CRUMBS Freestyle Comedy Improv

CRUMBS does SHOWS!

2012-01-23T20:14:00.001-06:00

Holy Sh*T folks!

CRUMBS is Soooooooooo damn excited for some upcoming shows. We simply must tell you all over again about them.

#1
Our good friends The National Theatre of the World (known as NTOW) are traveling from the comforts of Toronto to the icy wonderland of Winnipeg to do some shows at the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre (knows as WJT). They will be performing Jan 25th - 29th. They do a show called Impromptu Splendor that has them improvising a show in a theatrical style, and they are great. They are so great that they have invited CRUMBS to perform with them on Thursday, Jan 26th, the show will be in the style of HAROLD PINTER and it will be great. So great in fact, that you should go see the show.

#2
While our good friends NTOW are in Winnipeg, we decided to also put on a special midnight show of NTOW + CRUMBS for everyone to see. We are doing the show on Friday, Jan 27th at the ECC (which is at 75 Albert Street). The show will only be $5 (which is way way too cheap) but the show will be starting at MIDNIGHT SHARP (latecomers will be charged $10, which is still soooo cheap). Get there early folks, early!

#3
CRUMBS continues to do our regular shows at the King's Head Pub as part of the ongoing and super awesome FREE LAUGHS comedy shows. The first show will Tuesday, Feb 7th at 9pm and Tuesday, Feb 21st at 9pm. These shows are always a good time and always free and always a double good time.

#4
CRUMBS doesn't only do strange guest shows and free shows, oh no, we also do shows at REAL theatres for ACTUAL MONEY! We will be putting on our annual Berlin or Bust improv show at the Gas Station Arts Centre on Saturday, Feb 18th at 8pm. The tickets will be only $10 and advance tickets will be on sale at our regular CRUMBS shows (see above postings). This show is the fundraiser show we put on every year before we head off on our European Tour! Come on down and support us by laughing at us (we would love that).

#5
CRUMBS continues to bring you live radio every single Monday at 5pm CST on 101.5 UMFM. We also broadcast and podcast on the Internet as well (because the future is NOW!). We have been doing this show at UMFM for almost a decade and we would love your ears tuned in.

#6
CRUMBS then tours Europe for months. Look for our European Tour schedule on our official European Website and then stalk us all across the Old Country.

What? You want links to help you out?

The Winnipeg Jewish Theatre

Map to the King's Head Pub

Map to the ECC (where the midnight show is on Friday)

See y'all at the shows folks

CRUMBS does shows with friends!

2012-01-07T16:09:00.005-06:00

Before we start gushing about how amazing our friends are and how we get to do shows with some pretty amazing people, here is the latest CRUMBS video of a live performance we did in Berlin without the help of any of our friends.

Now that that's out of the way... CRUMBS is sometimes lucky enough to do some improv shows with other amazing performers. This helps CRUMBS stay fresh and at the same time steal other people's good ideas (which is really what makes any artist great right?).

We have two of these "We're stealing all your good ideas" shows coming up in January and you should come to both of them and see how great our friends are. You can then also be there to see us actually steal their ideas and be able to tell your friends that you know where we get all our good ideas from.

Tuesday, January 10th
This show is at the King's Head as part of the ongoing Free Laughs Comedy Series, so you know its free. But this "CRUMBS & Friends" show (as we like to call it) we have two special guests joining us. The first is the audience favourite FRAZ. The second is the audience other favourite (or at least she would be if she came out and performed more) TRISH COOPER. Yes, the Trish Cooper from the legendary Winnipeg sketch comedy troupe "The Royal Leichtenstein Theatre Company". Very cool show folks, very cool.

Friday, January 27th
This show will be at the ECC (which is just a way cooler way of saying "The Exchange Community Church, because really, who thinks performing at a church sounds cool?). The venue is at 75 Albert Street and will be a midnight show. Oh, I haven't even told you who the special guests are yet... The NATIONAL THEATRE of the WORLD! Yes, it turns out our friends from TNTOTW (actually they prefer their name to be shortened to N.T.O.W. I think) are in town doing their amazing improv show at the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre and are going to do an extra show with us. These folks are great and you should not only come and see this show but also go and see their other show too.

Here are some videos by the members of this group in a series they did called "Bad Stories":

Time for LINKS!

How to get to the King's Head!

A video of FRAZ

A video of TRISH COOPER

How to get to the ECC

A link to the WJT website

Thanks for reading the internet,

CRUMBS 2011 and 2012

2012-01-03T01:11:00.001-06:00

Hello readers of internet words,

I am so glad you are reading this (and I know that you are). I appreciate you reading this as I know there are so many words and articles and essays and blogs and more words and even more words to choose from. Thank you.

First, here is video proof of CRUMBS performing at the TEDx in Munich. More on that later.

CRUMBS just finished the Annual 2 Hour New Years Special on 101.5 UMFM. We did in fact look back on 2011 and we did in fact peer into the upcoming year (2012 for those that are keeping track). Here are some of the results:

Top News Story:
The Arab Spring/Occupy movement

Biggest Death:
Osama Bin Laden

Most Shocking Death:
Stephen = Jack Layton (NDP Leader)
Lee = Ryan Dunn (Jackass)

Best Actor (who died):
Elizabeth Taylor

Honourable Mention:
Stephen = Joe Bodolai (SNL, Canadian comedy pioneer)
Lee = Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H)

We also had some predictions for 2012. We made our picks for who would die in 2012 9I know, morbid right?). I also made my very very serious predictions for the world in 2012.

You can download all the CRUMBS radio show podcasts HERE.

Also folks, you can, and should, come on down to the King's Head Pub this Tuesday to witness the first CRUMBS show of 2012. Every single Tuesday at the King's Head (as I am sure you know) there is a free comedy show, this Tuesday happens to be the amazing CRUMBS improv show. Yes the next CRUMBS show is Tuesday, Jan 3rd at 9pm!

You can see the facebook event page HERE.

Map to the King's Head is HERE.

Also also, CRUMBS took part in the TEDx Munich in 2011. We did a performance that as inspired by, and a little parody of, the talks we saw at the conference before we hit the stage. TED was a conference that started in 1984 as a platform for ideas (TED stands for Technology Entertainment and Design) and it has since become a global series of talks and meetings between smart smartypants all over the world. If you like soaking up ideas and listening to smart people talk, you can get lost on the TED website... go ahead.

To get to the TED website click HERE

To get to the TED youtube channel click HERE

To get to the TEDx youtube channel click HERE

Upcoming shows you need to know about?

January 27th, 2012
A special improv show with CRUMBS and Impromptu Splendor. You are going to want to see this show. Imagine a stage with some of the best improvisers in the world performing together... and its not even during the improv festival!
More details TBA, stay tuned.

January 31st, 2012
Another version of the comedy game show show "Kings of the King's Head". This is a crowd favourite, so show up EARLY!

And of course, you can always tune in to the CRUMBS radio show live on 101.5 UMFM and listen to Lee and Stephen talk every single Monday at 5pm.

