Rapid Fire Theatre is an improvisational theatre

Improvisational theatre

Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...

 company based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. The company’s goal is to provide affordable, high-energy improvisation and alternative theatre to audiences in Edmonton and beyond, while providing exciting opportunities for its participants.

History

The origins of the company stretch to 1981, when Edmonton's Theatre Network
became the third company in the world to regularly produce Keith Johnstone

Keith Johnstone

Keith Johnstone is a drama instructor whose teachings and books have focused on improvisational theatre and have had a major influence on the art of improvisation.-Education:...

's
Theatresports

Theatresports

Theatresports is a form of improvisational theatre, which uses the format of a competition for dramatic effect. Opposing teams can perform scenes based on audience suggestions, with ratings by the audience or by a panel of judges...

. The Artistic Director of Theatre Network at the time, Stephen
Heatley, brought the high-energy format to Edmonton, and eventually, performers
from the show formed Rapid Fire Theatre, which officially became its own theatre
company in 1988. Rapid Fire Theatre performed originally at the Phoenix Theatre
in Downtown Edmonton until 1990 when it moved to The Chinook Theatre in Old
Strathcona, which became the Varscona Theatre

Varscona Theatre

The Varscona Theatre is a live performance venue in the Old Strathcona neighborhood of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. A former firehall, since 1994 the Varscona has been operated by a consortium of small theatre companies, including Rapid Fire Theatre, Shadow Theatre and Teatro la Quindicina...

 in 1994. Rapid Fire Theatre has
performed there ever since and is part of the Varscona Theatre Alliance, along with
Teatro la Quindicina

Teatro la Quindicina

Teatro la Quindicina is a theatre company founded by Canadian playwright Stewart Lemoine in 1982 at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival. The company is best known for producing Lemoine's original works but also produces a new comedy by an Edmonton-based playwright each season...

 and Shadow Theatre

Shadow Theatre

The Shadow Theatre is an Edmonton-based theatre company born of the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in 1990.-History:Shadow Theatre was incorporated in 1992, operating under the governance of a volunteer Board of Directors...

.

Artistic Directors

• Stephen Heatley (Theatre Network)
• Jack Smith 1988-1991
• Patti Stiles 1991-1995
• Jacob Banigan 1995-2004
• Chris Craddock 2005-2009
• Kevin Gillese 2009-2010
• Amy Shostak 2010-Present

Shows

RFT currently produces two weekly shows: Theatresports

Theatresports

Theatresports is a form of improvisational theatre, which uses the format of a competition for dramatic effect. Opposing teams can perform scenes based on audience suggestions, with ratings by the audience or by a panel of judges...

 and the long form improv

Improvisational theatre

Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...

 show Chimprov. Some members of Rapid Fire Theatre have produced or performed in sketch comedy shows.. Other shows previously produced by RFT over the years have included Gorilla Theatre, Catch 23 and The 11:02 Show, as well as main stage productions like "On Being a Peon" and "The Critic", penned by RFT member Chris Craddock, as well as collaborative projects like “Fairytales Scratched” (Kevin Gillese

Kevin Gillese

Kevin Gillese is a Canadian actor, writer and improvisor from Edmonton, Alberta. He started as a performer with the improv company Rapid Fire Theatre and also works regularly with the Atomic Improv and performs annually at the Die-Nasty Soap-A-Thon...

 & Arlen Konopaki), “A Watched Pot Never Boyles” (Amy Shostak & Arlen Konopaki), and “Kiss My Bus” (Amy Shostak, Kirsten Rasmussen, and Clarice Eckford). This May, RFT celebrated the 30th season of Theatresports

Theatresports

Theatresports is a form of improvisational theatre, which uses the format of a competition for dramatic effect. Opposing teams can perform scenes based on audience suggestions, with ratings by the audience or by a panel of judges...

 in Edmonton with its Alumni Weekend.

Improvaganza

RFT also hosts an annual international improvisation festival, Improvaganza, which brings improv artists from across the world together every June. Past guest artists at Improvaganza have included members of CRUMBS

CRUMBS

CRUMBS is an improvisational theatre duo based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.The comedy duo formed in Winnipeg in 1997 and has since toured the world. They have toured in Europe more than any other improv act. The duo consists of two actors, Stephen Sim and Lee White...

, Picnicface

Picnicface

Picnicface is a Canadian sketch comedy troupe based in Halifax, NS consisting of Mark Little, Andrew Bush, Kyle Dooley, Cheryl Hann, Brian MacQuarrie, Evany Rosen, Scott Vrooman and Bill Wood. Formed in 2006, the group's alternative comedy style quickly caught on with millions of Internet viewers...

