from www.torontocomedy.com

http://www.aspecialthing.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1465

There were guys that would say, “Well I’m the headliner ‘cause I’ve been doing this eleven years and you’ve been doing this four years.” Well, yeah, you’ve confused doing something for eleven years with doing something for one year and then repeating it eleven times, which is a totally different thing. Just ‘cause you’ve clocked in doesn’t mean you’ve learned anything or you’ve advanced. - Patton Oswalt

This is something we all have to ask ourselves. Are we just doing the same show over and over? The set list for most corporate events (improv shows for companies and private parties) hasn't changed in 15 years at least. Open with Options, then Word at a Time, Day in the Life, Audience Sound Effects, New Choice, Endowments and wrap up with Moving Bodies. Pretty much the same no matter what improv group you go with. Of course doing a corporate event is a lot like being a band at a wedding. You're not there to push the envelope, you're there to do the Chicken Dance, Shout and take a few requests from the drunk bridesmaids.

If your mainstage shows on the other hand haven't changed in 15 years, that's something to look at. How is your 2006 show any different than the one you did in 1996? Or 1991? Are you moving forward or just clocking in?

Hit or Miss

2005-12-15T19:13:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen A Twisted Christmas Carol yet, get yourself over to the Arts Club theatre on Granville Island. Urban Improv's Diana Frances and Drew McCreadie star with Peter New, Jeff Gladstone and John Murphy.

Recently Jerry Wasserman of the Vancouver Province and www.vancouverplays.com gave the show a B+ review. But added "Of course every night will be different, and what works in one performance may fall utterly flat in another." Then in a mini review he stated, "Because much of the show is improvised, it's always hit and miss so you might include a disclaimer with the tickets".

I wrote the following letter to Jerry and he's going to have it on his web site with a link to our web page.

Dear Jerry,

You’ve hit on one of my pet peeves in your mini review of Twisted on Thursday. One that’s right up there with articles about comedy that start by saying, “Comedy is serious business”.

I honestly can’t count the amount of times I’ve done a partially improvised or full improvised show and the review was something glowing with “but it’s improvised so it’s always hit and miss” tacked on at the end. It’s like the quality of an improv show is considered random, depending on which way the wind blows.

No one ever says, “Oscar Peterson may be doing some improv jazz in his show so it’ll be hit or miss”. Jay Leno ends every stand up show with about 15 minutes of spritzing with the audience, but no one says “Watch out for those last 15 minutes, they could go either way”.

In both of those cases you’ve got artists who know their craft well enough that they can venture safely into improv. Hell, even Reveen got more respect in his reviews.

A comedy play of any kind could kill one night and tank the next. But that’s never brought up. Any play or performance can go either way. You review the show you saw. When you get into predicting the future you’re on shaky ground.

Best,

Ian Boothby

Spoiler Alert!

2005-11-30T02:00:00.000-08:00

Monday at the Urban Well, one of the items auctioned off for the Children's Wish Foundation was the Comic Book Box of Mystery. It was purchased by a Mr. Patrick Sauriol, an internet media reporter who was once featured in a picture spread for Vanity Fair magazine. Mr. Sauriol is known for publishing pop culture spoilers online. Mr. Sauriol was so pleased with the contents of the box he wanted to thank everyone who made it possible and to let them know Ron dies in the next Harry Potter book, all the people on Lost are part of an experiment and when they deal with their personal issues their deaths are faked and they are freed and in the third act of the new King Kong movie he reveals that he's gay.

8th Anniversary Jam-O-Rama

2005-11-29T17:26:00.000-08:00

Last night's 8th anniversary show was a good time had by all (except for Dwayne but he's going through a lot of personal stuff with his father right now, I really shouldn't get into it here but check out dwaynesdadlovesdrinking.blogspot.com).
Too many people to mention came to jam. Diana put together a very cool power point presentation that made everyone very quiet and attentive (there was some laughter too). We aired the three television ads that haven't been seen since they were taken off the air (for Drew's many anti-semetic jokes? The full frontal nudity? Having nothing to do with our show but endorsing heroin? Maybe we'll never know).
Roman conducted the auction and we broke our record for money raised for the Children's Wish Foundation due to a very generous audience of good decent people (who nonetheless laughed at our very dirty scenes).
Thanks for everyone who came.

Young and Old can enjoy Urban Improv!

