Après avoir rencontré plusieurs grands candidats, Impro Montréal est heureux de présenter son nouveau conseil d'administration. == After meeting many great candidates, Montreal Improv is pleased to present its new Board of Directors.

👋👋👋

(English version follows)

Le conseil d'administration d’Impro Montréal souhaite ajouter quatre nouveaux sièges au conseil.

En 2020, les directeurs/trices du conseil auront pour mandat d’amener le théâtre dans sa prochaine phase de croissance. Ils/elles bâtiront une vision du fonctionnement d’Impro Montréal en solidifiant les bases de ses valeurs fondamentales et en faisant des projections à court, et à long terme.

Le conseil d'administration est responsable de ces principaux domaines:

- Contrôle juridique:  Le conseil d'administration garantit l'intégrité juridique et éthique et maintient la responsabilité. - Contrôle de gestion:  Le conseil embauche et soutient le directeur exécutif et évalue sa performance. - Surveillance financière:  Le conseil d'administration assure une surveillance financière appropriée, y compris l'établissement et l'approbation d'un budget annuel. - Surveillance du programme:  Le conseil d'administration s'assure que des programmes sont en place pour faire avancer la mission et les objectifs de l'organisation.

Les membres du conseil d'administration ne sont pas rémunérés. Les membres du conseil d'administration devront consacrer de 8 à 12 heures par mois à leur mandat.

Nous recherchons des membres impliqués dans la communauté depuis plusieurs années et qui ont un niveau de bilinguisme fonctionnel.

-Nous sommes particulièrement intéressés par des personnes ayant une expertise dans les domaines suivants: - droit - comptabilité - ressources humaines

Si vous êtes intéressé.e, veuillez contacter [email protected] avant le 17 janvier.

==

Montreal Improv's board of directors is looking to add 4 news seats to the board.

In 2020, Board Directors will be leading the theatre into its next phase of growth. They will be building a vision of how Montreal Improv operates, laying the foundation of its core values and what the theatre will look like in both the near- and long-term.

The board is responsible for these main areas:

- Legal oversight:  The board ensures legal and ethical integrity and maintains accountability. - Management oversight:  The board hires and supports the executive director and assesses his/her performance. - Financial oversight:  The board provides proper financial oversight, including setting and approving an annual budget. - Program oversight:  The board ensures that programs are in place to further the mission and goals of the organization.

Members of the board are not remunerated. Members of the board are expected to devote approx. 8-12 hours/month to board duties.

We are looking for community members who: - have been involved in the community for several years - are functionally bilingual

We are particularly interested in people with expertise in the following areas: - law - accounting - human resources

(english version follows)

GESTIONNAIRE DES MÉDIAS SOCIAUX

Responsable de la promotion des spectacles, cours et autres événements d'Impro Montréal sur nos médias sociaux. (temps partiel)

Exigences: - Excellent/e communicateur/trice - Parfaitement bilingue (parlé, écrit) - Familiarité avec la gestion de la présence sur les médias sociaux

Fonctions: - Gestion des comptes et des partenaires des médias sociaux - S’engager avec la communauté - Création de contenu pour nos comptes de médias sociaux (pub, images basées sur une illustration existante, etc.) - Planification des publications sur tous les canaux

Durée: 6 mois, avec possibilité de renouvellement

Le travail peut être effectué à domicile, selon un horaire flexible. Compensation à discuter.

Pour postuler, envoyez un CV et une lettre de motivation à [email protected] avant le 27 septembre, 2019.

Les personnes de couleur, les personnes handicapées, les femmes, les personnes bi-spirituelles, les personnes queer et les personnes trans, et tout.e.s candidat.e.s qui ont l’expérience de la marginalité sont fortement encouragés à postuler et à l’identifier dans leur lettre de présentation. Nous nous engageons à créer un espace de travail aussi varié que la communauté que nous servons, ainsi qu’à soutenir notre personnel par des possibilités continues de développement de carrière.

==

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

This position is responsible for promoting shows, classes and other events by Montreal Improv on our social media outlets. (part-time)

Requirements: - Excellent communicator - Fluently bilingual (spoken, written) - Familiarity with managing a social media presence

Duties: - Managing social media accounts and partners - Engaging with the community - Generating material for our social media accounts (writing or adapting promotional text, creating images based on existing show artwork, etc) - Scheduling of posts to all channels

Duration: 6-month term, possibility of renewal

Work can be done from home, flexible scheduling. Compensation to be discussed.

