Live around or near Victoria,? Check out the amazing lineup of talent at this years NEXT ACT FESTIVAL WEST! This year’s festival performances will be held at the Intrepid Studio Theatre, August 12th to 14th. Check out the killer line-up of talent for our 2010 WEST ENSEMBLE!

Next ACT WEST ENSEMBLE:

D’arcy Briggs

D’Arcy started improvising in 2004 with the Canadian Improv Games and in 2006 he began coaching. He has been a member of The Impromaniacs since 2007 and is co-founder of Boombox Improv, Victoria’s improv answer to Nietzsche. He has been lucky enough to share the stage with some of Victoria’s best improvisers and performers from around the world.

Dan Berzenji

Dan has been improvising in Winnipeg for four years taking part in the Canadian Improv Games and doing shows after he graduated with Red River Serial (The Dungeons & Dragon Improv Show), various ensemble shows (Prairie Theater Exchange Improv Ensemble, Pig Stupid Improv show, Winnipeg Improv Festival) and in the troupe ‘FACT!’. Aside from improv Dan enjoys cooking and head shots.

Nima Gholamipour

Ok, so Nima’s bio was way too long (5 paragraphs) because he’s a really big deal. So I, Alistair Cook,  will summarize it for us all.  Nima Gholamipour’s improv career started in the Canadian Improv Games where after 5 years of trying he won a gold medal. He since that time has performed with Vancouver TheatreSports League, VIIF’s “Young and Spontaneous series”, UBC Improv, Lorax, Suede Destiny, the Pump Trolley Comedy Collective and has enjoyed THE IMPROVCAMP many times. This is all while completing a Diploma in Commercial Animation, at Capilano University. Nima is truly talented and we are all going to have to deal with it.

Michael Gill

Michael is a perpetual newcomer. Never quite feeling like he’s learned enough of a skill to call himself a veteran, he chases after workshops and opportunities wherever they appear. Following this trend in improvisation, acting, writing and music, he now looks forward to Next Act. Improvising for over 6 years now, Mike has a history with Regina’s Combat and Mix Improv, as well as the Canadian Improv Games. He has performed with the tumbleweed project on their Regina stop, and alongside members of the General Fools. Will he consider himself experienced after Next-Act? Come to the shows to find out.

Nick Harvey Cheetham

Nick has been improvising for so close to four years, first with the Canadian Improv Games and most recently with the collegiate improv powerhouse UBCimprov (an organization which he is now co-president of). In 2009, Nick co-founded the Vancouver-based creative collective and weekly show Pump Trolley Comedy and performs regularly around Vancouver. Over the years, Nick has been fortunate enough to be humbled and enlightened by some of the top improv minds in North America. Off the stage, Nick likes NBA basketball, extended canoe trips, and enjoying ‘the best years of his life’.

Frannie Heeney

Frannie Heeney has been improvising for the past 6 years. Beginning in Vancouver and moving east to Toronto, she has preformed in a variety of styles in both cities. Frannie is the founder and current president of UofT Improv, as well she is also a volunteer with the Canadian Improv Games in Toronto. She enjoys laughing, puppies and sparkles, and hopes that you do too!

Lucy Hill

Lucy is an actor, improviser, writer, and dress-wearer from Regina, Saskatchewan. Lucy began improv as a member of her high school improv team, winning second place in the National Tournament in her grade 12 year. She is now a trainer for the Canadian Improv Games’ Regina Tournament. Lucy is an ensemble member for Regina’s monthly improv show, Combat Improv, and produces her own bi-monthly show called Mix Improv. She recently finished a run of her own one woman, half-mask show called Bertha at Globe Theatre in Regina. Also, she is very happy to be a part of Next Act!

Kevin Pinkoski

Kevin is currently a rookie performer with Edmonton’s long running Rapid Fire Theatre. Cast in the show in 2009, Kevin has been improvising since his final year of high school. Since then he has been a member of the University of Alberta’s Improv Group, and was recently elected as an Executive Member of The UIG for the 2010/2011 year. With this group, he was fortunate enough to attend UBC’s Impulse 2010 Festival.Kevin is currently a student the University of Alberta, mixing his studies between Drama, History and Political Science. He hopes to one day have an incredibly diverse biography.

Tyler Webber

Tyler Weber played in the Canadian Improv Games for 4 years and placed first in the National Tournament in 2009. He was part of a three man improv troupe called DIAMONDTOOTH which placed second at UBC’s Impulse Improv festival and played several shows at VTSL’s Ultimate Improv Championship. Tyler also briefly played with Simon Fraser University’s Big Mountain Improv.

