About Us
The Canadian Improv Showcase is Canada's best short-form improv troupe. They specialize in interactive comedy with a Canadian twist! They employ only the finest talent Canada has to offer. The group prides itself on being able to perform for any audience and is the only company to offer a content guarantee to back it up.
In 1997 Matthew R. Lawrence created the Canadian Improv Showcase with the intention of offering a creative outlet for Canadian talent. Canadians have been a major force in the world of comedy for many years and he wanted to offer a place to nurture that amazing talent. Without the confines of a script he hoped he could provide a place where actors could play and experiment as they trudged through life as an aspiring actor.
Since those early days the group 'went pro' auditioning the best and brightest talent Canada has to offer. They have expanded into areas of entertainment Matt had never dreamed off offering workshops at schools, corporate packages, golf programmes and even an amazing programme geared towards helping rehabilitate inmates through the Healing Power of Laughter.
The Canadian Improv Showcase have collected quite an array of accomplishments over the years, including being voted 'best of the fest' at both the London and Toronto Fringe Festivals two years in a row. They hold the mantle of being the only improv company to perform at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Performing Arts in downtown Toronto. They have won numerous improv competitions including the Wide Mouth Studios Improv Competition in 2002. In 2004 the troupe was selected as the improv company to represent Canada in a cultural exchange with Singapore, performing at the prestigious 'Bar None' club as well as two other venues. In 2015 the group celebrated their 800th performance which is a particular milestone for the group as they do not have a home theatre; their bookings are based solely on the merit of their last performance and the power of word-of-mouth advertising. The group was also contracted to perform for a third time at the infamous Kingston Penitentiary. There they conducted their healing power of laughter programme with a group of over 120 inmates. They are the only group to ever visit this maximum security prison.
In 2016 the group became part of the O.E.I. Onsite Education Inc. O.E.I. is a registered educational charity which allows the troupe to benefit from grant funding, donations and sponsorship. These funding streams help break down barriers and allow the troupe to expand their reach to audiences that might not otherwise have the opportunity to benefit from their workshops or performances.
On March 8th, 2022, the troupe celebrated 25 years of performing!
In 1997 Matthew R. Lawrence created the Canadian Improv Showcase with the intention of offering a creative outlet for Canadian talent. Canadians have been a major force in the world of comedy for many years and he wanted to offer a place to nurture that amazing talent. Without the confines of a script he hoped he could provide a place where actors could play and experiment as they trudged through life as an aspiring actor.
Since those early days the group 'went pro' auditioning the best and brightest talent Canada has to offer. They have expanded into areas of entertainment Matt had never dreamed off offering workshops at schools, corporate packages, golf programmes and even an amazing programme geared towards helping rehabilitate inmates through the Healing Power of Laughter.
The Canadian Improv Showcase have collected quite an array of accomplishments over the years, including being voted 'best of the fest' at both the London and Toronto Fringe Festivals two years in a row. They hold the mantle of being the only improv company to perform at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Performing Arts in downtown Toronto. They have won numerous improv competitions including the Wide Mouth Studios Improv Competition in 2002. In 2004 the troupe was selected as the improv company to represent Canada in a cultural exchange with Singapore, performing at the prestigious 'Bar None' club as well as two other venues. In 2015 the group celebrated their 800th performance which is a particular milestone for the group as they do not have a home theatre; their bookings are based solely on the merit of their last performance and the power of word-of-mouth advertising. The group was also contracted to perform for a third time at the infamous Kingston Penitentiary. There they conducted their healing power of laughter programme with a group of over 120 inmates. They are the only group to ever visit this maximum security prison.
In 2016 the group became part of the O.E.I. Onsite Education Inc. O.E.I. is a registered educational charity which allows the troupe to benefit from grant funding, donations and sponsorship. These funding streams help break down barriers and allow the troupe to expand their reach to audiences that might not otherwise have the opportunity to benefit from their workshops or performances.
On March 8th, 2022, the troupe celebrated 25 years of performing!