To apply, send a CV and cover letter to [email protected] by September 27, 2019

Looking for a chance to improve your improv skills but no time to take a full class?

Dani Alon (Artistic Director @ Ottawa's Improv Embassy) is coming to visit and teach a one-off workshop this Saturday afternoon.

THE ENSEMBLE WORKSHOP: You will learn to navigate scenes with multiple characters, work on developing the group mind with your ensemble, and find how your unique comedic voice can best serve your team. Using elements like status, emotion and alignment, you will learn to honour and build on each other's choices onstage to create dynamic group improv (and scenes that are actually fun).

(english version below)

Ces postes sont financés par une subvention canadienne pour l'emploi des jeunes et la condition d'admissibilité est que l'employé ait 30 ans ou moins.

These positions are funded by a Canada Youth Employment Grant and the condition of eligibility is that the employee is 30 years old or under.

Vous ne pouvez pas vous rendre à notre Consultation Communautaire de 2019? Envoyez-nous vos commentaires ou demandez-nous de traiter n'importe quel sujet via notre formulaire Google.

Le Consultation Communautaire a également pour objectif d’être visible sur Facebook en direct, via notre groupe d’étudiants.

(via our English Education Director, Lacy Alana)

SAVE THE DATE!

Montreal Improv is going to have its first English Queer Jam on December 16th, Sunday! This is an event for those who identify as QUEER, TRANS, LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, GENDERQUEER, etc. If you feel you belong here, you belong here!

WHEN: Sunday, December 16th @10:30-12:30 10:30-11 --> Show up, mingle, and socialize! 11-12:30 --> Engage in some warm-ups/exercises, and then jam!

WHO: Anyone who identifies as queer, trans, lesbian, gay, bisexual, genderqueer etc. If you feel like you belong here, you do! All levels are welcome! We'll always have an instructor on hand to lead some warm-ups and facilitate the jam as much as is needed for the group that is there!

WHAT: This is a safe space to connect and improvise together. This is a place where queer identities and relationships can be explored onstage and we can connect, improvise, and have fun! FREE!

Impro Montréal est ravie d'annoncer l'arrivée de Louise Hébert au sein de notre conseil d'administration. Elle a été un membre merveilleux de notre communauté pendant des années et apporte une riche expérience et un leadership à notre entreprise.

Native du petit village de Racine dans les Cantons de l'Est, Louise est arrivée dans la grande ville de Montréal pour y terminer un bac en enseignement du français. Carrière qu'elle a bien aimée mais la piqûre du voyage a eu vite raison de sa motivation. Après deux stages en Haïti, Louise a parcouru l'Europe sac au dos durant une année, travaillé comme représentante à destination durant cinq années à Cuba et a accueilli des groupes de touristes à Paris et à New York. En 1985, elle a fondé la compagnie Guidatour, agence de services de guides qu'elle a pilotée jusqu'en décembre dernier. Mère de trois enfants, Louise c'est aussi la Mamilou de Léon et Louis-Philippe. Voyages, randonnées, vélo, cours d'italien occupent ses loisirs cela sans compter l'impro sa grande passion depuis maintenant six ans.

C'est avec enthousiasme que Louise a accepté de faire partie de notre équipe. Elle est convaincue que l'impro peut aider chacun à libérer le meilleur de sa créativité. Son souhait le plus cher est d'avoir assez de temps pour trouver toutes les personnes qui ne le savent pas encore et pouvoir leur en parler!

==

Montreal Improv is delighted to announce the addition of Louise Hébert to our Board of Directors. She has been a great member of our community for years and brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the company.

Coming from the small town of Racine in the Eastern Townships, Louise came to the big city of Montréal to finish a degree in teaching French. It was a career she loved but Louise caught the travel bug and it whisked her away. After two internships in Haiti, Louise backpacked across Europe, worked in tourism for five years in Cuba and was a tour guide in both New York and Paris. In 1985 she founded Guidatour, a company that offers guided tours around Montreal. Louise was the President and head of Guidatour until December of last year.

Mother of three, Louise is also the Nana of Léon and Louis-Philippe. Her hobbies are traveling, hiking, biking, Italian classes, and last but not least, improv which has become her great passion over the last six years.

Our cast members get ready to broadcast the news...

Pisco Sour Presents: The 2 PM Evening News, May 24th 2018

"Everytime you show me a place, it turns out it's haunted!"

"Just have an open mind!"