Tune in to the CRUMBS radio show on the internet HERE

CRUMBS in 2012

2011-12-28T18:25:00.000-06:00

We are entering the most exciting year since 2000. Yes, of course I am talking about 2012, the year that tons of morons are screaming is going to be the last year ever. All because a bunch of people decided to stop updating their calendars. Even more hilariously, it was probably a South American guy who had just finished the work on one huge cycle of day/month/years he had been carving into stone and took a break then realized that he would be good because it stretched roughly a couple thousand years into the future. And even though I have used the image from the Movie 2012 (without anyone's permission) I of course don't believe any of the crazy talk and hype.

So, the world isn't going to end because of that. There are plenty of real reasons the world can end and I won't list them (global warming, random asteroid collision, pandemic... Oh wait, I wasn't going to list them).

Okay, that is a whole lot of "doom and gloom" to start this off. I will now go into the things we all have to look forward in this coming year.

#1
The next CRUMBS show!
The next CRUMBS show is Tuesday, January 3rd at 9pm at the King's Head Pub. Yes, this is a part of the ongoing and "super-amazingly-hilariously-underground-cool-to-the-max" Free Laughs Comedy Series that is in its 6th Season of bringing high quality comedy to Winnipeg audiences. The shows are free and are upstairs at the King's Head ever single Tuesday night.

CRUMBS on Jan 3rd and also Jan 17th, Feb 7th and Feb 21st.

Click here for the facebook event page

#2

The CRUMBS Radio Special on 101.5 UMFM!
CRUMBS does a live radio show on 101.5 UMFM every single Monday at 5pm CST where we bring you our very best opinions about the News the News is too afraid to have opinions on. We also have our show streaming live on the Internetz as well as having it Podcasted for future generations. The CRUMBS radio special is our annual Look Back + Look Ahead, where we look back on 2011 and celebrate the lives and News stories that touched us in the brain and heart. We also look ahead to 2012 and give our (quite accurate) predictions for the coming year.

The CRUMBS Radio Special will be broadcast on Monday, January 2nd at 5pm

Click here for the UMFM website and how to stream online

Click here for the UMFM website and how to get the podcasts

#3
Other Free Laugh Shows are great too!
The Free Laugh shows at the King's Head are also great and worth their weight in Comedy Gold. The one most everyone is most excited for is the Kings of the King's Head which is the comedy game show show that has been running as a special presentation hosted by Lee White.

The next comedy game show is going to be Jan 31st.

Click here for the Free Laughs facebook page

There are probably other reasons to be optimistic and hopeful in this new year as well.

-Its the year of the Dragon (which is a really cool mythical being)

-Your family and friends are great (aren't they?)

-You're alive (and being alive is amazing)

-Things are still funny

See you at the hilarious comedy shows Winnipeg!

CRUMBS ruins the holidays.

2011-12-14T15:47:00.004-06:00

How does CRUMBS ruin the holidays? Actually, we have no idea, just thought it would make some sort of eye catching headline.

CRUMBS has a show on Tuesday, Dec 20th at the King's Head Pub as part of the ongoing (and 6th Season of) The Free Laughs Comedy Shows. These comedy shows have sparked a underground movement of comedy in Winnipeg. Now there are soooooo many live comedy shows to see, when 6 years ago there were barely any regular comedy nights. Oh how Winnipeg has grown, I would dare say that if the comedy scene hadn't turned around we wouldn't have gotten our NHL team back... Maybe I'm being too bold.

The CRUMBS show that is happening on Dec 20th is a CRUMBS & Friends show that will feature some amazing special guests. What special guests?

Mama Cuttsworth (who will be DJing for the show)

Mike Grajewski (Visiting all the way from Toronto)

RobYn Slade (Visiting all the way from Awesome and member of Outside Joke)

Tricia Cooper (Former member of the Royal Leichtenstein Theatre Company and current amazing woman)

Tobias Hughes (Yes, the famous actor and member of Outside Joke)

Gordon Tanner (Former member of the Royal Leichtenstein Theatre Company and also a famous Winnipeg celebrity)

Alix Sobler (former New Yorker who chose Winnipeg, also, amazing actor and playwright)

Who else? Well, you will just have to show up and see.

CRUMBS has also put together an official Youtube Channel (just like all the dancing kittens and lip syncing kids). We will slowly be building this and growing this to include sweet videos of us doing our live show and short films. We will probably post videos of dancing kitties and lip synching kids as well.

Check out these first two vids:

Please check out the channel and spread it around and do the internet stuff with it.

The Facebook event page for our Dec 20th show is HERE

The King's Head is HERE

***

CRUMBS returns to the King's Head!

2011-12-03T13:55:00.001-06:00

Now, before I do the rest of my updates about the CRUMBS Euro Touro Fall 2011 edition, I must tell you all that we are all back in Winnipeg and will be returning to the King's Head for the Free Laughs Comedy shows.

Soooooooooooooooo, that means you should go to the King's Head this Tuesday and every Tuesday after that.

Why this Tuesday?

Well, this Tuesday is December 6th and marks our triumphant return to Winnipeg stages. You will like it and remember how much you've missed us.

Why every Tuesday?

Well, because every single Tuesday there is a comedy show that happens at the King's Head pub as part of the Free Laughs Comedy Series.

For the Facebook event page, CLICK HERE

For a map to the King's Head Pub, CLICK HERE

For the Free Laughs Comedy Series Group Page, CLICK HERE

For the CRUMBS Twitter feed, CLICK HERE

Doing an Improv Show in London!

2011-11-29T10:52:00.001-06:00

So I am "jumping the queue" as they say in London... I think they say that. And I hope to return to posting the order of the CRUMBS Fall Euro Touro 2012, but I had to interrupt the regular (semi-regular) blog posts to update you all about an upcoming show.

As I am currently in London right now and on Wednesday, Nov 30th I am doing an improv show with Ryan Millar (from Vancouver/Amsterdam/Rome/Belgium/London) and some other guy (from VTSL I think). The will be a Catch23 show (so shout outs to Kurt Smeaton!).

I also got to hang out with the one and only Mr. Robert Slade in London (worth the trip).

Touring has been pretty awesome. After the CRUMBS tour proper Angie and I have hopped from Wuerzburg to Berlin to Paris to London. Amazing times!

The Streets of Paris.

The Eiffel Tower. They should really build another one that is twice as big.

And now I hope you all come to the improv show in London, or tell people you know in London to come to the show show in London.

Here is where you tell them to go. Click the LINK!

CRUMBS in Bremen

2011-11-18T15:25:00.001-06:00

BREMEN

Bremen was crazy! The night we were performing there it was also the opening of the oldest (in Europe? In the world?) fair grounds. There was also a football match between Bremen and Dortmund. So there were more people wondering in crowds than we have ever witnessed. So of course, after the show, we convinced everyone to come to the fair with us. At the fair we ate well (we ate potato pancakes, corn on the cob, pizza, mushrooms and crepes) and we played carny games. It turns out that we CRUMBS are all marksmen as we all won prizes shooting air rifles at little targets. But it was really Lee whose light shone the brightest, a small crowd gathered as he shot 19 targets with his 20 shots winning two Naked Lady Lighters. Not satisfied with just winning at shooting, he also had to win a creepy Micheal Jackson doll using The Claw!

Bremen, finally we have seen your fair. We like you. Thank you.