2005-11-22T19:04:00.000-08:00

God is Dead

2005-11-21T23:55:00.000-08:00

Tonight at the Well, Ian, Taz, Drew, Randy and Diana investigated the murder of God. At first it seemed like a rich couple killed him to get enough money to buy the Aurora Borealis. But it turned out to be Toot from the old Hercules cartoon.
We saw why you shouldn't have a swearing bartender in an old folks home. A real life game of Operation was performed. A stripper brought her family on stage for a performance. We saw the adventures of a Bar Mitzvah mascot and vistited the most disturbing Orange Julius stand ever.

If you're a reporter...

2005-11-19T23:57:00.000-08:00

If you're a reporter and you're doing an article on a comedy troupe or comedy performer and you think it'd be clever to say at some point that the troupe or person is, "serious about their comedy" or that their "comedy is serious business"...

Don't.

It's lame. It makes you lame. It makes us lame. It makes the world lamer.

For the Kids Damn It!

2005-11-19T23:55:00.000-08:00

Every Monday night for eight years, Vancouver’s hottest comedy troupe “Urban Improv” has entertained packed houses at The Urban Well in Kits, performing a cutting edge style of improv called “The Harold,” made famous in the clubs and theatres of New York, Chicago and L.A.

For this eighth year anniversary party on November 28th, comedy and holiday cheer will be flowing as everyone who’s ever improvised at The Urban Well will be invited down for one big epic night of improv. Proceeds from ticket sales, door prizes, 50/50 draws, bake sales and anything else we can think of will go to The Children’s Wish Foundation. An organization dedicated to fulfilling a favorite wish for children afflicted with a high risk, life-threatening illness. For more info visit: www.childrenswish.ca

Does Anyone Read This Shit?

2005-11-18T18:19:00.000-08:00

Another great show down at the urban well. David Milkbags brought his new, cute girlfriend to watch the show, so thank Gawd it was not terrible. Too many scenes to remember: a Smart Car with OnStar from Reverso-land, a group therapy scene were Michael finally admitted to Drew that Drew was retarded, Ray asked for a metaphysical conceit -- like a metaphor, and other nonsense. The first half was an extravaganza of fun!

Halloween Show...

2005-11-01T00:30:00.000-08:00

Small but sturdy showing for the Halloween show. One audience member dressed up as Kraft Dinner, and first half improviser Alan Morrison dressed up as a pun. Favorite moments include: Audience giving Dan Hirschfield the suggestion of Oscar Wilde and then not laughing at his brilliant impersonation...Drew McCreadie as the worst Millionaire contestant ever...Michael Teigen as Beaker (weird thing was...an hour after the show a guy dressed as Beaker came into the bar...) Roman Danylo regurgitating the 'stool' gag and makng it yet again a brilliantly hilarious scene....and Diana Frances loosing her mind while hosting due to the creepy mask in the front row.

We Did Not Win Anything

2005-10-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

Urban Improv, Ian Boothby, Diana Frances, SwordPlay, & Twisted Christmas Carol all lost at the 6th Annual Canadian Comedy Awards. In fact no one from the west won anything. We were neither bitter nor surprised as the voting is done across Canada and so only people from Vancouver who are familiar with Vancouver would vote for Vancouver groups, and those from Toronto (which is much bigger) will vote for Toronto groups etc. etc. Ian and Drew got to present some awards to some people from Ontario, and they enjoyed that. Having some west coast representation at the awards was good for everybody, especially for the Toronto gang who were taught a very valuable lesson. Next year Urban Improv will be stacking the voting so that they will be assured of victory!

Pip Pip and 'Ello from London

2005-10-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

Okay we're not in London England, it's London Ontario. But Ian, Chris, Drew, Diana and Ellie (with a bit o' help from Dan Joffre) did 13 1/2 minutes of improv shenanigans last night at the Canadian Comedy Awards sketch/improv night. Good fun was had by all, except for Ian who flew in from London England for the show and was so jet lagged he's not sure where he even was last night.

Tonight the Awards. Will we win? Will we be gracious losers? Only time will tell.

Turkey of a Show

2005-10-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Good to know that family values are still in tact and people don't leave their loved ones to see comedy on a Monday night. We had a small but appreciative audience that saw guest star Christine Lippa do alot of breast work. Highlights include Pearce Visser as a strung out Sugar Bear and Gay Hockey on the new and improved CBC.

