NEWS

Season Finales
Posted June 16, 2013

The Improv Guild is wrapping up for the season and you're invited to join the party. Over the next two weekends we have the season finales of three great shows! Saturday Night Improv will wrap up on June 22, Throne of Games will crown the final improv monarch on Thursday, July 27 and Friday Night Improv will finish off the season on June 28. All these shows are only $10. Make sure you arrive early to get your seats because these last few shows tend to be packed. Doors at 7pm. Shows at 8pm.

Special Hamlet Weekend
Posted May 23, 2013

UPDATE: Thanks to all who came out and enjoyed the production! Check back at the 2013 Boardwalk Calgary Improv Festival for its return!

An Improv Hamlet: Making Tragedy Fun officially opens tonight @ 8pm. It will run nightly May 23-25 at the Impro Depot. This is not your great, great, great, great grandfather's Hamlet. It's a fun, fast-paced, made-up interpretation of Shakespeare's finest play. Your suggestions shape the show! It will run in lieu of the Improv Guild’s regularly scheduled programming this weekend.

Tickets are just $5 for students and $10 General. Only available at the door.

There will be a special double feature on Friday. After the 8pm show stick around for a special late night edition of Friday Night Improv at 10:30pm! The price for both shows is only $15 or $10 for students! That’s value you can laugh about.

To attend or not to attend? That’s not even a question. Come!

Improvised Hamlet: Making Tragedy Fun
Posted May 11, 2013

The Improv Guild is turning the greatest play ever written on its head. An Improv Hamlet: Making Tragedy Fun will be the first semi-scripted production in the history of the Improv Guild. Using the styles and techniques of improvisation as well as the words and themes of Shakespeare, actors from the Improv Guild will improvise their way through the timeless tale of murder, deception and revenge.

The result will be a part scripted, part improvised, part musical romp that is wholly entertaining and understandable to modern audiences. No two performances will be the same as each night audience suggestions will help determine the outcome.

“Shakespeare originally wrote plays that everyone could understand. His main customers were the groundlings, most of whom were illiterate. The idea that Shakespeare is only for high class, educated people is false. So we decided to play with this idea and create a Hamlet that everyone could enjoy through the use of improvisation. ” says Rick Hilton, director of the show. “It is a great story. So we wanted to get back to those roots. This is the people's Hamlet. You'll have to see it to believe it.”

Calgary High School Theatresports™ Champions
Posted March 17, 2013

After a whirlwind tournament featuring some of the best young talent in the city, Dr. EP Scarlett took home the Stanleigh Cup (graciously sponsored by Dr. Larry Stanleigh Dental) as the 2013 Champions! This year the Championship expanded from 8 to 12 teams, with the competition also dramatically increasing leading to some difficult decisions for the judges. Runners up West Island College told some incredible stories, while the bronze medal crew from Crescent Heights wowed the crowd with their amazing teamwork. And the battles were CLOSE! The bronze medal match required a tiebreaker, and the Stanleigh Cup was won by a SINGLE POINT! You really can't ask for much more than that!

In addition to Dr. Larry Stanleigh, The Improv Guild would like to extend a huge thank-you to sponsors Chinook Landscaping as well as Frank and Tina Washington for providing $1000 scholarships for the top two teams! Also, Calgary 2012, the Cultural Capital of Canada and InvestYYC have been integral in getting this event off the ground. Thank-you to all those who invested in the CHTC. The support for the Championship has been overwhelming and, quite frankly, one can't help but be floored by all the amazing people who have jumped on board with this event. Through attendance, volunteering, performing, teaching and organizing, Calgary shown they love watching these talented youth entertain, learn and have fun. A whole new crop of students will compete in 2014! Congratulations to all the schools and see you all next year!

Empty Depot March 8th & 9th
Posted February 27, 2013

To dedicate themselves to making the 2013 Calgary High School Theatresports™ Championship as awesome as possible, the Improv Guild is cancelling their regular Friday and Saturday Night Improv shows at the Impro Depot. The drop-in class will still be happening Sunday at noon and the Friday and Saturday shows will resume the following week.