The show:

The story of a shamed astronaut who is now divorced and in a custody battle with his former wife. His son still loves him and believes in him, but has pressure from his mother's new boyfriend who just happens to be a well decorated member of NASA. It turns out the poor shamed astronaut had accidentally killed all the members of his crew by being distracted by aliens when he was supposed to be monitoring the oxygen levels in the spacecraft. NASA has officially denied the existence of aliens and thus have discharged him dishonourably. So, to win back the respect of his son, he has lied about going back to space on a secret mission. His son sneaks away from his mother and her new beau and convinces his father to sneak onto a rocket and they both go into space to pursue the proof of alien life needed to clear his name and return him to glory.

The story of a man who is slowly losing his supposed manhood after losing his job. He gets the help of his best friend to find his manliness again by getting a job on the killing floor of a meat packing plant. He embarrasses his best friend by being grossed out by the thought of cutting up the pigs and passing out at the sight of blood. His lack of cliched manly things continues as he gives up drinking beer for chardonnay and starts finding joy in baking and doing other stereotypical “female” things. This escalates and eventual his best friend is fired as well, which affects him in the same manner. As they no longer find pleasure in watching sports and drinking beer, they both find happiness together in less traditional male roles, realize they are in love and spend their lives together. Awwwwwwwwww.

More updates to follow. Always behind on these updates, it always feels like I am jumping back and forth through time.

Amsterdamaged!

2011-11-06T09:42:00.003-06:00

Nottoo often is a stop in a city one that doesn't involve any shows orworkshops, but here we are in Amsterdam without anything official todo. Actually, that isn't entirely true, we have one officialengagement, it is my birthday and its time to show 39 who's boss.

Turning39 is like approaching the “event horizon” on a black hole. The“event horizon”, as so many science fiction movies have taught me(actually, just one science fiction movie, the one called EventHorizon), is the perimeter that surrounds a black hole where oncecrossed, the gravity is too intense for even light to escape. So,just to re-cap, turning 39 is like being at the event horizon,turning 40 is like being in a black hole and entering into thedreaded phase of life known as... “middle age”. And like so manyscience fiction movies have taught me, like Logan's Run, “middleage” is death. Actually, almost all movies have taught me that“middle age” is death, especially movies about the actual MiddleAges. The Middle Ages were a hard time in the history of humans, theBlack Death was rampant, poverty, anti-intellectualism, and generallypretty dirty and miserable. The nickname for the Middle Ages was theDark Ages, which is not a good sign. I have lost my train of thoughthere... My god, I'm going senile already.

Ohand Amsterdam was a blast, though it did rain for the two days we hadoff, which put a damper on things, which is a pun. They love puns inAmsterdam, in fact, the Dutch in general love a good pun.

Anotherthing about Amsterdam is the fact that it is a city that people fromall over the world go to. It is truly cosmopolitan. We ate at aSurinamese place and an Indonesian place, which are both placesoutside of the Netherlands (duh). We also met up with Cari (an improviserfrom Ottawa in town working for Boom Chicago) and Jim (a Winnipegfilm maker who we know). How cosmopolitan is that?

Steve eating Dutch War Fries...

Tyler eating Dutch War Fries...

Jim eating Dutch War Fries...

Mmmmmmmmmmm, Dutch War Fries...

Amsterdam,your confusing streets and confusing canals were a joy to wanderaimlessly down.

Next stop Bremen, Germany.

CRUMBS in Mannheim

2011-10-31T09:24:00.001-05:00

Finallywe are in Germany. We return to Mannheim, which is the second oldestplace we've been. Let me clarify what that means. Mannheim is thesecond city we ever toured to, so for us, Berlin is the oldest cityand Mannheim is number two. Anyways, we played our shows at the TiG7,which is a wonderful little theatre that we love so much, it isalways comfortable and relaxed, while the audiences are always soloud and into what we are doing. Great!

Us CRUMBS just hanging out before the show.

Hunnicutt's gear all set up.

Lee and Tyler kissing a pitbull on the streets of Mannheim.

The Shows

Thestory of a man who only eats sandwiches, and embarrasses himself anda friend at a Chinese Food Restaurant. He just cannot handle thespicy soup. We also follow an amateur model who refuses to be paidfor the work she does, she feels as though it would spoil the purityof modelling to accept money. The sandwich addict realizes thatsandwiches are getting in the way of his relationship and must dosomething to cure himself, and he sets on a mission to create themost disgusting sandwich ever to make him lose his desire. The modelfalls for a photographer who takes the “perfect” picture of her.This picture causes world peace. She unfortunately gets disfiguredwhile in the darkroom with the harsh developing chemicals. Thesandwich man makes a spicy soup sandwich and it works, saving hismarriage.

Wealso did a mixed show with Drama Light which we saw us all explore:-The dangers of choosing Fanta over Coca-Cola.

-Gettingtrapped in a treasure chest.

-Thesuper hero “The Typist” defeat “The Flooder”.

-Anunlikely romance between a lumberjack and a belly dancer.

Ohshows, must you always be a crazy delight? Yes, yes you must.

Nextstop? Off days in Amsterdam.

CRUMBS shows in Switzerland

2011-10-20T18:50:00.000-05:00

Yes,we also did some kick ass shows.

Here is a little list of thestorylines we weaved in Zurich...

-acomputer who becomes real by being downloaded into a book.

-ancrabby old bookstore owner who has to close because nobody readsanymore.

-coincidentally,a brand new apple store opening (the day before Jobs passes away).

-ahairstylist that realizes that beauty makes people shallow, shelearns the hard way of course.

-aperson addicted to IKEA

Then there is the show we did in Baden...

Story#1 involves a pet store owner who hates animals. Little boy who wantsa turtle. Turns out the turtle is the only animal the old store owneractually likes. The boy wants a pet to teach him about death (becausehis father will probably die and his father wants him to beprepared). He loses the turtle and it finds its way back to the oldman. The young boy gets a job at the pet store to pay his dad backfor all the fuck ups he has caused and ends up sharing the turtlewith the old man.

Story#2 involves a couple is moving up in the world and have bought a newhouse that makes them sophisticated... she redecorates and buys anold tapestry. The tapestry, and like all old tapestries, it is highlyflammable. A fire happens and they use a fire extinguisher togetherto put out the flames, but it is too late. They are forced to moveback into their old house and their old life. Not before helping in asting operation to take down the crooked tapestry dealer who has beenusing extra flammable tapestries as a tool for arson.

Next stop? Back to Germany!

CRUMBS in Switzerland

2011-10-16T08:20:00.000-05:00

Tyler and Lee enjoying some food in Zurich.

Tyler window shopping for the most expensive watches.

Looking down the mountain of Zurich.

The Zurich Apple store after the passing of Steve Jobs.

The lobby of the new venue we played in Baden. And below, is the back stage antics we get up to (We have fun don't we).

Andthen we continue on from one EXPENSIVE city to another! Oslo andZurich are two of the most expensive cities in the world. (seehttp://www.citymayors.com/features/cost_survey.html).But both are such lovely cities that it is worth it.

Oursecond stop was in Zurich with shows at the Miller's studio thanks toEIT. We haven't played at the Miller's Studio in years and it wasjust as beautiful and professional as we remember it. Zurich is oftenin the running, along with Vancouver, as the best city to live in.We can see why, what with the amazing lake and mountains and all thebankers walking along the streets... Okay, maybe the bankers aren'tquite so captivating. But yes, as always, the food was amazing. Itseems that the older I get, the more food is what I care about most.

