Loose Moose Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Loose Moose Theatre Company (LMTC), 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. LMTC is the birthplace of such improvisation shows as Theatresports
, Micetro, Gorilla Theatre and Life Game.
The Loose Moose is an active theatre company producing in house and touring, plus it offers a training centre for individuals interested in improvisational theatre. They have continued a long-standing tradition of producing a weekend-afternoon series of children's theatre, and an evening series of improvisational comedic theatre as well as various improvised based plays and special events such as the International Improvisation Summit in March 2010 and Improvisation marathons (the longest of which lasted 52 hours of sleepless improvisation)
Loose Moose has existed in a few venues since its inception. Originally in the Pumphouse theatre, Loose Moose moved to a space within an industrial complex in the northeast area of Calgary
(near the airport). After space-use and lease negotiations with a neighbouring Christian academy failed to be resolved, LMTC took up in the historic Garry Theatre in the Inglewood district. In 2005, LMTC moved into a new performance space in the Calgary Crossroads Market.
Since 1988, the Loose Moose has hosted the LOOSE MOOSE INTERNATIONAL IMPROVISATION INTENSIVE, a two week school in the summer drawing people all over the world to Calgary which has long been recognized as a hub of narrative improvisation inspiration and education in the world.
Many LMTC alumni are now working in the areas of film, television, stage and still use their improvisational skills as a foundation for their work. Loose Moose alumni include Roman Danylo
, Dennis Cahill, Rebecca Northan
, Albert Howell
, Tony Totino, Rick Hilton, Dave Duncan, Mark McKinney
, Bruce McCulloch
, Norm Hiscock
, Veena Sood
, Clem Martini, Patti Stiles
, Derek Flores, Terra Hazelton
, Eric Amber, Chris Cline,Frank Totino, Pat Kelly
, Shawn Kinley, Bruce Horak, Peter Oldring
and David Lawrence.
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, 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...
. It was co-founded in 1977, by 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:...
and Mel Tonken. LMTC has an international reputation for developing the theatrical style of improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
and specifically the work of Keith Johnstone. LMTC is the birthplace of such improvisation shows as 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...
, Micetro, Gorilla Theatre and Life Game.
The Loose Moose is an active theatre company producing in house and touring, plus it offers a training centre for individuals interested in improvisational theatre. They have continued a long-standing tradition of producing a weekend-afternoon series of children's theatre, and an evening series of improvisational comedic theatre as well as various improvised based plays and special events such as the International Improvisation Summit in March 2010 and Improvisation marathons (the longest of which lasted 52 hours of sleepless improvisation)
Loose Moose has existed in a few venues since its inception. Originally in the Pumphouse theatre, Loose Moose moved to a space within an industrial complex in the northeast area of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
(near the airport). After space-use and lease negotiations with a neighbouring Christian academy failed to be resolved, LMTC took up in the historic Garry Theatre in the Inglewood district. In 2005, LMTC moved into a new performance space in the Calgary Crossroads Market.
Since 1988, the Loose Moose has hosted the LOOSE MOOSE INTERNATIONAL IMPROVISATION INTENSIVE, a two week school in the summer drawing people all over the world to Calgary which has long been recognized as a hub of narrative improvisation inspiration and education in the world.
Many LMTC alumni are now working in the areas of film, television, stage and still use their improvisational skills as a foundation for their work. Loose Moose alumni include Roman Danylo
Roman Danylo
Roman Danylo is a Canadian comedian, improviser and actor based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. He currently stars in the CTV television network show Comedy Inc.-Career:...
, Dennis Cahill, Rebecca Northan
Rebecca Northan
Rebecca Northan is a Canadian actress, improviser, theatre director, and creative artist. She is known for playing the hippie mother Diane Macleod on the CTV & The Comedy Network sitcom Alice, I Think. Rebecca Northan was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta...
, Albert Howell
Albert Howell
Albert Howell is a Canadian improv comedian and poet. He has appeared in several films and television shows, and has received recognition for his screenwriting as well as for his improv work.-Improv comedy:...
, Tony Totino, Rick Hilton, Dave Duncan, Mark McKinney
Mark McKinney
Mark Douglas Brown McKinney is a Canadian comedian and actor, best known for his work in the sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall. Following the run of their television series and feature film , he went on to star in Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 1997...
, Bruce McCulloch
Bruce McCulloch
Bruce Ian McCulloch is a Canadian actor, writer, comedian, and film director. McCulloch is best known for his work as a member of The Kids in the Hall, a popular Canadian comedy troupe, and as a writer for Saturday Night Live. McCulloch has also appeared on series such as Twitch City and Gilmore...
, Norm Hiscock
Norm Hiscock
Norm Hiscock is an Emmy Award winning screenwriter and producer. He is known for his work on Saturday Night Live, King of the Hill, The Kids in the Hall, Corner Gas and most recently Parks and Recreation...
, Veena Sood
Veena Sood
Veena Sood is a Canadian-based film and television actress of Punjabi descent.She works in both the UK and Canada. She starred in ITV's Compulsion featuring Ray Winstone and Parminder Nagra. She has also starred in the UK film Nina's Heavenly Delights,as well as the Canada/UK film Touch of Pink,...
, Clem Martini, 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...
, Derek Flores, Terra Hazelton
Terra Hazelton
Terra Hazelton is a Canadian jazz musician, broadcaster and actress.Raised in Calgary, Hazelton began studying theatre with the Loose Moose Theatre Company as a teenager. She later moved to Toronto to pursue opportunities in theatre, discovering her skills as a musician when she was asked to write...
, Eric Amber, Chris Cline,Frank Totino, Pat Kelly
Pat Kelly
Pat Kelly may refer to:*Pat Kelly , Australian rules footballer*Pat Kelly , reggae singer*Pat Kelly , American right fielder in Major League Baseball...
, Shawn Kinley, Bruce Horak, Peter Oldring
Peter Oldring
Peter Oldring is a Canadian TV actor and comedian.- Biography :In addition to performing with The Second City improv group in Toronto and Los Angeles, Oldring has appeared on Canadian television. He was also a regular cast member of the redneck-themed sketch comedy series Blue Collar TV...
and David Lawrence.