Media Release
September 1, 2010
The 11th Annual Vancouver International Improv
Festival is coming, thanks to the VIIF200!
October 5-10, 2010 at Performance Works
www.vancouverimprovfest.com
“Improvisers are, by nature, creatures of action…”
VANCOUVER, BC – We’re not going to lie—for a while there, it looked like the 11th
Annual Vancouver International Improv Festival wasn’t going to happen. By now, it’s old
news that the BC government is no longer funding independent arts groups in the
province. VIIF, like many other groups, depended upon this support to operate. It’s easy to
get down about things like the precariousness of your own existence, but improvisers
don’t, as a rule, let obstacles stand in their way. Improvisational theatre, after all, is
about adaptation, and finding solutions. And thus, the VIIF200 was born.
Taken from a similar initiative by Toronto’s Ghost Jail Theatre, the premise of the VIIF200
is simple—a core group of supporters give small donations, which add up to big help. We
asked 200 people to give $20. In return, these VIIPs (Very Important Improv People) get
limited edition VIIF shirts, tickets and passes, and their name on a wall of donors.
But there are, of course, bigger reasons to give than that: our improvisers. Thanks to the
VIIF200, this year we’re able to bring performers to Vancouver from places like New York,
Boston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle and Toronto. In additional to our
acclaimed International Ensemble, this year the festival proved so popular here at home
that we created a brand new secondary ensemble made up of local improvisers. The
Cascades Ensemble is a chance to show our international visitors and audiences just what
kind of talent Vancouver nurtures all year long.
This year’s shows include the all-female, African American trio from New York,
Doppelganger; a one-man storytelling machine named Dave Morris; a puppet-based
improv show from Seattle called Puppet THIS! and a collective of LA improvisers so
awesome they call themselves USS Rock N Roll.
Thanks to the VIIF200, we’re also able to produce our workshop series for experienced
and emerging improvisers, including a FREE intro to improv workshop. And the initiative
also allows us to keep our ticket and pass prices at 2009 levels, which means you can still
see every show, all week long, for $40. (Passes only $30 until September 15!)
A wise improv director once said, “Improvisers are, by nature, creatures of action.”
Thanks to the VIIF200, we can safely say that our audiences are, too.
IN BRIEF: The 11th Annual Vancouver International Improv Festival, October 5-10, 2010 at
Performance Works on Granville Island. Shows 7:30 and 9:30. Tickets $10/12, Evening
Passes $20, Festival Passes only $40! Early Bird Passes, $30! Toonie Tuesday show $2,
tickets at the door. Show schedule and more at www.vancouverimprovfest.com.
Media Contact: Kaitlin Fontana | kaitlin.fontana@gmail.com | 778-231-9936
Join the VIIF200 and become a VIIP! www.vancouverimprovfest.com