OhZurich, why do you have to be so expensive? Well, we then set off toa little town just outside of Zurich called Baden.

Wedid our show at a new spot. RIP the Ventil and hello to Stanzerei.While we will miss the cozy Ventil and the wonderful staff there, ournew home in Baden is pretty damn good, they even named some drinksafter us...

Well,goodbye Switzerland, you were great. Now we head into Germany.

The Naked Statue Park

2011-10-11T06:44:00.000-05:00

There is a park in Oslo that is called "The Naked Statue Park". Everyone goes there from all over the world so that they can get their picture taken while touching one of the statue's genitalia. People are so strange when they're at the naked park.

CRUMBS in Oslo. The tour begins.

2011-10-08T04:27:00.000-05:00

Sothe tour has begun and CRUMBS with Dj in tow are in Europe on thisfall tour of 2011. Is Europe that much different in the fall than itis in the spring? Well, for one it starts off really sunny and warmand then slowly gets all rainy and cold. I guess just like fall inNorth America. We are more the same than I realized.

Ourtour began in Oslo, lovely Oslo. The first time we ever went to Osloit was cold, rainy and crappy. Every time we have been back since,Oslo has improved. This year when we arrived they were just startingthe warmest late September ever. Weather is huge when you're on tour.

Osloalso has just opened their very own improv theatre called Der AnereTeater (which translates into “The Other Theatre”). This theateis.... BEAUTIFUL! When we stepped into the space it immediately feltcomfy, familiar and warm. Its the same as when you eat a meal and youcan taste the love. You can feel the love put into building thistheatre.

Weplayed two shows, one was a CRUMBS classic and the other was a mixedshow with our friends in Oslo. The shows involved “plumber” (aclassic suggestion, thanks Oslo) and “pizza place” (anotherclassic suggestion). We played with a rich girl who bought everythingshe needed, the story behind why you never wave anything white atNorthern Lights, Alberto's Pizza Shop and how it is the most romanticplace for a date.

Wehad great shows and great times in Oslo. We wondered the streets, wefound out where the good coffee was and we were fed the most amazingfood at the theatre (sandwiches with three layers drizzled with oliveoil... mmmm). But like anywhere and everywhere on our tour, it cametime to move on. We went to the airport (the correct airport... notlike that one time...) and waved goodbye to Norway and hello toZurich.

CRUMBS in Europa Fall 2011

2011-09-27T15:36:00.001-05:00

Now that the Winnipeg iF... Improv Festival 2011 is over CRUMBS can now jump on a plane and fly to Europe for our Euro Touro 2011 part 2. The improv festival was such a smooth success this year with such great guests and such great shows and such great hang-outs. Winnipeg is a buzz and inspired.

The CRUMBS tour this fall is part 2 because normally we tour in the springtime, but this year we are touring again in the fall. It will be nice to see what Europe looks like in the fall instead of always enjoying the spring. It will also be nice seeing all the lovely Euro folks again so soon and giving them some CRUMBS love. We will also be touring with the amazing Dj Hunnicutt in Europe for longer than we have in the past too, so now more people can fall in love with him too.

See you at the shows,

For our European Tour schedule this fall CLICK HERE!

Jupiter's Moons!

2011-09-14T23:24:00.001-05:00

The Winnipeg iF... Improv Festival starts so soon!

For more info visit the official Winnipeg iF... Improv Festival 2011 website HERE!

CRUMBS loves the Winnipeg Improv Festival

2011-09-13T15:31:00.004-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Winnipeg iF... Improv Festival 2011 is just about here. That time of year when CRUMBS teams up with the local heroes of Winnipeg improv and we invite fabulous improv players from all over to come to our home town and show them our prairie hospitality.

This year we have guests coming from:

Atlanta, Georgia
Victoria, BC
Edmonton, AB
Toronto, ON

The Festival kicks off at the King's Head Pub on Sept 2oth for the annual Free Sampler Platter.

The rest of the fest then takes place at the Gas Station Theatre (at the corner of River & Osborne) Sept 22nd + 23rd +24th with amazing shows!

Be sure to watch a special Improv Festival episode of "The Week Thus Far" as CRUMBS is featured. You can watch this local show on ShawTV.

Now enjoy some videos of CRUMBS while they were at the Berlin International Impro Festival this spring.

Lee White and his creepy improvised monologue about numbers:

Crumbs 22.03.11 First Monologue from www.berlinimpro.de on Vimeo.

Stephen Sim and his improvised monologue about the power of being a cop:

Crumbs Police Monologue from www.berlinimpro.de on Vimeo.

CRUMBS knee deep in summer

2011-08-20T18:39:00.003-05:00

Oh summer, you wine us and you dine us (figuratively), and then you slip out the door. And while you slip out the door you leave the door open long enough for fall to thrust itself unto us. Oh fall, you are the beginning of the season of comedy theatre. The fall this year (2011) brings for CRUMBS:

1) The Winnipeg IF... Improv Festival 2011. The Gas Station Arts Centre again brings you and everyone the festival of making things up. This year will mark the 12th year... a dozen years of making things up! September 20th - 24th is when improv comes to town.

2) The CRUMBS tours Europe in the Fall! What? We thought that CRUMBS only toured Europe in the spring? There just aren't enough hours in the day, days in the week and months in the year to bring everyone the CRUMBS love.

3) The Free Laughs Comedy Series at the King's Head...
FREE LAUGHS The 6th season of Free Laughs Comedy Series at the King's Head on Tuesday nights. The free comedy shows continue for year six, rotating through several hot hot comedy shows right here in Winnipeg. Let's look at some of the shows one can expect to be blown away by this fall.

CRUMBS with Dj Hunnicutt -The world class improv duo (CRUMBS duh?) does the improv thing with Dj Hunnicutt and people (you) come down and party with us.

Comedy Loser -The hit comedy show that has performers play characters, monologues, puppetry, video and everything else that screams solo comedy (except stand-up).

CRUMBS & Friends -This show has CRUMBS inviting improv players onto the stage to play with us. Sometimes these guests are famous, sometimes they are old friends, all the time they are awesome.

Shitz n Gigglez This is the high quality elite super elite stand-up comedy show hosted by John B Duff. This show rules the funny.

Show and Tell Just like when we were all in grade school except way way funnier. Comedy folk bring in an object to "show" and then they "tell". Hilarious.

Kings of the King's Head This is the game show of comedy that pits Improviser against his sworn enemy, no not scripts, I'm talking about Stand-up Comedians. The show blew everyone away in 2010, the next show is August 30th, 2011. Hosted by Lee White.

Outside Joke Local heroes Outside Joke take over for CRUMBS while they tour the world. Improv in Winnipeg is safe in their hands. The party continues.

CRUMBS relaxes

2011-08-01T17:09:00.005-05:00

CRUMBS has closed the door on yet another Winnipeg Fringe Festival. Number 14 actually. We did 10 shows and not one of them sucked, which statistically is quite rare, usually when it comes to improv there must be at least one show that crashes and burns, if only to prove to the universe that improv is not an exact science. But as it turns out, this Fringe is perhaps the end of this "rule". As people out there might not realize, modern improv is literally riddled with rules, theories and proper protocol.