Jimmy Halliday

James has been involved in Improv since 2002 working with his Jr and Sr Ladysmith Secondary High School teams.  Placing second in the Ottawa CIG tournament in 2006 fueled his improv interest further. Summer Improv Camp, doing local Ladysmith theatre work, assisting regional Improv teams and being a referee for the Regional Improv Games for the last three years, James has enjoyed his work with students, and his stage time immensely!
Without a doubt he looks forward to Next Act.

Stephen Currie

Steve Currie does improv in Winnipeg. Sometimes it’s with a group called the Steve Currie. He wants you to know that it was not his idea, and he’s not trying to be ‘ironic’. Other times it’s with the Winnipeg iF… Improv Festival, or with his CIG team, or once as the closing act at a largely Swahili speaking bar. He liked all of those, but is sure Next Act will be his very favourite.

Judy Wensel

Judy is an actor and improviser from Regina, Saskatchewan. She began improvising in high school, eventually becoming a national finalist in the CIG National Tournament. She is now a trainer and judge with the Saskatchewan Regional Tournament. Judy produces and performs in Regina’s monthly improv show, Combat Improv, as well as performing as an ensemble member with Regina’s Mix Improv. When not improvising, Judy can be seen on stage frequently at The Globe Theatre, as well as in the classroom as an instructor with The Globe Theatre School. She’s really excited about Next Act.

Eric Berg

An improv maverick, Erik Berg managed, unfortunately, to remain blind to CIG until he was out of high school. Now, he is busting on to the scene with a vengeance. An avid performer and audience member in the Winnipeg Improv scene, Erik Berg is the assistant artistic director of Micro Theatre and co-founder and member of improv troupe, RPG. He’s ecstatic about the Next Act Festival and looks forward to stealing as much improv knowledge as possible.

Halley Fulford

Halley Fulford was born to a caravan of traveling freaks in Armstrong BC. She spent much of her childhood onstage pretending to be a cat or an early settler of Salt Spring Island, and hanging around the theatre in blacks, or in costume, or in whatever capacity would work. In 2005 she began competing in the CIG and was so excited by the whole whatsit that she has since added to her improv portfolio by taking extra workshops, volunteering with the vancouver island folks, reading books, working on a directed study with one Mark Eugster of Uvic and putting a lot of pictures of Dave Morris’ face on her wall. Halley is super excited to be a part of the Next Act.

Instructors: NEXT ACT WEST

Dave Morris

Dave Morris is a storyteller and improviser. He’s performed at Festivals around Canada and the world including, but not limited to, Winnipeg, Seattle, Chicago, Berlin, and of course Victoria… where he now lives. He spends his days teaching improv classes, performing as a one–man improvised storyteller, and producing shows at the Victoria Event Centre (including the Big Rock SHOWDOWN and starting in April, Theatresports)  He is also the new director for the Vancouver Island Region of the Canadian Improv Games, working with high school students and generally being awesome! [www.davemorrisisa.com]

Alistair Cook

A 20-year veteran of improvisation, Alistair has produced, directed, taught and performed every style of improvisation across Canada. Alistair has been producing the Canadian Improv Games in BC for the Past 17 years and Nationally for the past “lots”. www.alistaircook.ca for more info.

Shawn Norman

Shawn Norman is the regional director of the Vancouver Island tournament and has been a national judge for five years. He is currently the performance director of the Impromaniacs in Victoria and is a regular instructor at Improv Camp. Besides being a former player and coach in the CIG, he is also a graduate of Vancouver Film School’s Acting for Film and Television program. He’s a big fan.

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The Next Act Festival is coming to Moncton! Check out the performances from the spectacular cast below on June 18, 19 and 20, 2010. All shows at 8pm, tickets are $5/$8.

The Next Act EAST Ensemble:

Cecilia Brekkie

Cecilia  is a highly competitive improviser who competed for three years in the Toronto games, and volunteered this year for the Moncton games. she is currently a member of mta’s improv troupe, and helped coach her old CIG Toronto team from underdogs to national finalists. her temper may run hot and cold at times but her love runs deep for amazing people and all things improv

Mike Fardy

I’m Mike Fardy, 22 years old, a Linguistics Major at Memorial University of Newfoundland, I’ve been improvising for 10 years and am currently Regional Director for the Newfoundland Regional Tournament of the Canadian Improv Games. I have an unhealthy bagel addiction and my future aspirations consist  of dying in an episode of Supernatural (preferably as an extra), surviving until 30 (as long as the first one doesn’t interfere), and getting in a punchfight with Matt Damon.

Jennifer Ferris

Jennifer was once a very shy girl who decided that, for some reason, the best thing for her to do was to throw herself out on a stage without a script in front of an audience. Since then, she has never looked back. Following that moment, Jennifer, has gotten the chance to enjoyed three wonderful years of CIG at her high school, experienced two national tournaments and now is coaching improv at Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton and president of F.I.E.R.C.E. improv at UNB. She has also volunteered for the past two years at the New Brunswick/PEI tournament in Moncton. Jennifer would consider herself a lifer.