Pisco Sour Presents: The 2 PM Evening News, May 24th 2018

Interview by Isobel Cully

In this week’s Meet Your Makers, we talk to Jaymie and David, the producers of The Haunt, a bi-weekly Harold show here at the Montreal Improv Theatre. 

Jaymie is known for having the best hair in Montreal and the best handle on twitter (aka Paggligucci). David is known for having the most squeezable cheeks and the least social media presence. 

In case you weren’t already completely enamored with them — how could you not be?! — they have agreed to answer some of the New York Times’ 36 Questions That Lead To Love.   

The only extant photo of Jaymie and David, circa 2015. 

1. Would you like to be famous? In what way?

JM: I’d want to be a famous person by name but not by face. Like, we all know Matt Groening, but I couldn’t tell the guy apart from any crusty gen X geek. That’s a sweet deal. He gets to retain most of his privacy, all while being able to instantly command the attention of a room full of nerds should he choose to break anonymity. Being known for your face sucks. You have to wear a wig and sunglasses to go to the store and buy Froot Loops. No thank you.

DK: I think fame would destroy me. So yes.

2. If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

JM: I would definitely want the body of a 30 year old. People will look past delirium for a hot dad bod. I don’t even know if Chris Pine speaks coherent sentences, but I’d invite him up to my apartment any damn day. You know what I mean?

DK: I would also pick the body of a 30 year old. That way my 90 year old self could try to *fit in* and *hang* with the cool kids born in in 2050.

3. Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

JM: My wife, Saima. I don’t like talking to strangers.

DK: My wife, Sarah. We would eat nearby where Jaymie and his wife were eating, but not acknowledge them until all parties were a little uncomfortable.  

4. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

JM: I wouldn’t be so preoccupied by what others think of me. Too real.

DK: Street Magic. Even though I would never use my powers, it would be cool to know I could blow someone’s mind at any point.

5. If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

JM: What do I look like from behind? Does my voice really sound to others like it does in a microphone?

DK: Will fame destroy me?

6. What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

JM: What a loaded question! Okay. It depends who you are, what you’ve been through and where you’re from. Don’t be making jokes about other people’s circumstances when you don’t know the first thing about them. Honestly, the best jokes are full of truth because the person telling the joke knows lives or has lived what they speak. That’s my golden rule.

DK: Street Magic. It deserves your respect.

7. When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

JM: I sing to myself every minute of everyday. I just love music. I can’t do anything without it. Of course, I have to sing “Hello my Baby” anytime I walk through a door so I’m just singing to everyone all the time.

DK: I’m quite talented at improvised song parodies.

8. Name three things you and your partner have in common.

JM: We love improv, the real nerdy stuff. Also, both our families are from Granby, Quebec. And, of course, we are exactly the same height.

DK: And we both have awesome facial hair.

9. Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “We are both in this room feeling …”

We’re both answering these questions at our day jobs like the total slackers we are. We both very strongly feel that (JM:Ratatouille/DK: Up) is the best Pixar film. We want everyone to like us, but deep down we know it’s not possible.

10. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how he might handle it.

JM: Dave, I can’t help but feel FOMO any time I miss an improv show. How can I handle this?

DK: Make sure you keep an organized calendar. Time management skills are life skills. With proper habits, you too can see every improv show.

ABOUT THE HAUNT

11. Describe your show, The Haunt.

The Haunt is a bi-monthly show that happens on Wednesdays at 9:30 PM. It’s kind of like a comforting, regular hangout show to give you a bump halfway through the week. We feature 3 of the theater’s best troupes every week and they perform a format called a “Harold” which is all about interconnecting scenes with themes and bringing together a wide array of comedic premises. The style of improv was developed in Chicago in the 70s, but we’re giving it a distinctly Montreal twist at The Haunt! And by that we mean bagels and smoke meat reference every scene.

Did we mention we give out free snacks every show? Oh ya. We do that.

12. What excites you the most about your show?

It. Is. So. Fun.

Honestly! We do our best to let loose on stage and include the audience in shaking off the weight of work week, give them laughs and snacks and send people home feeling good. So far, it’s worked!

13. In 5 words, why should people come to The Haunt?

What else you gonna do?

FINAL QUESTIONS

14. Where can people find you (twitter, instagram, snapchat, kik, omegle, myspace, etc.)?

We’re exclusively on the worst social media platform of all: Facebook. Search “The Haunt Montreal Improv” and you’ll find the event for our next show.