, The Pajama Men

The Pajama Men

The Pajama Men are Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez, an American comedy duo from Albuquerque, New Mexico. They have won numerous awards including the prestigious Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2009 and Best Newcomer and Best of the Fest at The Sydney Comedy Festival in...

, Convoy (Upright Citizens Brigade

Upright Citizens Brigade

The Upright Citizens Brigade is an improvisational comedy and sketch comedy group that emerged from Chicago's ImprovOlympic in 1990. The most recent incarnation consists of Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh...

), Neil Hamburger

Neil Hamburger

Neil Hamburger is a standup comedian character played by comedian and musician Gregg Turkington.-Style:Hamburger's live act, which is quite different from his many albums, features a barrage of question/answer jokes aimed often at celebrity targets, including Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, The Red...

, Standards and Practices, Doppelganger, La Gata, The School of Night

The School of Night

The School of Night is a modern name for a group of men centred on Sir Walter Raleigh that was once referred to in 1592 as the "School of Atheism." The group supposedly included poets and scientists such as Christopher Marlowe, George Chapman and Thomas Harriot...

, Teater Liksom, Et Compagnie, Mantown, Dad's Garage Theatre Company

Dad's Garage Theatre Company

Dad's Garage Theatre Company, located in Inman Park near Little Five Points in Atlanta, Georgia, was founded in 1995 by Chris Blair, Marc Cram, Sean Daniels, John Gregorio, David Keeton, Joseph Limbaugh, Matt Stanton, and Matt Young. The small theater company has since achieved international...

, Die Gorillas, Iron Cobra

Iron cobra

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the iron cobra is a construct.-Publication history:The iron cobra first appeared in the first edition in the original Fiend Folio ....

, Loose Moose Theatre

Loose Moose Theatre

The Loose Moose Theatre Company , is a theater company based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was co-founded in 1977, by Keith Johnstone and Mel Tonken. LMTC has an international reputation for developing the theatrical style of improvisation and specifically the work of Keith Johnstone...

, Teater Narobov and Unexpected Productions

Unexpected Productions

Unexpected Productions is an improvisational comedy company in Seattle, Washington, USA. From their home at the Market Theater in Seattle's historic Pike Place Market, Unexpected Productions produces year-round shows, teaches improv classes, and hosts the Seattle International Festival of...

. 2012 will mark 12th Annual Improvaganza. In 2011, Rapid Fire Theatre launched a successful crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing is the act of sourcing tasks traditionally performed by specific individuals to a group of people or community through an open call....

 funding campaign through Indie Go Go to raise funds for the festival, raising almost $6,000 to bring international guests to the city of Edmonton

Edmonton

Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...

.

Musical guests have included The Magnificent Sevens, Gift of Gab

Gift of Gab

Gift of gab is an idiomatic phrase which means the "ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly". Gift of Gab may also refer to:*Irish legend of the Blarney Stone*Gift of Gab , a black-and-white film released in 1934 by Universal Pictures...

, Mass Choir, Christian Hansen & The Autistics

Christian Hansen & The Autistics

Christian Hansen & The Autistics is a musical group out of Edmonton, Alberta. Formed late in 2007, the band consists of Christian Hansen and Molly Flood. The band describes themselves as "the dazzle of disco mixed with the immediacy of punk rock...

, The Famines

The Famines

The Famines are a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2008 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The two piece band uses a modern and minimalistic approach that draws comparison to mid 1970's protopunk and fuzzy garage rock.-History:...

, Doug Hoyer

Doug Hoyer

Doug Hoyer is a singer-songwriter residing in Edmonton, Alberta. He has been active since 2003 when he was a cast member of Rock Camp , which aired on CBC Television in 2004, alongside Joel Plaskett and various guests.-Recordings:...

, Rah Rah, The Joe, Mikey Maybe, and Mitchmatic.

The festival is partially funded by the Government of Canada

Government of Canada

The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...

.

Awards

Rapid Fire Theatre has received several awards, including a special Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award

Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award

The Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award is a local Edmonton, Alberta award presented annually which honours excellence in theatre...

 for excellence in theatre. The company has been nominated twice for Best Improv Troupe at The Canadian Comedy Awards

Canadian Comedy Awards

The Canadian Comedy Awards, founded by , are an annual awards ceremony celebrating notable English speaking Canadian comedians for achievements in Live, Radio, Film, Television and Internet media over the previous year...

.

