The Improv Embassy

Hello, community! We’re excited to share another update with you all. As we spend the next few months gearing up for the return of classes in 2022, we are pleased to introduce the people who will be working on policy, infrastructure and other developments in the next year say hello to our Interim Leadership Team, Adriana Johnston, Joshua Mayo, and Woody McCadden! If anyone has inquiries for the new team, you can contact them collectively at [email protected] (or individually at [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]).

Hello community! We hope everyone is having a safe winter. We miss you all and have a couple of updates to share. Though we will likely not be resuming in-person classes till next year, we would love to hear from folks who would like to get involved -- could that be you?? During this transitional period, Dani Alon will be leaving her post as Artistic Director to join the board of directors, which will continue to work on strengthening our policies and infrastructure and to fi...nd interim leadership for when in-person classes can start up again in 2022. Additionally, we would like to welcome Wynn Quon as our new Chair of the board, and thank outgoing Chair Lauren Banks for her hard work in this role over the past few years. Meanwhile, we are looking for board members and other volunteers with a background in anti-harassment, anti-oppression, accessibility standards, grant writing and fundraising, marketing, human resources and/or public relations. If you are interested in getting involved and would like more information, you can contact Wynn Quon at [email protected] and/or Dani at [email protected] for details.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Hello community, First of all, thank you to everyone who has stayed engaged with us since the beginning of this pandemic to the students eager for online classes, jams and shows, and our team members who were able to help facilitate. For those community members whove had to take a step back, we appreciate you and we hope youve been able to get a chance to recharge....Continue reading

Meet Adam Cawley, one of our Summer guest instructors, teaching Sustaining Scenes on Wednesdays in August from 7-9pm (applications for our Inclusion scholarship are open till July 27): https://www.improvembassy.com/shop/sustaining-scenes/ An alumnus of The Second City Mainstage, The Just for Laughs Festival and a three time Canadian Comedy Awards winner including Canadas Best Male Improviser. A recurring actor on Baroness von Sketch Show and Workin' Moms (also a writer) Adam lives in Los Angeles and teaches/coaches at Second City Hollywood, M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater and as a co-host of The Backline Podcast, tours the world teaching and performing improv.

Meet Andrea Marston, one of our Summer guest instructors, teaching Character Point of View on Thursdays in August from 7-9pm (applications for our Inclusion scholarship are open till July 27): https://improvembassy.com/shop/character-point-of-view/ Andrea Marston is a comedian originally from Calgary, Alberta. She started her training and performing with The Kinkonauts: Calgary's Improv Lab before moving to Toronto. Since moving to Toronto, Andrea has understudied the @The Second City Toronto Mainstage, been apart of the NBC Universal Bob Curry Diversity Fellowship, and was apart of the Second City House Company. Andrea is a teacher and performer at Bad Dog Theatre Company. She also host two comedy podcasts The Great Callback and HawtBox.

Meet Ayan Ali and Sara Meleika, two of our Summer guest instructors, teaching Intro to Stand-Up: Colour Outside the Lines Edition on Mondays August 10-31 from 7-9pm (applications for our Inclusion scholarship are open till July 27): https://improvembassy.com/s/intro-to-stand-up-cotl-edition/ Ayan Ali is an Ottawa-based Somali-Canadian improviser, standup comedian and oral storyteller. They are the Inclusion Coordinator at The Improv Embassy, performs regularly with Ottaw...a comedy shows The Fembassy and Spice, and has performed at Mprov 2019. Their absurdist, narrative style of observational comedy often centres on their intersections as a queer Black Muslim. Sara Meleika is an Egyptian improviser, storyteller, and high-school teacher. She produces and performs in Colour Outside the Lines a show created out of a desire to see greater representation appear on Montreals improv stages. She is the (Anglophone) Inclusion Coordinator at Montreal Improv, co-produced Ladyfest Montreal 2017 & 2018, and co-artistic directed MPROV 2019. She has performed in Mprov, Montréal Sketchfest, Ladyfest Montreal, the Ottawa Improv Festival, Torontos Combustion Festival, the Big City Improv Festival and OFF-JFL/Zoofest.