If you're interested in seeing the future of improv, come down to the Epcor Centre's Engineered Air Theatre Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm, or Saturday at 1pm, 3pm or 8pm.

Coming Soon: "Coming Soon"
Posted February 24, 2013

Have you ever wanted to see a movie BEFORE it is released in theatres? Beginning March 16th, Saturday Night Improv becomes "Coming Soon", a sneak preview of epic proportions, where the entire unreleased movie is improvised live before your eyes. Chosen from the list of the upcoming week's new releases, the performance will feature one or more 'movies' competely made up, based purely on the online plot synopsis.

Free Student February
Posted January 27, 2013

In anticipation of the upcoming Calgary High School Theatresports™ Championship, March 7-9, The Improv Guild is proud to announce that for the entire month of February, high school students get in free. Just present your student ID at the box office and you'll gain free entry into any Improv Guild show at the Impro Depot including Friday Night Improv, Long Story Short, and That's what SHE Said!

That's What SHE Said
Posted January 27, 2013

The Improv Guild and Urban Curves Theatre proudly partner to present a brand new show at the Impro Depot. That's What SHE Said, a celebration of funny females from across the city, is completely improvised and completely hilarious. Directed by Laura Tennisco, the show will feature an entire cast and crew of women!

“It is such a thrill to be onstage with just women, something that rarely happens in comedy.” says Tennisco, Assistant Artistic Director of the Improv Guild. “There’s just something different, something special about how we respond to one another without the guys up there. Really, it’s just great. Come and see it!”

Lindsey Zess-Funk, Artistic Associate with Urban Curvz Theatre, added: “The mandate of Urban Curvz includes a drive to invest in women’s stories. We are thrilled to partner with The Improv Guild in order to celebrate the wit and vivacity of their female improvisers. We can’t help but love a show that exposes all that is honest, absurd and hilarious about the female experience.”

That’s What SHE Said is a monthly show for both sexes, featuring the best women in improv. Performances will occur on Thursdays: February 7, March 14, April 4 and May 2. The performers are female but everyone in the audience is going to be laughing!

Improv Guild Travels to Edmonton
Posted November 29, 2012

Rapid Fire Theatre is putting on the dust up of the century at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton as they present the first annual Prairie Bowl Theatresports Tournament from November 30th to December 2nd! They’re bringing five of the fiercest improv teams from across Western Canada including the Improv Guild to battle it out for the title of best in the badlands.

The only question is who will emerge as the champion. Can the jiu-jitsu jokes of Against the Wall (Red Deer) take out the Taekwondo-comedy of The Improv Guild (Calgary)? How will the Greco-Roman chuckling of Outside Joke (Winnipeg) stack up against the kung-fu-nny skills of Loose Moose (Calgary)? And can anyone survive the brute strength of Rapid Fire Theatre’s home team (Edmonton)?

Hurricane Sandy Relief Show
Posted November 8, 2012

The Canadian Red Cross is asking for donations to support relief operations for communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy across the Caribbean and in the United States. Currently, the Red Cross is providing food, water, safe shelter, and community services in seven countries impacted by the storm.

To help this cause, the Improv Guild will be performing a special Hurricane Sandy relief show on Saturday, November 24th at 8pm where 100% of ticket sales will go directly the Canadian Red Cross. This is also the last show before our "Wintermission" break, so please come down and have a few laughs to help out those who need it most.

Saturday Night Improv Returns
Posted October 11, 2012

Introducing Improv Showdown - a winner-takes-all game of explosive comedy - as the new Saturday Night Improv mainstay. Join the Improv Guild and local guest groups as they explore all aspects of improv in a no-holds-barred duel for improv supremecy! Featuring a local opener and an intense battle of laughs, the new Saturday nights are something you won't want to miss!