Touring

Members of the company have performed across the world, including multiple appearances at the Berlin International Improv Festival, The Vancouver International Improv Festival (VIIF), The Winnipeg International Improv Festival (IF), The Canadian Comedy Award Showcases (Toronto), The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Theatresports Tournament hosted by Vancouver Theatresports League, and the World Domination Theatresports Tournament presented annually in Atlanta by Dad's Garage Theatre Company

Dad's Garage Theatre Company

Dad's Garage Theatre Company, located in Inman Park near Little Five Points in Atlanta, Georgia, was founded in 1995 by Chris Blair, Marc Cram, Sean Daniels, John Gregorio, David Keeton, Joseph Limbaugh, Matt Stanton, and Matt Young. The small theater company has since achieved international...

.

Current Perfomers

Current performers at Rapid Fire Theatre include Amy Shostak, Joe Vanderhelm, Arlen Konopaki, Julian Faid, Kory Mathewson, Jamie Cavanagh, Tad Hargrave, Mark Meer

Mark Meer

Mark Meer is a Canadian actor, writer and improvisor, based in Edmonton, Alberta. He is a core company member of the Canadian Comedy Award-winning live improvised soap opera Die-Nasty, and was the first performer to complete the annual 53-hour long Die-Nasty Soap-A-Thon without sleep.He is also a...

, and Chris Craddock.

Notable alumni

Players and alumni of Rapid Fire Theatre include Dana Andersen

Dana Andersen

Dana Andersen is an Edmonton-based actor, improvisor, filmmaker, writer and director. He is an alumnus of The Second City, and has worked closely with Mike Myers, Ryan Stiles, and Joe Flaherty, among others. He currently serves as director of the live improvised soap opera Die-Nasty, and has been a...

, Jacob Banigan, David Belke, Wes Borg

Wes Borg

Wes Borg is a Canadian comedian, playwright and musician from Edmonton, best known as a member of the comedy troupe Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie. Borg now resides in Victoria, British Columbia....

, Marty Chan

Marty Chan

Marty Chan is a Chinese-Canadian author/playwright who works and lives in Edmonton, Alberta. His works include Something Dead And Evil Lurks In The Cemetery And It's My Dad, The Bone House, Maggie's Last Dance, Mom, Dad - I'm Living with a White Girl, and The Forbidden Phoenix...

, Chris Craddock, Josh Dean

Josh Dean

George Joshua Christian Dean is a Canadian actor and improvisor. He hails from Edmonton, Alberta, where he performed in the improvised soap opera Die-Nasty and toured with improv company Rapid Fire Theatre...

 , Nathan Fillion

Nathan Fillion

Nathan Fillion is a Canadian actor, currently starring as Richard Castle on the ABC series Castle. He is also known for his portrayal of the lead role of Captain Malcolm Reynolds in the television series Firefly and its feature film continuation, Serenity.He has acted in traditionally distributed...

, Kevin Gillese

Kevin Gillese

Kevin Gillese is a Canadian actor, writer and improvisor from Edmonton, Alberta. He started as a performer with the improv company Rapid Fire Theatre and also works regularly with the Atomic Improv and performs annually at the Die-Nasty Soap-A-Thon...

, Paul Mather

Paul Mather

Paul Mather is a Canadian comedy writer.Along with Donovan Workun, he is a founding member of the Edmonton improv troupe Atomic Improv. While living in Edmonton, he also worked with Rapid Fire Theatre and Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie. He has won four Canadian Comedy Awards for his work on This...

, Mark Meer

Mark Meer

Mark Meer is a Canadian actor, writer and improvisor, based in Edmonton, Alberta. He is a core company member of the Canadian Comedy Award-winning live improvised soap opera Die-Nasty, and was the first performer to complete the annual 53-hour long Die-Nasty Soap-A-Thon without sleep.He is also a...

, Ron Pederson

Ron Pederson

Ronald "Ron" Pederson is a Canadian actor and comedian, who has performed extensively throughout Canada and in the United States....

, Jan Randall

Jan Randall

Canadian composer Jan Randall is known primarily for his work in television and theatre. A pianist and singer, he has composed chamber music and songs in a wide variety of contemporary styles.Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1952...

, Cathleen Rootsaert, Patti Stiles

Patti Stiles

Patti Stiles is an actor and improvisation artist living in Australia.She received her training at Calgary, Alberta's world-renowned Loose Moose Theatre under Keith Johnstone. Stiles was the Artistic Director of Impro Melbourne from 2004 to 2009. She was formerly the Artistic Director of Rapid Fire...

, Neil Grahn and Donovan Workun.