All improv shows upon their completion must have an Official Show Report filled out and submitted (called OSR, pronounced Oh-Sirs). The report includes information such as the number of people who showed up, the number of laughs per minute, number of mimed objects, number of characters played. Mostly, it has to do with plenty of numbers, numbers are very important with all art forms. The form also involves a special rating scale, that for laymen can be simply be expressed by whether it was a great show or whether is totally sucked. This rating scale is called the Close/Johnstone median.

We have submitted our Official Show Reports to the Central Improvisation Agency (aka Central Improvisation Service International) and are currently waiting to hear back from them. They will crunch the numbers and see if, in fact, we have broken the Close/Johnston median barrier on extended improv show run averages. Exciting times, stay tuned for official results.

CRUMBS is 1/2 way through the Fringe

2011-07-19T16:36:00.017-05:00

So the CRUMBS show is still running at the Winnipeg Fringe. We have done 5 shows and we have 5 shows left. This is the "hump" and we now slide down the slippery slope to the light at the end of the tunnel. (Is that enough of some mixed metaphors for you?). Now, in a run of 10 improv shows at least one show should be a "stinker", at least one show should "bomb". So far we haven't done this, we have only put on stellar shows, to use the proper term, we are on point.

We have explored: elevator repair, bikini waxing, dog sleds, butchers, smart pigs, The Mother Tree, hippies, garden gnomes, Antartica, and saunas. So as you can see, no topic is left untouched. We are brave brave improvisers.

We have 5 shows left:
Tuesday, July 19th at 10:15pm
Wednesday, July 20th at 9pm
Thursday, July 21st at 10:15pm
Friday, July 22nd at 11:15pm
Saturday, July 23rd at 11:15pm

Reviews? Well, if you even follow or believe the reviews. Personally, I find I need to judge for myself.

Free Press 4.5 Stars

CBC Website 4 Stars

Uptown Magazine 4 Stars

Don't wait until the last minute to get your tickets, show up early or buy your tickets online. Then come down to the King's Head Pub early and follow this handy guide:
1) Get a good seat
2) Order some delicious food
3) Order several satisfying beverages
4) Laugh ass off
5) Tell other people about your amazement
6) Repeat

Thank you

CRUMBS did another show

2011-07-15T19:04:00.006-05:00

CRUMBS has done yet another killer show at the King's Head during this (our 14th year) at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. The show was amazing yet again, like really amazing. So our first two shows were great, when is the stinker going to be? Being at a CRUMBS show that is a stinker is quite an experience, so you should come on down and see if we will stink up the joint.

We are doing shows every night of the Fringe at the King's Head pub. Saturday at 10:15, Sunday at 10:15, Monday at 10:15, Tuesday at 10:15, Wednesday at 9pm, Thursday at 10:15, Friday at 11:15 and finally Saturday at 11:15. You should really come.

We had puppies and those that whisper to dogs, we had golfing and we even eluded to a key party.

CRUMBS opens the Fringe

2011-07-14T14:05:00.008-05:00

CRUMBS has opened the Winnipeg Fringe for the 14th year now. The show was great, the audience was great... Everything was great. Now its time to do it again and again and again until the Fringe is over. I hope to see you at the shows, and to entice you, here are some random pictures that reference what went on in the show.

I think this last image was somebody doing jumping jacks in the show. I don't know. Check out the shows folks before they're all gone.

Aaron Read explains CRUMBS

2011-06-30T21:01:00.002-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Aaron Read from Vancouver has unlocked the secrets to CRUMBS. Watch as he masterfully deconstructs the magic.

The Winnipeg Fringe Festival 2011

2011-06-16T16:15:00.016-05:00

Alright, so I completely suck at this whole website updating thing. I am so far behind on posts about the European tour (yes, the tour that has been over for weeks) and I am already realizing that I must post about upcoming shows.

I have decided to post about the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. Yes, it is an amazing festival, and yes, amazing shows will be happening in this humble town.

I must first (of course) push upon you the shows that I am directly involved in, and then push the shows of people I know.

#1 CRUMBS
You know us (well, you should, this is the website of CRUMBS). We return to the Winnipeg Fringe and continue our record streak of most Fringes produced in a row.
CRUMBS first did a Fringe show in 1998 and we have done one EVERY YEAR since. So this will be our 14th Fringe Show (14!!!!!!!).
It will again be at the King's Head Pub and it will again feature the wonderful Dj Hunnicutt and it will again be amazing.

Wed, July 13th 9:00 PM

Thus, July 14 10:15 PM

Sat, July 16th 10:15 PM

Sun, July 17th 10:15 PM

Mon, July 18th 10:15 PM

Tues, July 19 10:15 PM

Wed, July 20 9:00 PM

Thurs, July 21 10:15 PM

Fri, July 22 11:15 PM

Sat, July 23 11:15 PM

#2 The BiG STUPiD iMPROV SHOW
This show has been bringing improvisers together in a safe/dangerous environment since 1998 as well. The show started in Edmonton and was first created by Wes Borg (of Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie fame) who then gave me the keys. Wait, what has this show got to do with Stephen Harper? Nothing, but he is big and stupid... Right?

This show will be at Venue #10 The Planetarium Auditorium.

Thu, July 14 7:15 PM
Sat, July 16 12:30 PM
Sun, July 17 5:30 PM
Mon, July 18 3:30 PM
Wed, July 20 11:00 PM
Thu, July 21 7:15 PM
Sun, July 24 5:15 PM

#3 The Gray Area of Comedy presents: Full Screen Ahead
This show is a sketch comedy show and the first sketch comedy show that I have been involved in YEARS! The show was inspired by the desire of one Tim Gray. I took it upon myself to help produce, write and direct this comedy masterpiece. The show has an amazingly talented cast:
Tim Gray and Dan Huen are part of a weekly satirical news/talk show called "Week Thus Far", which airs on Channel 9 (for Shaw subscribers) every Tuesday night at 10pm. They started the Gray Area of Comedy in 2008 as a weekly sketch show on UMFM airwaves. Since then, they’ve produced two shows at the Gas Station Theatre and released a DVD containing over 90 minutes of sketch comedy. Dan Huen also appeared in the 2011 Winnipeg Comedy Festival.
Fraz Wiest is a founding member of the Toronto based Ghost Jail Theatre. The nationally known improviser and comedian has had multiple appearances in the iF…Winnipeg Improv Festival. He also invented awesome.
Marc Evans is a core cast member of the massive Fringe hit, hugely successful Dungeons & Dragons improv show. He is also really good at growing beards.
Caitlin Curtis is an uprising improv mega-star in Winnipeg who has attended international festivals in Chicago, Seattle and Toronto. In her spare time she coaches provincial champions in the Manitoba Improv League. Caitlin is also really bad at growing beards.