Who would win in a fight? Ellie or Diana?

2005-10-10T00:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all of you who voted for the Canadian Comedy Awards. Voting is now closed and Drew, Ian, Diana, Ellie and Chris all head out to London Ontario next week. With any luck they'll come home with the coveted Beaver. (that's right, the statue is a beaver. don't bother trying to make a joke...they've all been done and copywritten.)

Keep watching this site for what will surely be hilarious stories of our adventures at a Canadian awards show.

Poker on her birthday

2005-09-28T23:55:00.000-07:00

Back from the River Rock Casino.

Am not getting boobs or liposuction.

Diana

It's Diana's Birthday!

2005-09-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

That's right. I turned 36 years old today. How have I celebrated so far? Had breakfast with Drew and Roman, then went to try on bathing suits cause the cabin I'm going to this weekend has a hot tub. Note to self: DO NOT try on bathing suits on your birthday. (There's a joke in there somewhere about my birthday suit, but I'm too depressed to find it.) Tonight I'm going to play poker at River Rock Casino. If I win big, I'm buying boobs and liposuction.

Eric Fell - What's the Deal?

2005-09-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

Eric Fell. What's the deal with this guy? I mean he's funny, sure. A fresh new improv talent. Getting lots of play both with Urban Improv and Vancouver Theatresports. But what's the deal with him? Seriously, what's the deal?

Last Night at the Urban Well

2005-09-27T14:45:00.000-07:00

Last night at the Urban Well there were scenes with Edison Vs. Tesla, a Mime Vs. a Pirate and a rich man vs. his own body. Also Roman and Diana learned about an obscure film from the 80s called "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" which they apparently had never heard of.

I'm sure I'm spelling his name wrong but a young improvisor named Jas did a great job and taught us all the true meaning of friendship and at one point was riding Ian like rented mule.

Remembering Speak in One Voice

2005-09-25T01:17:00.000-07:00

The improv game Speak in One Voice passed away this weekend at home surrounded by it's loved ones. Friends of the game agreed it was very old and frankly its time to die was long overdue, still it shall be missed. It was due to appear at the Vancouver Theatresports 25th Anniversary reunion show this Sunday and it's best friend, Arms Scene, has volunteered to replace it.
Speak in One Voice is survived by longtime companion, Alphabet Game and their adopted child, Hat Game.

In lieu of flowers, the estate has requested that improvisors make up some damn new games.

Do Onions Make You Sexy?

2005-09-22T17:47:00.000-07:00

While Drew and Diana test this out, let me take the time to say, remember to vote in the Canadian Comedy Awards www.canadiancomedyawards.ca

Diana Frances and Ian Boothby are both nominated for best improvisor and Urban Improv is up for best improv group.

Heck while you're there why not check out the best comedic play category and watch a clip from Sword Play featuring Ian, Jeff Gladstone and Penelope Corrin. It's a very violent smackdown with a Canadian icon.

Or if creepy giant ghosts are your bag, check out the A Twisted Christmas Carol link. Both Sword and Twisted are packed with Urban Improv folks.

Chicken Feet

2005-09-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

Ever had chicken feet? Well this is what they look like. And how do they taste? Well the flavour is quite nice (the sauce), but the texture is odd. There is no meat, only skin. So if you like soft, slippery chicken skin, then order chicken feet.

Now, what does that have to do with Urban Improv? Nothing.

Drew's RCMPness (it's funnier if you say it out loud)

2005-09-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

As often as I'm keeping an eye out for bad photos, Drew is fighting the crime against bad roving character gigs.

Diana Keeps An Eye Out For Bad Photos of Herself

2005-09-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

Diana Frances of Vancouver's Urban Improv is keeping a close lookout for bad photos of herself... for example the one of her in a rubber dingy (see below). Return to this blog for periodic updates on her mission.

Let Us Have A Moment of Silence

2005-09-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

Urban Improv Takes a Moment to Remember the Fringe

The last show for Urban Improv went very well. There was a nice big house, and they were responsive. It took a bit to get them on our side, but we won them over. By the time the wolf attacked Toby in the woods everyone knew what kind of a show they were in for. Check out www.urbanimprov.ca and perhaps there will be a video posted there one day.