Drop On In
Posted October 5, 2012

Drop-In workshops are up and running again, every Sunday at noon. Open to absolute beginners and more intermediate improvisers alike, these classes cover a variety of improv basics in fun, jam-packed 1.5 hour sessions. Led by senior improv guild performers, these classes are a great way to try out improv for the first time or brush up on some skills that have gotten a bit rusty. So come on down, every Sunday at noon.

Planning a Holiday Event?
Posted October 5, 2012

Now that frost has touched the ground in Calgary we know that the holiday season is fast approaching. Which means that is is time to celebrate with friends, family and co-workers. For almost ten years, the improv guild has been providing fast-paced, funny, higly custom entertainement for events of all shapes and sizes.  If you'd like to enhance your holiday event with some unforgettable comedy, book us today. Email info@improvguild.com as soon as possible to ensure availability.

2012 Calgary Improv Festival
Posted September 10, 2012

Whose Line is it anyway star Colin Mochrie is back to help celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Calgary Improv Festival.  Sunday, September 23, Colin will perform the brand of improv that has earned him an reputation as one of the best improvisers on the planet. Fresh off winning the prestigious Dave Broadfoot award at the 2012 Canadian Comedy Awards, Colin perform in a show with an international cast of festival all-stars.

The rest of the week is also filled with amazing improv performances from the ever-talented L.A. Impro, Vancouver's M&M Improv, the incomparable Patti Stiles, and many great local improv troupes and performers.

The 10-show festival runs from Monday, September 17 to Sunday, September 23 at Lunchbox Theatre, The Impro Depot (Improv Guild) and The Engineered Air Theatre (Epcor Centre). Visit our dedicated festival site for all the details!

An Improvised History of Calgary. Presented by Anne McMaster
Posted August 21, 2012

Check out this new limited run Calgary 2012 show at 10pm after the Improv Guild's season premiere! $10 for a ticket or $15 for tickets to both this show and the 8pm Friday Night Improv show.

Calgary’s history will be centre stage, with a twist: it will be completely improvised. Top improvisers from every major Calgarian improv company will be coming together to recreate moments of the city’s history. Final two shows: Aug 24 @ 10pm, Aug 25 @ 8pm

Teen Improv Intensive Aug 13-24
Posted June 22, 2012

Are you a teen aged 13-17 who loves to make people laugh? Do want to learn how to think on your feet and create stories off the top off your head? Then this might just be the program for you.

Join Mat Mailandt and Ann McMaster, professional Improvisers with the Improv Guild, for a two week intensive camp just for teens. Improvisation is a fun, dynamic form of theatre where everything is invented on the spot. No scripts allowed! Explore the philosophy of saying YES, making your partner look good, and living completely in the moment with instructors who have performed and taught improv all over the world. At the end of the class there will be a show in the professional studio of the Improv Guild, where you will get to show off your new found skills on stage!

Registration Info:

Full Day, 2 week camp
Date: August 13-24, 2012
Ages: 13-17
Time: 9:00am-4:00pm
Location: Impro Depot: 2405 Macleod Trail South
Fee: $405.00
Capacity: 16 students

Head to www.cypt.ca to register today.

2011/2012 Season Finale
Posted June 15, 2012

Fridays have become bigger, better and more exciting than ever with the late-season additions of Cage Match and Genrefication to the ever-popular cabaret format! Come see all your favourite players in the Guild's last hoorah before they close up shop for the season! This show almost always sells out so come early to guarantee seating!. Show starts Friday @ 8pm. Tickets are only $10 cash at the door.

Saturday Night Improv Finale
Posted May 1, 2012

You've seen the intrigue of Film Noir, the danger of Western, and the elegence of Shakespearian. Now come down for the final Genrefication of the 2011-2012 season and bid adieu with whatever genre comes out of the hat! As an amuse-bouche before the Genrefication swan song, two local troupes will battle for improv supremecy in the Cage Match! This night promises laughs, loves, danger and joy as we wrap up our saucy Saturdays. Show starts Saturday @ 8pm. Tickets are only $5 cash at the door.