The show is at Venue #3: the Playhouse Studio (180 Market Street)

Thursday, July 14 3:15PM
Friday, July 15 11:00PM
Sunday, July 17 3:45PM
Monday, July 18 7:15PM
Thursday, July 21 3:45PM
Friday, July 22 9:15PM
Saturday, July 23 12:15PM

#4 The Academy of Acting presents: Spring Awakening
This show has a cast of thousands (35) and was written a million years ago (1890) and has been banned and protested and censored (it actually has). The show is being brought to you by the acting program of the Academy of Acting at the ABC (It is the acting school in the basement of Polo Park). The show will be epic. So what exactly do I have to do with this show? Well, it was my idea for the Academy to put on a Fringe show. I know that learning to produce your own art is a valuable lesson, and nobody teaches it better than the Fringe.
This show will be at Venue #4 Alloway Hall (Manitoba Museum)

***

And these are just the shows that I am directly involved in. There are other amazing shows to check out:

Outside Joke
The Dungeons & Dragons Improv show
This is Cancer (from Toronto)
Monster Theatre (from Vancouver)
Hip Bang Improv (from Vancouver)

And these are just people I know. And I know even more people. And there are even more shows to see. See them all!

Buy tickets here: This is a link to click

Buy on the phone: 942-6537

CRUMBS is almost done the tour

2011-06-06T15:12:00.005-05:00

CRUMBS is almost done yet another tour of Europe and as we get ready to do the last couple of "gigs" on our Euro Touro 2011, know that we are also sooooooo behind on our website updates.

I will try and post a small update about each of the stops on our tour and catch up to the present, though it is quite hard to keep up with reality. I will also try and continue to keep updating the site with actual current projects.

Even though the updates are behind, I will mention that we are in Munich right now and are preparing ourselves mentally (read this as sipping on Gin and Tonics) for the TEDx Munich. If you don't know what TED is, go here. If you don't know what Munich is, go there. It is pretty exciting to be involved with this whole TED thing, I hope it works out smoothly. Check out info about this event HERE.

Then we put the Euro Touro 2011 to bed and kiss it on the forehead for the 10th year in a row. We pack our bags and empty out pockets for security and jump aboard the "old tin can shuttle" to skip across the Atlantic for our homes.

We will see you soon for:

Improvaganza in Edmonton!

Winnipeg Fringe Festival!

Stay tuned...

CRUMBS in Konstanz

2011-05-31T12:39:00.012-05:00

Konstanz (aka Konstanztanople, K-town, Special K) is the town in Southern Germany with glorious weather and a beautiful lake. There is a lovely impro group called Gmbh there that we play with. This is what happened.

CORRECTION: The group is called Tmb-Hug not Gmbh. Oops.

story 1 = A girl golfer whose dad hates golf, falls in love with the new golf pro Lion Woods.

story 2 = A samurai story. The father sends his incompetent son and amazing daughter off to become samurai. I am afraid that while in battle the daughter accidentally kills her brother. She then brings the body home to her father and lies to him, telling him he died honourably in battle.

story 3 = A fantasy story with an orc who drums on the street and helps people. Turns to the dark side but then the power of the drum brings him back to the side of good.

story 4 = A young married couple. He dreams of skateboards while she is a total bitch. He eventually escapes her clutches and gets a skateboard.

story 5 = Documentary about puffer fish. Interviews with a biologist, a sushi chef, a fisherman and the president of the Toxic Waste Spilling Company. Does the puffer fish survive the pollution in it's natural habitat?

And here is the theatre we play in.

CRUMBS in Leuven (I'm Leuven it)

2011-05-16T10:20:00.008-05:00

So I posted something about the battle that is ongoing between the Swiss and Belgium chocolate. I also posted about the ongoing battle between Belgium and German over beer dominance. I mentioned that I was involved in ongoing research. This was the the smarted thing I ever could have done.

Well, I arrive in Belgium to chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. Let me tell you Switzerland, you had better pull up your funny looking pants because Belgium made some impressive headway in the war for chocolate mastery. I also have to mention that I experimented with some lovely Belgian beer as well (Karmaleit) though usually just go for I a nice clean pilsner.

Now Belgium not only delivered fine beers and chocolates, they also delivered in the food category. No I am not just talking about fries (belgian/french fries), we also got treated to gourmet meals while in Leuven. Though Lee did go to “war” a couple of times. “War” in french fry terms is like the Belgian version of Canada's famous “poutine”. Instead of the gravy and cheese curds on fries, the Belgians do their fries up with ketchup, mayo and onions.

The shows and workshops were also very nice in Belgium, and we had a very nice time with our hosts “Inspinazie”. The shows were in fact as good, if not better than all the chocolate and beer. In the next post I will go into further detail about the show content.

CRUMBS in Osnabrueck

2011-05-10T13:51:00.010-05:00

So I have been pretty bad at updating the website, and not only that, I have been writing show descriptions that are far far to long. This show description is of no exception to that current trend. Perhaps it will be the last "epically" long show description, I mean, who reads through the whole show described in text? It must just sound like the ramblings of an old man describing his strange dreams... Anyways, enjoy.

The suggestions: british soldier + supermarket

A market that is super, it has flashing lights, it has a roller disco, it has ipads on every shelf, it has big screen tvs.

We meet Charles about to go off to war to fight for the British. His fiance doesn't want him to go. He promises to write everyday.

We meet Henry and Prudence, two old folks who meet on a park bench and complain about the new supermarket that has replaced the old one. They decide to do something about it.

Charles off at war is a terrible war strategist and refuses to have his soldiers use boats to cross the river, his unit mutinies (sort of) and he is convinced to go on and cross the river himself to prove his bravery.

At the supermarket we meet the manager/boss who is quiet mean to Bobby the worker (who is moping up some spilled milk and makes a joke to his boss). The boss seems to be obsessed with nobody spilling anything.

The old couple enter the supermarket and are actually quiet impressed with all the flash and hoopla that “super” offers (like 4000 varieties of tea).

Charles meets up with the commander of the enemy (played with an outrageously ambiguis accent) and they realize that they aren't that different. In fact, they realize that they have been lied to by their Queen and their King to manufacture this war in the first place. Did I mention that the war was about fashion? Well, it was.

Back at home, his fiance has received word that Charles is missing and has been convinced by her drunk of a mother that he is dead. She gives up and starts to drink, settling into a life of slipping into her mother's deadly habits.

Henry and Prudence decide that all this hate is not worth it and agree that the supermarket isn't all that bad. Henry asks Prudence to the Roller disco to dance and Prudence admits that she just wanted to do that right form the beginning. Henry, a miserable old man, had happiness and love right in front of him the whole time.

The two military commanders decide to try and end the war by tricking the Queen and the King into going on a date together. They decide to write each of them love letters and then disguise themselves as the restaurant staff to make sure their ruse works.

There is a roller disco wedding officiated by the poor mop boy Bobby and the sight of it melts the mean hearted boss.

The Queen of England and the King of “Ambiguous European Nation” of course fall in love and end their petty squabble.

Charles returns home and rescues his fiance from the clutches of her poisonous mother.

And all is well in the land of CRUMBS.

CRUMBS in panorama

2011-05-08T07:49:00.009-05:00

A shot with moving cars in Vienna

A shot of the stage at the Cairo in Wurzburg

A shot of the bridge in Wurzburg

A shot of the best view in all of Europe

A shot of the Gallus theatre in Frankfurt

A shot of the Workshop people enjoying lunch in Wurzburg

A shot backstage in Oslo... Lee is magic.