Meet Tom Hearn, one of our Summer guest instructors, teaching Solo Sketch Comedy Creation on Tuesdays in August from 7-9pm (applications for our Inclusion scholarship are open till July 27). https://improvembassy.com/shop/solo-sketch-comedy-creation/ Tom is a sketch comedian, improviser and producer currently living in Toronto. You can catch him in the hit improv show Hookup (Bad Dog Theatre Company), Sunday Night Live (The Sketchersons) and Lipsynched The Show. He also... created the queer sketch revue A Sketch Comedy Extravaganza Eleganza (Top Five Comedy shows of 2018, Now Magazine; Canadian Comedy Awards for Best Live Production). He produces and plays in Kinsey Fail, Torontos only queer improv ensemble and the award winning touring sketch duo Tom and Erica and recently toured his 5-star reviewed solo show SLANG with multiple performances across Canada. See more

Big thank you to all of our jammers with your help we were able to donate over $500 to Black Lives Matter with the proceeds from The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!), spanning the first jam in March up till last night's, the last jam of the season. It's been wonderful meeting improvisers from all over the world (in just our last jam we had players from Los Angeles, Mexico City, Bangalore, and Canberra). These were the last jams of the year before the summer but meanwhile... here are the top quotes from the June jams to tide you over: QUOTES OF JUNE: You know Mustard, when I see someone order a hot dog, I know its going to be your turn" Normally Im just a simple grade nine student going about my day I dont think it should be a crime to hate puppies" Just because Im a writer, people think that I should like fiction" "Sometimes I get too deep into my past and I forget that I'm living now" Clowns are great" Tony Robbins awaking the giant within I was gutted that the NCAA was cancelledBut here, the temperature is like Hell and the Earth has opened up Theyre called seasons. You have summer, autumn, October "Since they are called stars I was expecting to see celebrities in the skies." Look at our romantic photos together. If you look carefully, theres a baby in the background smoking a pipe. Okay welcome to the Gravel Pit CPR is pretty much like talking This milk came from a mama cow, and she didnt say yes to someone taking it" Mama says no denims, or there will be no lunch for me today. I too love cheeseburgers. You know something is bad when you need raisins to make it taste better" Listen, when I was a kid, I wore paper clothes if its good enough for me its good enough for you Your wrinkles are as deep as the Grand Canyon. DAAAAD! You didnt change the sheets in my crib and Im unimpressed.

More summertime awesomeness coming your way! This class, with Montreal Improvs Vinny Francois, explores the idea of tension in improv, for students who grasp the basics and are looking to level up their storytelling skills. Wednesdays, 7 to 9 pm, July 8 to 29. Intermediate and above, $100 (+HST). We have two free spots for applicants of our Inclusion Scholarship, prioritized for Black and Indigenous students (the deadline to apply is Monday, June 29 at 11:59pm recip...ients will be notified by the end of the week). https://www.improvembassy.com/s/dramatic-tension-in-improv/

Were excited for some new summer classes! This introductory stand-up course, facilitated by Ayan Ali and Sara Meleika, is geared toward BIPOC students new to comedy, a safer space where students can share their voice and develop a 3-5 minute comedic set. We have two 4-week classes covering different material for $100 on Mondays, 7 to 9 pm, July 6 to 27 and August 10 to 31 OR you can register for both at the same time for $150 (+HST). We also have two free spots for applic...ants of our Inclusion Scholarship, prioritized for Black and Indigenous students (the deadline to apply is Monday, June 29 at 11:59pm recipients will be notified by the end of the week). https://www.improvembassy.com//intro-to-stand-up-cotl-edi/

July classes are up! We have two free spots in each class for applicants of our Inclusion Scholarship, prioritized for Black and Indigenous students (the deadline to apply is Monday, June 29 at 11:59pm). More info here: https://improvembassy.com/inclusion-scholarship/ "Intro to Stand-Up: Colour Outside The Lines Edition" - This course, facilitated by the Embassy's Ayan Ali and Montreal Improv's Sara Meleika, is geared toward BIPOC students new to comedy. Offered Mondays, 7-9p...m on July 6-27 and August 10-31 for $100 each (both months cover different material -- register for both for $150). "Dramatic Tension in Improv" - This class, taught by Vinny Francois of Montreal Improv, explores the idea of escalating tension in a narrative scene, for students hoping to level up their storytelling skills. Offered Wednesdays, 7-9pm on July 8-29 for $100. More info at https://improvembassy.com/online!

