UBC Improv - IMPULSE 2011 Performers

PERFORMERS

Groups have traveled from far and wide to take part in the 3rd Annual IMPULSE Festival, check out the groups of current UBCimprov players and alumni as well as teams representing Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, National and International locations.

UBCIMPROV

NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan

Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a six-time NBA Champion, five-time MVP, and fourteen-time NBA All-Star. He was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2009. NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan are two kids called Michael and Jordan who thought it'd be funny to see a poster that said, "featuring improv by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan." They have yet to see such a poster. They are both performing members of UBCimprov and very, very handsome.

Performing: Thursday, March 24th

George and Stefan

George and Stefan are your relatives from the Red Sea. They met at UBC through UBCimprov and recently adopted a minature animal as a shared pet. During Impulse 2010, they performed together with Michael DeMaria and Jordan Moore as "Ages 13 & Up". This year, they're legal and ready to party - with the grandmas!

Performing: Friday, March 25th

Tricycle Fight

Tricycle Fight consists of Mirah Valdes, Alex Thornton and Rachel Smith. They are three friends who also improvise. The three star-crossed performers met in Vancouver while studying at UBC. Mirah is from North Vancouver and is actually an Anime character who has been brought to life. Her hobbies include archery and octopus-petting. Alex is a maritime pirate from the fierce waters off the east coast of Canada. He could save your life if you are drowning at the UBC aquatics center and he also speaks French beautifully. Rachel hails from Calgary, Alberta and not surprisingly, likes red meat and country music. But only good red meat and country music. Tricycle Fight wants to make you smile and laugh tonight.

Performing: Saturday, March 26th

WOO!YA!

Shauna and Brandon are bringing mildly entertainingly sexy-ish back. Shauna works at a sex shop and hopes to write children's literature. Brandon works for a local yoga clothing company and hopes to be an urban planner. That's all you need to know.

Performing: Saturday, March 26th

Naked Man Tax

Kenta Nezu and Max Montesi, two graduates of Lord Byng Secondary, and current players on the UBCimprov team form a fantastic anagrammed duo:
Naked Man Tax.

Performing: Saturday, March 26th

ALUMNI

Hip.Bang!

Hip.bang! is A) a pair of words that suggests something imaginative B) a pair of improvisors that imagine suggestive somethings. Comprised of former UBCimprov Presidents Tom Hill and Devin Mackenzie, Hip.Bang! weave beautiful stories filled with unique and hilarious personalities. Their show is like falling in love during a motorcycle fight.

Performing: Wednesday, March 23rd

Pump Trolley Comedy

Pump Trolley Comedy is a collective of eight improvisers, comedians, and tapestry weavers that performs comedy of all kinds in all the funny spots in Vancouver. Consummate festival lovers, they have performed in: Olio Festival, Music Waste, Vancouver International Improv Festival and Here Be Monsters.

Performing: Saturday, March 26th

Virginia Jack

Virginia Jack brings together the charming and comic brains ‘n hearts of Nicole Passmore & Briana Rayner, who bonded in the Vancouver comedy scene over sushi and dirty dirty gossip. After being cast-mates in the all-female improv group Rosa Parks Improv, Blaugh!, the Vancouver International Improv Festival, and a show at a women’s prison, they decided that together they could, at the very least, take over the world.

Performing: Friday, March 25th

The Sunday Service

The Sunday Service is one of the most respected, funniest and certainly the most consistent improv group in town. Their hilarious weekly dose of structured short-form games and open long-form improv has grown into a shinning North Star for Vancouver improv. They also produce a beautiful podcast entitled "A Beautiful Podcast," available at all fine podcast establishments.

Performing: Thursday, March 24th

VANCOUVER AREA

Tigerblood (Vancouver)

As the sun was setting, a unicorn gave birth to a dove. The dove flew through a waterfall into a magical cave where it found a portal to another universe. Unfortunately, it was caught in the portal and it's brain was fried. In this world, Nir and Nima are friends who love to improvise.