15. Is there anything you want the Montreal Improv community to know (about you or in general)?

About us: We love to hear feedback about our show. So, if you’ve seen the show and thought “hey, that was pretty good” or “hey, why don’t you try this instead” or “hey, hey,” let us know!

In general: A black hole is a a region of space having a gravitational field so intense that no matter or radiation can escape.

16. Do you want to plug anything else?

Interview by Isobel Cully

Meet the legends that make Indie Night happen EVERY WEEK, Alex Brown and Saima Ahmed. 

You know Alex as an improviser, sketch comedian and all around funny person (Lil Strawberry Bitch, Fancy at The Haunt, Camp Wanapoke, etc, etc, etc). You know Saima as the girl behind the camera, taking sick pics of your favourite performers and making you jealous on Instagram. You know both of them as Montreal Improv’s best dressed duo. You can go see them host Indie Night every Saturday night at 9:30 PM, in Theatre B.

  1.    Would you like to be famous? In what way?

AB: Yes, I would like to be a famous podcaster and/or filmmaker/performer. I pretty much have the same career ambitions now as I did when I was 6 years old. Except for the podcasting part, if you asked me what podcasting was when I was 6 I would have probably explained it as some kind of net you cast to catch...pods? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

SA: Tbh, I don’t think so! It seems so competitive! I’m more a “behind the scenes” but very much in control gal. I prefer to be recognized and appreciated for my work and connect with people that way. In other words, I still want to dress up and go to the Oscars but as a producer rather than an actor.

2.   If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

AB: Mind for sure. I plan on having a tight bod when I’m 90 and I need my mind to keep up.

SA: Hm tough call. I’m going to agree with Al, an active mind means an active body!

3.   Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

AB: My dearly departed yellow lab Winnie and we would share a spaghetti dinner with a side of corn on the cob because those were her faves.

SA: Michelle Obama! To talk about how we can help empower women to run the world over some fish tacos.

4.   If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

AB: The ability to know which ability or quality I would like to gain. So I guess decision making and resolve?

SA: The ability to help create peaceful resolutions between 2 parties. Imagine how useful that would be in 2018!

5.   Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

AB: I thought this said ‘secret lunch’ at first so I’m assuming it’s going to have something to do with my not being able to read instructions properly and things going horribly awry. Conversely if it turned out to be lunch related I wouldn’t be mad.

SA: Haha, I’m a speed reader and I read secret lunch too! Agree 100% with Al on this.

6.   When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

AB: I wish I had a better answer for this than ‘in an improv show’, but I will have to admit that I serenaded a group of paying audience members this past Friday night with a rousing rendition of ‘I Wanna Be the First Female CEO’ at Friday Night’s Main Event - Fridays at 8:30pm at Montreal Improv ;)

SA: I have been singing “The Kids Are Alright” by Chloe x Halle to myself for a few weeks now. I’m a horrible singer so I avoid singing in public at all cost.

GROUP QUESTIONS

8. Make three true “we” statements. 

We both love thrift shopping

We both love a good time

Against our better judgment, we both are close personal friends with Seth Galina

9. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how she might handle it.

AB: What can I do to stay focused and/or motivated at my day job?

SA: Before you start, make a list of things you need to do. I find it surprisingly satisfying (even motivating) to cross things off my list. Also take breaks, I find it helps me focus if I know that afterwards I can chill.

AB: I am MC’ing a friend’s backyard wedding this summer, what should I wear?

SA: For the MC, I would say lean towards a bit more of a classic silhouette and add some Alex Brown touches via accessories to keep it hip. I’m a fan of a unique dress or a chic jumpsuit.

SA: I know for a fact that you are a morning person. I have trouble waking up really early, any tips?

AB: Unfortunately there’s no real easy hack for this, I think you’re either a morning person or you’re not. That said I’m sure you could cultivate habits over time to get better at it. I drink a really big glass of water as soon as I wake up and then I go to the gym or try to do a little bit of exercise at home at least. Giving yourself some time for you is super important. My motto for 2018 and beyond is ‘self care, don’t care’!

SA: I’m going to be moving soon but before that, I want to get rid of shit I don’t need. What’s the best method to declutter?

AB: Honestly since I’m a basic binch I pray to the goddess of tidiness, Marie Kondo. Her book actually taught me so much about getting rid of stuff. I can confidently say that the only clothes I own now are ones that ‘spark joy’. You can borrow my copy! Jk I don’t have it anymore, I gave it away.