Carly Furlong

Carly Furlong is, in fact, a musician rather than an actress. She’s been heavily involved in music for the last 8 years, playing more instruments than you can count!(Depending on if you can count to 5 or not). Somehow, she managed to crawl her way out of the pit orchestra and onto to the stage with Sackville’s “     ” Presents the Improv Team this past September, while attending Mount Allison University, studying History and Music. Carly is excited to be able to work with all these experienced Improvisers at Next Act in order to shake her Rookie status. Although, she has helped to run work shops during the JUSTIN TIME cup challenge and was a devoted t-shirt girl at the Regional Improv Games in Moncton this past February. Carly has lived in 5 different provinces and enjoys baking and learning the capital of every country.

Ava Julien

Ava Julien, has been improvising since she was a teen, and has worked with the likes of Lee White, Steve Sim (Crumbs), Christian Capozzoli (4track) and Julie Dumais (Project-Project).  Recently she has moved to Toronto to put her acting degree from the University of Winnipeg to good use. In her spare time Ava likes to bake, bare knuckle box and play with puppies.  She has 716 friends on Facebook, and hopes that you’ll be number 717

Grace Laing

Grace has been improvising for 9 years now. That makes her feel old. She played for KCVI in the Canadian Improv Games for 4 years, and in 2006 played in the CIG National Tournament. Since graduating, she has been volunteering with the Kingston Improv Games. When not on stage, she enjoys dancing around, singing randomly, and loitering in libraries.

Scott Lloyd

Scott Lloyd has spent most of his life doing improv in some capacity. He has been involved with the Canadian Improv Games for 5 years, and going into his 6th he will have competed on the regional and national stage, coached, and refereed at the games. He has studied improvisation and writing with The Second City in Chicago and has taught workshops of his own across the Atlantic Provinces. He is one of the founding members of “        ” Presents: the improv show and is stoked for the first Next Act – East.

Jordy Paul-Fontaine

Jordy began improvising in his sophomore year of high school. He has perfromed at the Moncton Regional Improv Games as a player for three years and was the linesman for the 2010 games. He’s been to nationals once and is actively involved with theatre at Mount Allison University. Jordy is pumped for Next Act and can’t wait for the improvising to begin!

Martin Tonner

Martin lives in St. Margaret’s Bay, just outside of Halifax and is attending NSCAD University. Martin  Jams with a temporary un-named troupe, but likes the name Papabetty Improv. Martin has been involved with the Nova Scotia, and National Canadian Improv games and Festivals in one way or another for the past 5 years. Along side Haley Guest, they have taken over the Nova Scotia regional Tournament (editors note: Martin is a talented guy. I had to edit his Bio down about 6 paragraphs… so talk to him at the fest to find out more!)

Haley Guest

Haley has been improvising on stage with the Canadian Improv Games for 5 years, acting for 10 years, horseback riding for 12 years, and high-fiving as long as she can remember. She is currently is Regional Directing the CIG Halifax Tournament with Martin Tonner, and recently helped to create a shiny new improv troupe in Halifax, tentatively named Flop Papa (Or Papa Betty.. what do YOU like better?). Haley relishes often, proudly knows all of the words to Barenaked Ladies ‘One Week’, and is rather pumped for Next Act EAST.

Michelle Hart

Instructors: NEXT ACT EAST

Alistair Cook

A 20-year veteran of improvisation, Alistair has produced, directed, taught and performed every style of improvisation across Canada. Alistair has been producing the Canadian Improv Games in BC for the Past 17 years and Nationally for the past “lots”. www.alistaircook.ca for more info.

Dave Morris

Dave Morris is a storyteller and improviser. He’s performed at Festivals around Canada and the world including, but not limited to, Winnipeg, Seattle, Chicago, Berlin, and of course Victoria… where he now lives. He spends his days teaching improv classes, performing as a one–man improvised storyteller, and producing shows at the Victoria Event Centre (including the Big Rock SHOWDOWN and starting in April, Theatresports)  He is also the new director for the Vancouver Island Region of the Canadian Improv Games, working with high school students and generally being awesome! [www.davemorrisisa.com]

Justin Collette

Justin began improvising eight years ago. He is an alumnus of the games and has competed at the nationals three times. While getting a B.A in Theater and English, he created and performed a weekly improv show called “          ” Presents: The Improv Show. Outside of that show, he has improvised with the funny people at projectPROJECT as well as with the silly folks in picnicface. He has been a regional director for the New Brunswick/PEI tournament for the past three years. At the Nationals, he has taught workshops as well as judged the finals. Currently, he is living in Chicago and training at IO and the Second City as well as performing around the city with his team Flapjacket. He has been taught by some of the biggest names in improv ever. He loves improv a whole lot and if you play your cards right, you may be next. Think about it.