All proceeds from our weekly The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) will be donated to Canadian Black-led initiatives in the fight for racial justice (for those who want to donate directly to these groups, visit here: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca//black-organizations-anti-ra Thank you to those who have already made donations -- see you tonight!

Silence is complicity, and there is work to be done everywhere to make our spaces more equitable. A couple of concrete actions we will take include offering extra Inclusion Scholarship spots for Black students in our upcoming classes and donating all proceeds from our online weekly improv jams toward Black-led Canadian organizations. For those who want to donate directly, visit: https://blacklivesmatter.ca/donate/ (links to other local resources to follow soon).... We want to thank all the Black people who have provided their labour and advocacy to help places like us learn. Black Lives Matter.

Thank you Rob and Adam from The Backline Podcast for giving our brains a workout at your Armando and Maker weekend intensives. We had a blast and cant wait to use what we learned!

Thank you for everyone who came from all over for last nights The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) (including Atlanta, GA and The Assembly Mxico!) Quotes of the night: Im gonna play my drums so hard its gonna be a goddamn earthquake Follow your thumbs down to your stickand grab your stick"... It looks like evil cotton candy Its not cute its a car. Its not a puppy, its a car There is no pickle with the pickle, if you know what I mean" Google, stop flirting with my husband!" See more

Thank you for everyone who came from all over for last night's The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) (including Atlanta, GA and The Assembly México!) Quotes of the night: Im gonna play my drums so hard its gonna be a goddamn earthquake Follow your thumbs down to your stickand grab your stick"... It looks like evil cotton candy Its not cute its a car. Its not a puppy, its a car There is no pickle with the pickle, if you know what I mean" Google, stop flirting with my husband!" See more

Oh my god! A giant!" Thanks for those who came to last night's The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) More quotes of the night: Georgia, instead of delegating, maybe you can help me put sunscreen on your father Because were a cruelty-free make-up line, were going to be testing on ourselves... The blush is making my skin sizzle! You can make yeast from air?? See more

The Improv Embassy workplace workshops are now online! We just a blast at our session with uOttawa, led by Krystal and Woody we had so much fun working with your Summer Orientation Guides on spicing up some presentations with the power of yes, and! (If your team could use some improv in the workplace, learn more at https://improvembassy.com/work/)

Oh my god! A giant!" Thanks for those who came to last nights The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) More quotes of the night: Georgia, instead of delegating, maybe you can help me put sunscreen on your father Because were a cruelty-free make-up line, were going to be testing on ourselves... The blush is making my skin sizzle! You can make yeast from air?? See more

Registration is open for our June session! Intro to Stand-Up on Weds 7-9 with Dani Alon and Chelsea Fahey Group Dynamics for Improv on Sundays 3-5pm with Dani Alon ... And our newest offering, Improv For Tweens on Tuesdays 4-5pm (starting June 9) with Lindsay Snow More info at www.improvembassy.com/online/

Thanks for coming to last nights ensemble-themed The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!). Quotes of the night: Im so sorry wormI hope you didnt have a family Dr bramble I hope you can help me with my celery addiction... "Pants are like sand. They're rough and coarse, and are everywhere." Ive got house pants and Ive got outdoor pants" Im gonna need you guys to explain what you think a basketball stick is" See more

Hello community! The Improv Embassy is trialing PWYC improv workshops for children aged 10 to 12 online, and looking for young participants to help us Tuesday May 12th from 4-5 pm test out some games and activities for free before we offer it. If you know a young person interested in participating in our trial, comment below or email Lindsay Snow at [email protected]

Great to see new faces at last night's The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) (including our guest from Sydney, Australia!) Quotes of the night: You know Mustard, when I see someone order a hot dog, I know its going to be your turn" Normally Im just a simple grade nine student going about my day... I dont think it should be a crime to hate puppies" Just because Im a writer, people think that I should like fiction" "Sometimes I get too deep into my past and I forget that I'm living now" See more