So, I guess it is obvious to say that I have discovered the panoramic feature on my camera. It has been very fun to experiment with, so I thought I would post some of the pictures here on the website. Also, I have been so terrible at posting information on the website that I thought I would at the very least do something.

CRUMBS in Karlsruhe

2011-05-05T17:27:00.011-05:00

The suggestions were: computer scientist + brain

In a computer class where a nerd (Frank) on a computer is forced to work with a computer illiterate person (Larry). Larry keeps insisting on calling them brothers.

We meet a husband and wife, they have a nice life, though it is disrupted by his headaches (that he describes as having his brain put in a blender). He is also afraid of doctors, but wife insists on him going and books an appointment.

Frank and Larry are then forced to work together on their programming assignment and Larry decides to teach Frank how not to be a nerd and talk to women. Larry falls for the most beautiful girl in school (roxanne) and actually makes a good impression.

We meet Dr Clarence and his nurse Maria. He is a doctor for children who are afraid of doctors, though he used to be a surgeon but lost a patient once by transplanting a heart that was too big. He hasn't been in an operating room since.

Everyday Dr Clarence tells Maria of his bizarre dreams, this time it is about a monster, who opens his mouth revealing another monster who's mouth he jumps in and finds himself in a rainbow filled dance party in the belly of the monster. Maria tells him it is a sign that he must find his “monster mouth” moment.

Of course we find out the husband's headaches are caused by something serious, his brain is shrinking and only has 15% of his brain left. If something isn't done he will become a stupid idiot and then eventually die without a single memory. His love of his wife makes him insist on getting the experimental procedure done.

Frank has a date with Roxanne and is the first person to really be honest with her (she is getting A's in her classes but is not really that smart). He convinces her to drop her classes she doesn't care about and to follow her heart. She decides to study “Frogology”, Frank tells her that doesn't exist but that she is headed in the right direction.

Larry realizes he must confront is “asshole” father who always was so against technology. He feels like he must do this to have some closure with that part of his life. Oh yeah, and he also turns out to be a computer programming genius who invents a whole new computer language. Frank finally calls Larry his brother.

Husband is saved in a miracle operation that involves having his brain scraped out of his head and put into a blender then reattached to his head. He is a little embarrassed, but his wife still loves him. Cue sexy silly love scene.

After the show was over we were treated to an amazing pancake feast. When I say amazing I mean we had our choice of 5 different pancake mixes, cooked up live. We then had our choice of toppings to add to the already amazing pancakes... This is how to end a show. Plus check out the show illustration in the guest book.

CRUMBS in Hamburg

2011-04-28T08:16:00.012-05:00

The suggestions were = sword & advertising illustrator

We start with Dennis Franklin carries on his father's rat trap business but business is slow and needs some new advertising.

Then we go to the museum of "Really Old Stuff", it holds as its central exhibit, a half sword. The other half is lodged in the heart of a warrior killed in battle hundreds of years ago. He rises from his unmarked grave and seeks the other half of the sword.

The rat trap execs go to advertising firm “Joe's Advertising” (after jokes about computers and porn). The advertising firm riffs on slogans. (A sample slogan for diet coffee “on a diet? Try it”)

We meet the two old security guards of the museum, they have worked together for years but have never really hung out and decide to take lunch together. It turns out that they both go to the same place “Frank's Italian Restaurant” and also always order the same thing “spaghetti and red wine”. The alarm goes off at the museum while they are becoming best friends.

We meet Sally/Margharita and Donny, who are cool kids at school who also love the latest trendy rat traps from Japan. They make a date to go down to the ravine together to trap rats, which is where teenagers go to make out.

Joe, with the help of the old janitor Charlie, comes up with a campaign that involves a cartoon rat that is so cute and wants to be caught by a Franklin rat trap.

The kids meet the warrior at the ravine and Margharita falls for the warrior and helps him find the owner of the sword, which has Franklin engraved on the hilt. (Jokes about how to pronounce sword)

The two old guards (Hank with a wife and kids + Georgee and his ugly dog) realize that one of them has to take the fall, Georgee makes the sacrifice. But upon getting home to his dog realizes his dog can track the swords whereabouts.

The warrior confronts Franklin and an epic battle ensues between sword and rat trap. In the final clash, sword and trap are fused in a burst...

This then transforms into part of the pitch for the ad campaign selling the rat traps. A movie... the best kind of commercial in the world.

Here is some fan art of the final print ad that Franklin's Rat Traps made. (hooray for fan art)

CRUMBS prays for CANADA

2011-04-23T10:00:00.003-05:00

And when I say "pray" I mean hope and wish and plead that Canada doesn't hand Harper a majority government (and for that matter, I hope we don't give him a minority one either). I don't mean "pray" as in the activity that actually does no good at all.

The election approaches and the polls keep pointing at a Harper majority, though the polls cannot be trusted as they are land line phone polls and:
1) Who has a land line anymore?
2)Who even answers the questions that they ask?

There is some mobilization to get the youth out to vote, the best so far is:

ShitHarperDid
Oh yeah, you can better use your vote to defeat Harper by using this handy-dandy voting tool. Just click on the link HERE. It lets you know what best to vote against Conservative in your riding.

Thank you,
CRUMBS

CRUMBS show in the style of Walker Part 2

2011-04-16T08:53:00.007-05:00

An accountant (suggestion #1) who has stolen money and he evades the gangsters who are after him. He leaves behind his wife a child. He travels in classic "stealing a bunch of money" style, with a suitcase stuffed with cash.

We meet his son who allergic to bees and has an epipen. Epipen is suggestion #2 and we actually get an epipen from someone in the audience (who is allergic to bee stings, we of course tell him that any time during the show, if he gets stung to just grab the epipen). Oh oh, Dad accidentally brought the epipen with him when he left... Oops.

We meet the gangsters (one tall, one small) follow him to a hotel he is hiding out in.

His son falls for a school girl who makes him pick flowers. Flowers means bees, bees mean bee stings... Oops. He gets stung by a bee.

The gangsters catch up with dad but then he kills gangster by stabbing the epipen in the gangsters back.

Visits wife and son at hospital, but then he must continue to live in hiding. Another tragic ending for CRUMBS and Walker.

CRUMBS show in the style of Walker Part 1

2011-04-11T10:14:00.010-05:00

The Festival in Berlin had a theme this year, and it was improv performances in the style of... CRUMBS were asked to choose a Canadian playwright and after researching the topic we discovered that Canada indeed had some playwrights. We then chose George F. Walker. It then turned out that Walker was the only living playwright included in the Berlin Festival. This is the first show we did.

It started out with a cop who had gone bad (police was one of the suggestions). He has turned in his badge and gun and misses them badly. His partner is still crooked and is still dealing drugs.

He visits a mob boss at a cafe (lee has little no coffee knowledge) to try and get some more drugs and keep working in the criminal underworld. His wife is pregnant and he doesn't know. He becomes a mall cop to make ends meet (of course all his cop buddies make fun of him).

He is instructed to deliver a mysterious stuffed bunny (which is the other suggestion from the audience, but actually in the form of an actual stuffed bunny). He is also instructed to kill the chief of police. His wife thinks the stuffed bunny is for her and keeps it.

So, he fucks up, kills police chief, his partner dies... It doesn't end well for this crooked cop.