Performing: Wednesday, March 23rd

KellBreBad. (Vancouver/Port Moody/Coquitlam)

Ghazal met Fran. Ghazal and Fran became friends. Nate met Ghazal and Fran. Nate coached Ghazal and Fran in high school. Nate and Ghazal became friends. Fran and Nate became friends. Nate, Ghazal, and Fran all became friends. Their friendship remains. Nate, Fran, and Ghazal love improv.

Performing: Wednesday, March 23rd

Pumpernickel Loafers (Vancouver)

A team from UBCimprov's workshop stream featuring Allie Entwistle, Katrina Furugori, Louis Deschner and Nick Curry.

Performing: Friday, March 25th

NATIONAL

Tales From The Improv Zone (Edmonton)

Nigel and Ryan have been improvising with Tales From The Improv Zone for a few years now. Tales From The Improv Zone is a improv group based out of Sherwood Park Alberta. They met when they were just in high school but these diverse boys with good hearts have been friends ever since!

Performing: Wednesday, March 23rd

Platypus Bear (Ottawa/Vancouver)

You might think Platypus Bear is a hybrid platypus and bear, but it's actually Andrew Chen and Cari Leslie. These two first met at Improv Camp in 2003 and hang out once, maybe twice a year. Andrew and Cari live not only on opposite ends of the country (almost), but also on opposite ends of the cleanliness spectrum. Together, they are Platypus Bear: venturing through strange lands, righting wrongs, and occasionally stopping for snacks.

Performing: Wednesday, March 23th

The Edmontonians From Mars Drive Lonely Broke Again (Edmonton)

Team Members: Kevin Pinkoski, Annie Pumphrey, Todd Houseman, Tess Grynoch & Jenna Briscoe
Est.: 1943
Team Mantra: N/A

Performing: Thursday, March 24th

Terrordactyl (Edmonton)

Terrordactyl is a quadfecta of improvisational clout composed of Tim Mikula, Gordie Lucius, Nate Kan and Jordan Mullins. With a combined 14 years experience, weight of over half a ton, and approximately 112 teeth, Terrordactyl is the rat king of the improv world. We may be a monster, but we have four hearts. We will excite you, we will fright you, we will make your mouth bleed and bowels loosen... with love.

Performing: Thursday, March 24th

The Curious Case of Benjamin Butt-Head (Edmonton)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Butt-Head is a 2008 American fantasy-drama film directed by David Fincher. The screenplay by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord is loosely based on the 1922 short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The film stars Brad Pitt as a man who ages in reverse and Cate Blanchett as the love interest throughout his life. The film was released in the United States on December 25, 2008.

Performing: Friday, March 25th

INTERNATIONAL

The Collective (Seattle)

The Collective is entering its 11th year of fun at the University of
Washington. Springing forth from rumored Communist origins and
Avant-garde (i.e. really strange) flashlight shows, the Collective is
more recently known for original long form improv, occasional
short form, and suspected involvement in a yearly fight between
robots, ninjas, and pirates.

Performing: Thursday, March 24th

The Dead Parrots Society (Bellingham)

Western Washington University's own DEAD PARROTS SOCIETY is the famous Improvisational Theatre group responsible for entertaining the masses at a moment's notice. The Parrots are all talented Western students who perform regularly throughout the quarter and at various gigs throughout the Bellingham area. They specialize in Improvisational Theatre; the fine art of performing hilarious scenes at the drop of a hat. The Parrots recently took the top prize at the Chicago Improv Festival's College Improv Tournament.

Performing: Saturday, March 26th

The Festival Ensemble (Various)

Featuring Nick Harvey-Cheetham, Andrew Christoffel, Amber McLennan, Roy Pat (UBCimprov, Vancouver), Cari Leslie (Crush Improv, Ottawa), Will Li, Margaret Erickson (The Collective, Seattle), James McGrath, Nathan Streifil (Dead Parrots Society, Bellingham), Kevin Pinkoski, Tim Mikula and Todd Houseman (UIG, Edmonton), the Festival Ensemble is a fresh new combination of some of the top young improv talent this fair continent has to offer. Under the direction of Vancouver's Kaitlin Fontana (Instant Theatre, Ghost Jail Theatre, Rosa Parks Improv), the Ensemble is one part improv huricane and one part real french kiss.

Performing: Friday, March 25th