SHOW QUESTIONS

10. Describe your show, Indie Night.

Indie Night is a weekly improv show that showcases performers of various experience levels from all over the city! We have a bit of everything from solo improv, class fields trips, current and past house teams and some pretty cool out of town acts. We’ve even had some musical acts! Indie Night takes place every Saturday night at 9:30pm and the last Saturday of the month is *Ladies Night*, featuring all female/female-identifying performers.

10. What excites you the most about your show?

We love that we have this amazing platform and get to provide the opportunity to new acts to perform. We are often the origin story show for some troupes that go onto create some pretty funny things. For some players Indie Night is even the very first time they’ve ever performed in front of an audience, which is very exciting!

The show isn’t just for newbies, we have all sorts of acts featuring varying levels of players. The fun thing about Indie Night is that you can see more experienced players perform with newer players and you never know what you’re gonna get on any given Saturday!

11. In 5 words, why should people come to Indie Night?

It is a good time!

FINAL QUESTIONS

12. Where can people find you (twitter, instagram, snapchat, kik, omegle, myspace, etc.)?

SA: You can find Indie Night at Montreal Improv on Facebook. We also have a hashtag across all social media #indienightmtl . You can find me on Instagram @steezsister and Twitter @_SaimaAhmed. You can also find us both Saturday Nights at 9:30 at Indie Night! Did you like that subtle plug?

AB: I’m on Instagram at @djbabybrown but I haven’t posted since October 2017 and I mostly only follow plants and Simpsons merch accounts. :) Seth Galina is @sethgalina on Instagram and Twitter.

13. Is there anything you want the Montreal Improv community to know (about you or in general)?

SA: I think this goes for both of us, we’re always here! Come say hi and talk to us, we don’t bite. Or so we haven’t been told otherwise yet.

AB: I will bite you if you ask nicely. :)

14. Do you want to plug anything else?

INDIE NIGHT. INDIE NIGHT. INDIE NIGHT.

Interview by Isobel Cully

If you don’t know Vance Gillis, you probably have never been to Montreal Improv. You might have seen him on stage cracking you up with his wry humour (with his troupes Jess and Vance, Big Mall, Fancy at The Haunt and popping into all the best shows), behind the stage producing some of Montreal Improv’s coolest shows (50/50, Teen Mom, At The Movie, and so much more), teaching new improvisers how to be funny (did you know he’s the Education Director at Montreal Improv?), or just walking around with his piercing blue eyes (see photo for proof) and the best eyebrows since Cara Delevingne. 

Today, he’s answering some questions about himself, ripped straight from the New York Times’ The 36 Questions That Lead To Love, and talking about his show At The Movie, that’s having it’s grand season finale Saturday, April 14 at 8 PM, in Theatre B. Don’t miss it!

1.   Would you like to be famous? In what way?

Probably not. I can’t imagine I’d be very polite to TMZ.

2.   If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?

I basically already have the body of a 90 year old, so I’ll say “mind”.

3.   Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

Probably food nerd David Chang or science nerd Neil deGrasse Tyson. Can I have both?

4.   If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?

It’s my dream to be someday referred to as being “chill”. I would also like to power of flight.

5.   Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?

Shot out of a cannon into the sun I guess.

6.   When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?

I sometimes sing made up TV show themes to my girlfriend. It gets a laugh like 33% of the time.

7.   What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?

24 degrees Celsius, sunny, no plan, no budget and my phone is dead.

ABOUT YOUR SHOW

8.   Describe your show, At The Movies.

A team of tenured improvisors watch the first five minutes of a movie that none of them have seen before and then make up the rest on stage. It was borrowed (with permission) from Vancouver’s Little Mountain Improv, who performed their take on the format last Summer.

9.   What excites you the most about your show?

The audience understands exactly what makes the format so challenging and you can sort of feel their support for the performers. There’s this palpable camaraderie between the audience and the cast that feels exciting.

10.  In 5 words, why should people come to your show?

It’s incredibly cheap and fun

FINAL QUESTIONS

11.   Where can people find you (twitter, instagram, snapchat, kik, omegle, myspace, etc.)?

Find Vance’s shows at: facebook.com/5050mtl twitter.com/5050mtl instagram.com/5050mtl

Find Vance at: twitter.com/ohyeahnokidding  instagram.com/howardgeorgevance

12.   Do you want to plug anything else?

I’ll be appearing in Montreal Sketchfest with my sketch comedy duo Big Mall on Friday, May 11th at 8 PM at Montreal Improv. We’re sharing the bill with Winnipeg’s Family Portrait and Montreal Improv co-founder Kirsten Rasmussen!