"Did you do something to my food supply? Because that the sort of thing you would do." Thanks to everyone (including our out of town participants from Toronto and Peterborough) who came to last nights The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) More quotes of the night: Im just trying to make ends meet in a cheese-filled world... The comforting smell of dampness" Have you done long form?" My life has been long." In my defense, the US has great sweetener." See more

Great to see new faces at last nights The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) (including our guest from Sydney, Australia!) Quotes of the night: You know Mustard, when I see someone order a hot dog, I know its going to be your turn" Normally Im just a simple grade nine student going about my day... I dont think it should be a crime to hate puppies" Just because Im a writer, people think that I should like fiction" "Sometimes I get too deep into my past and I forget that Im living now" See more

Big news! We're excited for new workshops with The Backline Podcast's Rob Norman and Adam Cawley in May. More info here: https://improvembassy.com//flex-your-improv-skills-with-t/

Thank you to everyone who came out to tonight's The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) (including our guest from London, UK who stayed up till 2am to be with us!) Quotes of the night: Welcome to the Scratch n Sniff supermarket! Moths are not unnecessary, this caterpillar is completely unnecessary.... Everything in this store is completely right" Being a Taxi Driver in 1977 is super stressful I know its hard for you being a park swing but, oh, being a teeter totter A curtain can be an urchin, but an urchin cant be a curtain. Theyre similar, but not. See more

Big news! Were excited for new workshops with The Backline Podcasts Rob Norman and Adam Cawley in May. More info here: https://improvembassy.com//flex-your-improv-skills-with-t/

SO MANY thank yous to everyone who came to our first online show, Very Good Improv Show - April. Stay tuned for the next one -- see you all again soon!

The romance you never knew you needed -- catch us tonight on Zoom: https://improvembassy.com/shop/very-good-improv-show-april/

Thank you to everyone who came out to tonights The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) (including our guest from London, UK who stayed up till 2am to be with us!) Quotes of the night: Welcome to the Scratch n Sniff supermarket! Moths are not unnecessary, this caterpillar is completely unnecessary.... Everything in this store is completely right" Being a Taxi Driver in 1977 is super stressful I know its hard for you being a park swing but, oh, being a teeter totter A curtain can be an urchin, but an urchin cant be a curtain. Theyre similar, but not. See more

More hilarity from our Very Good practice, featuring the adventures of Vague Man

When I look goodI think good." Thank you to everyone who joined tonights The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) (including a guest from Peterborough)! More quotes of the night: Here we go again with those tofu Easter Bunnies Are you really into putting your throbbing frog heart out there?"... I invited everyone from work to my sleepover and nobody took me up on it!" I assumed the relationship would evolve via sauce Time is a construct and youre a reminder that Im not getting any younger See more

This Saturday, were going to get REALLLLL. Heres a clip from our rehearsal where host Rich checks in with cast members Joshua, Quinn and Jeremy

This Saturday is the return of our Very Good Improv Show - April! Come watch a dozen of our House players slay the Armando and bring fresh laughs straight to your home. Like the poster promises, we WILL reach through your screen and touch you, Videodrome-style!

This ones looking at me funny -- Had a blast at tonights The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!) Quotes of the night: "You are all toxic" Sadness, youre such a LOSER!... Its totally the toosie cha cha slide "Lets do itfor Harry Potter." I have to admit JerryI do not like my son." I lived it. I was in a fight club. See more

Were ONLINE now! https://improvembassy.com/online/ The Improv Embassy is excited to offer ways of staying engaged through some new online programming (these are offered at variable pricing, to accommodate those in financial need, and for those with the means to donate extra to support our school) CLASSES: We are launching a new 4-week class, Premise: Comedy Writing for Improvisers (Online class) (Online class) (starting Sunday, Apr 19 and Tuesday, Apr 21) for those wanting t...o apply their improv background to writing jokes and sketch ideas. SHOWS: Our House show, Very Good Improv Show - April, will be returning 8pm on April 18, featuring a dozen of our best players. COMMUNITY: Our Thursday night drop-in, The Preserve Longform Jam - (online!), is back -- come by anytime for some fun exercises and longform reps with us! (And as always, if youd like to stay involved in the community, you can join the Improv Embassy Community group)