Note: "Friday Night Improv" will continue Fridays until June 22nd. "1st Thursdays" will continue May 3rd and June 7th.

Mayday Cabaret! Presented by Theatre Transit
Posted April 25, 2012

Special Show: Friday May 4th @ 10:00pm

This titillatingly unique cabaret show featuring some of Calgary's best theatre, dance, improv, and music will be presented at the Impro Depot following the Improv Guild's always funny Friday Night Improv Show at 8pm. Come see special peformances from Peer Support, (Parenthesis), See Jane Jump, and more! Visit www.theatretransit.ca for details.

Young Women of Power
Posted April 25, 2012

The Improv Guild is proud to be participating in Calgary's 3rd annual Young Women of Power Conference. The Purpose of YWOP is to build confident, empowered women by redefining Beauty, applied Wisdom, establishing a sense of worth that produces Power for them to be unwavering in their values and Principles. To learn more about this conference, visit their website at www.pivotfwd.com

Saturday with a Twist
Posted March 29, 2012

Following in the success of the first annual Calgary High School Theatresports™ Tournament, the Improv Guild is adding a competitive format to their Saturday Night Improv set. In addition, they're branching out from The Shakespearience to all sorts of other genres with their new show: Genrefication. Come check out the new Saturday night!

2012 Calgary High School Theatresports™ Championship Begins Tonight
Posted February 24, 2012

UPDATE: Congratualations to St. Francis, the winning school of this year's championship!

What do you get when you take the best young improv talent in Calgary, mix in a few seasoned pros as coaches, add Keith Johnstone's wildly popular Theatresports™ to the pot and blend it all together in the Engineered Air Theatre? You get a wild, edge of your seat, laugh out loud funny experience that has never happened before and will never happen again. With shows at 8pm Friday, and 1pm/3pm/8pm Saturday, you'll have plenty of time to take in the awesomeness. Check the official CHSTC page for full schedule and pricing details.

Oh, Sweet Saturdays
Posted January 23, 2012

Did you miss that blend of experimental improv, twisted litterature, and the je ne sais quoi of cozy Saturday nights at the Impro Depot? Well, pine no longer, friend. Saturday, January 28 will be the first night of the new and improved Shakespearian Experimental Good Times Night (working title). For only $5 you can come and see the latest boundries being pushed as the Improv Guild stretches their longform muscles. Same bat-time. Same bat-depot.

Drop-In Classes are Back
Posted January 23, 2012

Drop In like it's HOT Sundays are back at the Improv Guild. Every Sunday from 12:00-1:30, Mat Mailandt will be leading fundamental improv workshops.  Each week has a different theme so check out our classes section for more info.  It's only $10 per class and no experience is necessary.  Always wanted to try it out?  Looking for an alternative to church?  Or do you just want to brush up to some basic skills?  Mat's been putting the 'mental' in fundamentals since 2011. He just needs you to come down and bring the 'fun'.

Call for Volunteers
Posted January 16, 2012

Do you like improv? Do you like free shows? Do you like raising your hand before fully understanding what you're getting into? If so, you may enjoy volunteering with the Improv Guild! These past couple years have seen some very exciting upgrades to our admission system. Anyone remember the donations hard hat? Well, with great tickets comes great responsability and that's where you come in! The Improv Guild needs someone to cover the box office / drink counter from about 7:30pm to 8:15pm on show nights. In return you will get a) free admission for you and a friend to that show b) some free snacks and drinks c) our undying gratitude. If you're interested in padding your resume with artistic volunteer work, contact us at info@improvguild.com

Improv Returns Friday Jan 13
Posted January 9, 2012

They're back, baby! All of the zany characters you've grown to not-hate are back for a laughter-packed second half of the 2011-2012 season! So, come 8pm this Friday, will you be enjoying the lovely front-row couches, the cheap beverages, and the sense of wonder and mystery that can only come from watching improv in a 50 year old parking garage? Of course you will, and you'll love every damn minute of it.