Until then. Goodbye Fringe.

And So Ends The Fringe

2005-09-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

Photo: Tallulah Winkelman steps in for Diana Frances for final shows.

Diana Frances was unable to perform at the last two shows because she had a better, paying gig somewhere else! In beautiful Banff. Some other members of the cast would have liked to go along, but were unable because they had too many damn lines in the show!

Diana was missed, but also quickly replaced by Tallulah Winkelman who did a great job and claims to have had fun as well. The audience seemed to enjoy the final shows very much. The Vancouver Fringe is done. And.... winter starts now!

Them's fightin' words

2005-09-17T02:46:00.000-07:00

I totaly missed this response to our first post on this blog. Thought it was worth putting up again.

zcsmith said...
Oh my god when on gods green earth will people STOP performing Improv as a viable form of entertainment!!!

I have had the misfortune of briefly working with Diana Francis and Chris Cassilian or whatever his last name is once ago, far way, and it was incredibly painful! It was for a summer program with kids and these two "performers" really believed the hype!!

Ok back to my rant about Improv. I have never in my life got what is so incredibly entertaining about watching people who believe they are both talented and funny make up stuff as they go along.

I realize that there are and can be moments of genius, but they are far too few and far between for my money!

I don't care how many great reviews you guys get from the papers because it is clear that most reviews are really a bad guide to what is good and what isn't, being that they are incredibly subjective of course.

My rant is because over the past years I have continued to see people perform and act as though they were the funniest people who would ever walk the earth, yet I would watch and think, "hmmm these people really enjoy hearing themselves talk!"

Improv screams for a revisit to Vaudville!!

Improv is incredibly difficult and it is a great way to learn skills, but to make it into a career, I just shake my head...NOOOOO!!!!!

Ad lib, now that is entertainment. Take a script and then toss a few ad libs in that work, and then you have something with fire underneath it!

"who's line is it" or whatever it was called with Drew Carey and Ryan Stiles. Feh! complete Drek.

I could go on and on, but my rants are needed elsewhere!

Lots of love....

ZC

People really get mad at improv. Man do they get mad at it. When we did Sketchfest in Vancouver when I tried to get across that we do sketch improv, that is improvised sketch comedy I almost got my head bit off. Sketch was sacred and improv was hack.

I call Bullshit!

Some improv is hack. Some stand-up is hack. Some sit-coms are hack. The form itself isn't. It's what you do with it. Our goal when Urban Improv started was to try something new, and 7 years later I think we've come up with a form that's simple and our own.

When you lump all improv together you're just wrongheaded. When you come to someone's web site and slam the members of the group you're out of line. Debate the form if you'd like but get insulting and you can fuck off.

You don't like Who's Line? Fine but millions of folks do. Are they all wrong?

I smell a lot of bitter on you. My advice would be to lose the chip and the smug. Maybe an improv class would help you interact with folks better. One of the first rules of improv is to not try and be funny (or think you're funny) but to try and make the other person on stage look good.

Ian

Diana has asked that I add this...

oh fuck off. we're funny.

diana

Growing Audiences Means A Better Show!

2005-09-16T10:50:00.000-07:00

Photo: Urban Improv's Diana Frances waves the finger of love at the world.

As audience sizes increase from good to even better, the show that each audience member experiences becomes even better still! How so? 'Cause it's theatre damn it! It is an experience that,unlike TV, requires some audience interaction -- not so much audience participation -- but audience interaction. The response from the audience is the fuel that feeds the comedy fire. SO, IF you are interested in LAUGHING HARD, and having a great theatre experience, this show is for you. If you have not seen the show, do so! The audience size has now reached a level where the comedy is contageous, like the black plague, but funnier.

Four Stars (no hearts, moons, clovers or blue diamonds though)

2005-09-14T13:32:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Sun just gave our Fringe show Urban Improv presents Canadian Content four stars. Do you know how big that is? Well our sun is a star and that's thousands of times bigger than our planet Earth. So imagine four stars side by side. You can't wrap your head around something that big. I can't even concieve of what the gravity would be like.

Four stars.

It blows my mind.

The Globe and Mail

2005-09-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Globe and Mail for giving us the cover to their 7 Days section this week for Urban Improv presents Canadian Content.

I'm in my underwear on the cover of the newspaper. Man, the reoccuring dream has become reality.

Ian