Impromptou ready to make you laugh with improvised soap operas and more

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It’s all aboard the HMS Gommorrah as local improv troupe  Impromptu cruises in to fall with a variety of new projects ready to launch on Sept. 5 with their sixth improvDavid Gabert is excited about new ImpromptOu projects this fall. Photo by Richard Ameryised soap opera the Gomorrah Love Boat.


They have a strong stable of 15 cast members who will be participating in a variety of different shows throughout September and October.


“We have a great group of local performers who are looking forward to bringing improv comedy back to local people,” said ImpromptOu Co-Ordinator and Theatre Outré General manager David Gabert, noting, he was inspired by seeing how The Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society and New West Theatre handled shows in a post Covid world.


“So most of our shows will be outside as weather permits,” he said, adding tickets will not be sold at the door. Instead they must be purchased online or by contacting  the troupe in advance. On the day of the show, ticket buyers will be given the address of the show.


 Gabert is excited about the next improvised soap opera.
“We‘ve been doing  improvised soap operas for six years. We set the first one in Taber. This year though we can’t actually go on a cruise ship we though you could come and cruise with us,” he said.


 They have also set the soaps in high school, in a gothic setting and in a Downton Abbey setting.
“We have a stellar cast who will be participating in the three arms of ImpromptOu,” Gabert said.

 

The ImpromptOu cast includes U of L alumni, professors, New West Theatre and Club Didi members and members who have gone back to Gabert’s first improv troupe the Drama Nutz.

 
They include artistic director Jay Whitehead, ImpromptOu general managers David Gabert and Erica Barr, Nick Bohle, who was in 'Streetcar Named Desire, U of L alumni Brent Clark , U of L improv professor Nicola Elson , New West Theatre performers Katie Fellger and Kathy Zaborsky, who is also the musical director and co-artistic director; Theatre Outré technician Avery Follet; Theatre Outre designer Deonie Hudson; Drama Nutz alumni Jonathan Kirsch  New West and Theatre Outre members Jory Kohn and Rylan Kunkel; U of L and Drama Nutz alumni Mark Ogle and Cole Olsen; Theatre Outré member Ashley Thomson.
The cast members will take turns  performing in ImpromptOu projects.

“We know people like to see different faces,” Gabert said.

They hope to also be performing in the Didi’s Playhouse space.
“Our landlord has been very understanding during Covid. We hope to be having really intimate shows there,” Gabert said, noting due to social distancing concerns, it is safer to perform outside, for the time being.


 Gabert is also looking forward to their Drunk Improv shows, which follow a similar format to “Who’s Line Is it Anyway.”
The cast put on a couple of shows online during the pandemic, which were well received.
“It will be nice to be in the same room again,” he said.


“Drunk Improv is like sociables but with improv games. Players pick a card to decide who will perform in  each game,” he said.
Tickets for all shows are $10 through https://www.theatreoutre.ca/


— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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