Final Shows Friday Dec 2, Saturday Nov 26
Posted November 23, 2011

If the Improv Guild were a television series, these two shows would be their mid-season finales. So before you deck your halls, come pack their walls for the last two shows of 2011! Saturday Nov 26 features a threesome of improv goodness, while Friday Dec 2 invites the entire group out for a classic Improv Guild show! Expect stops to be pulled out. All of them.

Shows to return January 13th, 2012.

There will be a show on 11/11/11
Posted November 2, 2011

Despite the holiday and the long weekend, the improv continues on every Friday night. Furthermore, Improv Guild member Mat Mailandt will be celebrating his (Nov 10th) birthday at the show that night so it's bound to be a packed house of good timey fun!

Sunday Drop-In Classes Return November 6th!
Posted Monday, October 17, 2011

The Improv Guild will be offering drop in classes every Sunday at noon starting this fall. No previous experience necessary - anyone is welcome.  Each session is 90 minutes and will cover fundamental techniques such as accepting offers, advancing, character development and more.  Class fees are only $10 per class.  Try your hand at improvising today!

Two Spots Open for Rick's L1 Class
Posted Sunday, September 25, 2011

Due to a couple of last minute cancellations, two spots have opened in Rick's Level 1 class starting October 4th. These classes are usually sold out months in advance to take this awesome opportunity to get in right away and learn from one of the best.

Improv Guild Headlines Orlando Improv Festival
Posted Sunday, September 25, 2011

Just like birds migrating south for the winter, Improv Guild members Anne, Ryan and Stephen have flown to sunny Florida, USA to headline the world renowned Orlando Improv Festival! They will be shaking their funny bones onstage at 9pm tonight (Sunday, Sept. 25) so if you're in the area, check 'em out! Oh, and while you're here, check out this teaser from the Miami Herald!

Improv Season Resumes September 9th
Posted Thursday, August 25, 2011

Due mainly to the force of gravity exerted upon the Earth by the planet Jupiter, the next improv show will be Friday, September 9 @ 8:00pm. So come down, grab a seat and enjoy as many laughs as you can handle as the Improv Guild pulls out all the stops to entertain, shock and put a smile on your face. And don't be mad at Jupiter, it can't help itself.

Getting Naked For Calgary Fringe
Posted Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Generally the Improv Guild enjoys quiet summers lounging on the beach, cold beverages in hand; this year, however, we're doing something that is anything but quiet! We're getting naked! If you want to see raw improv, stripped down to the fundamentals of the art while pushing the ever-expanding boundries of spontaneous theatre, check out one of the Improv Guild's six Naked Improv shows at the Calgary Fringe Festival!

If you're the late night type, the Improv Guild has created a special Late Night Show featuring all of your favourite Fringe artists. This late night extravaganza will be filled with good food, great drinks and more laughs than you can shake a stick at. With different Fringe artists guesting each night, the Late Night Show is sort of like the sample platter of the Fringe Festival. Bring a napkin.

You can also find both Naked Improv and Late Night Show on our Shows page.

Improv Guild Season Finale: Friday, June 24
Posted Thursday, June 16, 2011

The Improv Guild's last show of the year is always a great one and this year aims to crank that up to REMARKAMAZINGTASTIC! If you haven't been down to the Impro Depot in a while (or if you're looking for an excuse to come for the first time!) there is no better opportunity than this season finale show. With the return of longtime performer Mat Mailandt from Germany, and plenty of reason to party after the show, the house is going to be packed! So if you wanna be up close and in the action, come early (~7:30pm) and snag the good seats before they're all gone!

Shaw TV Taping Special Show June 11
Posted Wednesday, May 11, 2011

UPDATE: The Improv Guild played to a packed house and Shaw TV captured all the action with cameras, microphones and interviews. The Guild would like to send a huge thanks out to Shaw as well as to all the volunteers and audience members who helped make this night such a huge success! The full edited version of the show will be available this summer on Shaw TV. Follow @improvguild on twitter and check back on this website for the latest.

Come preview the Calgary Improv Festival in a special show that will be recorded live in the Engineered Air Theatre at 8pm on June 11 by Shaw TV. This hour and a half long improv set will feature members of the Improv Guild playing your favourite games, exploiting your suggestions and maybe even dragging one or two of you up on stage! Tickets for the event are $10 each and are are available at the door. You can also reserve tickets by emailing Rick at info@improvguild.com.

Good Friday, Great Improv
Posted Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Looking for something to do on your long weekend before you cram your face full of Turkey? Well, the Improv Guild will be presenting a special "Good Friday" edition of Friday Night Improv at 8pm April 22. And because it would be rude to serve just one course of Improv goodness, there will be a Last Scene Standing on Saturday night at 8pm as well! So come down, bring your out of town guests, and laugh about all the things polite company doesn't discuss during an Easter dinner!

Audition to Join the Improv Guild
Posted Tuesday, April 12, 2011

UPDATE: Auditions postponed. Check back later for dates and times.

The Improv Guild will be holding open auditions for experienced actors/improvisers on Monday, May 2 from 7:00-9:00pm at the Impro Depot. Please bring a resume of your acting/improvisation experience and training along with a headshot (if you have one). If you have any questions, feel free to email the Improv Guild artistic director Rick Hilton at info@improvguild.com

New Website Launched!
Posted Thursday, April 8, 2011

After months of toiling in a dark room in the bowels of the Impro Depot theatre, the website which had previously only been a whisper of a dream has now come to life. As the company grew tremendously over the past few years, no longer were the modest confines of a blog-style site enough to get all that Improv Guild informationy goodness to the public.

The new website is now organized into simple sections allowing vistors to either quickly find what they need, or leasurely linger and browse all of the cool features and photos that pepper the site.

The Improv Guild was stoked to be part of the Vancouver Theatre Sports League’s 23rd Annual Valentine’s Day Massacre this year! Laura, Stephen, Rick & Heather represented the humble little city of Calgary amidst teams from Vancouver, Atlanta, Bellingham, Orlando and Seattle. The days were jam packed with improv, rain & pizza slices! All in all, an amazingly fun tournament that the Improv Guild was proud to have participated in. Huge thanks to VTSL for hosting such a world-class event!

UPDATE: Heather has shared a poem she wrote that perfectly encapsulates the experience!

While they will still gladly accept your donations, the Improv Guild is pleased to announce that beginning immediately they will be selling show tickets at the door. So before you buy a drink, take a load off on the front row couches and start discussing the merits of velcro vs laces, please stop by the ticket table and get your shinny (matte) ticket!

First, there was one show. Then, when audiences thought it couldn't get any better, there were TWO SHOWS! Now you can follow up a wildly entertaining Friday Night Improv show with an equally wildly entertaining Last Scene Standing Saturday show! The Friday night show audiences have come to know and generally approve of will continue to focus on short scenes, games, and random wonderfulness, while the Saturday show will cater to longer scenes, directed improv and whatever can be found under the rainbow of awesome.

Come check out both shows! Friday and Saturday at 8pm

The Improv Guild was selected to participate in the annual Calgary Fringe Festival July 29th to August 6th, 2011, taking place in historic Inglewood. The Guild will be using this opportunity to introduce our fast-paced, engergetic, wildly imaginative short-form style improv to the wider Calgary threatre community.

Those who have attended Friday Night Improv shows will be very familiar with the style that has graced stages across the world and entertained Calgarians for years. Expect singing (now only slightly off-key), shoving (47 days without injury), dancing, gibberish, bells, horns, costumes and everything else that makes funny funny. There may also be some serious stuff. But only a little. ;

Check out http://be.calgaryfringe.ca/ for more info on the festival!