CRUMBS takes pictures

2011-04-02T10:41:00.007-05:00

CRUMBS on tour in Europe (yet again) and taking a ton of photos (yet again). Here are some of those photos for your eyeballs. The above photo is Lee and myself in the Crazy Horst bar, our local bar whenever we are in Hamburg.

This is Germany's most famous hand model showing off his talents with our CRUMBS flyer.

And this is a poster of Horst advertising a book he is in that has famous words from famous Hamburg pub owners. He is saying something about peacocks... translate it.

Backstage at our show in Hamburg at the Motte.

Crazy Balloon?

CRUMBS makes a short film

2011-04-01T10:27:00.004-05:00

CRUMBS makes a short film in a couple of hours and then waits years to finally share it with people?

This was shot in 2006 on a 16mm Bolex on one roll of film in one shot as part of the WNDX One Shot Festival. It was shot using "in camera" editing and "in the moment" acting. The music was mixed by Dj Hunnicutt. The camera was operated by Darren Wall. The film was directed by Stephen Sim and stars Stephen Sim and Lee White.

Next post will be an update about the CRUMBS shows we have done. Someone came up to me after the CRUMBS show in Hamburg and told me that he appreciates the updates where the shows are summarized. He said it reminded him of when he used to keep a dream journal. So for those that have seen the shows or cannot see the shows, I will try my darndest to update with pictures and details from each show.

Thank you for reading this.

The Hammer

2011-03-31T07:25:00.005-05:00

The Hammer = Hamburg

CRUMBS are again in Hamburg, again in St Pauli and again at the Crazy Horst. We do our show tonight at the Motte and then return to Berlin.

St Pauli is the area of Hamburg we live the most and the home of Germany's best Football club. Not the nest because they play the best on the field, but the best because of their fans. It turns out that a lot of right wing fascists are fans of the other teams (not just fascist as an insult, but actual god fearing fascists) while the St Pauli fans are the only real team that the Left can call their own. We heard a story where a whole bunch of hooligans from across Germany showed up before a football match and decided to "cause a ruckus" in St Pauli. What ended up happening in the ensuing violence was all the apartment windows opening up and the residence making it rain bottles on the invading trouble makers. The cops eventually showed up and tear gas was used, but not before humans got hurt. Hurt over sports rivalry.

I am so glad that hockey is not treated the same ferociousness in Canada. Image if all the Harper fans loved the Maple Leafs and the Liberals loved the Habs? This is just plain crazy. You should be able to be a fan of whatever team you want, no matter what your politics. I call for a separation of Sport and State!

Speaking of crazy, The Crazy Horst is a bar in St Pauli run by a legend named Horst. I have written about the bar on this website before, so I won't go on and on about it. But it is nice (and more than a little strange) to have a regular bar in a city so far away from home.

CRUMBS in Berlin

2011-03-26T10:49:00.016-05:00

CRUMBS is again in Berlin at the International Festival. The first time CRUMBS ever went to Europe was to this festival way back in 2001. So this trip and tour marks the 10th year anniversary of CRUMBS over in Europe. We are searching for our cake.

The Berlin International Impro Festival 2011 is the largest improvisation festival in Europe and hosts international improv groups showcasing their own unique shows as well as several festival ensembles that workshop together and collaborate on new forms. This year the theme of the festival was "In the Style of...". Groups brought with them a showcase show in the style of a playwright from their country as well as meeting during the festival to work deeper on a few select styles.

The styles that were worked on and presented during the festival?

Tennessee Williams (presented by Unexpected Productions, Seattle, USA)

August Strindberg (presented by Stockholms Improvisationsteater, Sweden)

Georg Buechner (presented by Die Gorillas, Berlin, Germany)

George F. Walker (presented by CRUMBS, Canada)

Eugene Ionesco (presented by Compagnie Combats Absurdes, France)

William Shakespeare (presented by the Festival Ensemble)

It was so nice to crawl deep into some actual theatre and have that journey disrupt and affect our improvisation. As Randy Dixon has said we want the shows to taste like who we are being inspired by. It was also nice to work on George F. Walker as an inspiration for our CRUMBS show. This gave s just a little more freedom to allow breathing room in our shows.

The festival in Berlin is amazing, truly. It is when I truly stretch as in improviser and I also tend to use the word truly a lot too. We get the chance to work with players from France, Latvia, Czech, USA, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Slovenia and Austria. In some cases old friends we have worked with before, in other cases brand new humans with brand new ideas and brand new styles. We are truly lucky to be involved with this group of performers on the international stage. Truly.

This is Dj Gorilla!

So then CRUMBS continues after the festival here in Berlin on to our Euro Touro 2011. Next stop Hamburg!

Improv!

2011-03-12T01:40:00.004-06:00

Improv.
Where Acting and Writing and Directing intersect, lies Improvisation. And it isn't done alone in a smoked filled coffee shop, though smoked filled coffee shops that have fueled so many angst filled poems of the past, are themselves a thing of the past now. It is not done in private alone for nobody to judge. Nor in a boardroom with a committee to steer it towards appeasement. No. It is done live in front of the very audience that is there to see it. It is the art form that births the art with everyone in the delivery room. There to see the sticky mess, there to see if the baby is a boy or a girl or stillborn, like the good old days. There are no rehearsals, no re-writes, no second takes, everything that happens is a part of the artwork. The audience gets it all, mistakes and all. And that is why I love it (and hate it).
Improv.

CRUMBS is soon to be on tour!

2011-03-03T17:26:00.005-06:00

UPDATE:
The CRUMBS "Berlin or Bust" improv comedy fundraiser is almost here! This is probably the best part of going away, the bon voyage show. This show is Saturday, March 12th at the Gas Station Theatre.

SERIOUSLY:
Call 284-9477 for your tickets today! Don't be the one who shows up and has no ticket because the show SOLD OUT, really do call the theatre NOW and reserve your ticket. DO IT!

PLUS:
We will be screening a short film we made back in 2006. It was only seen by those who attended the WNDX one shot film festival. We shot it with Darren Wall on 16mm black and white film in one continues shot. No editting except for the "in camera" editing. You will want to see the 2006 version of CRUMBS in a film.

The time is almost here when CRUMBS again departs on the annual Euro Touro. Getting everything done before we go is always stressful.

-Doing all our laundry and packing

-Finishing all our improv workshops (Prairie Theatre Exchange, in the High Schools, The Academy of Acting as well as other freelance workshops...)

-Finishing the CRUMBS shows at the King's Head as part of "The Free Laughs Comedy Show". (Our last show was March 1st and did in fact rock!)

-Clean and lock up the CRUMBS Mansion (and hopefully find someone to look after and feed all the animals in the CRUMBS Zoo)

And after making sure all of our "ducks are in a row" and all our "I's are dotted and our T's are crossed" we can then relax as we step aboard the CRUMBS private jet and fly to Europe for yet another tour. We start things off in Berlin at the biggest festival of improvisation in all of Europe. We then tour all over Europe doing our hilarious freestyle comedy show and our amazing improvisational workshops. We then end off our tour in Munich at a TED event where we will be doing a performance and a "talk". We might end up doing our talk on potential misinformation of the cyber media and the laziness of not fact checking before updating a website (click here to understand this joke).

All in all, you should be checking back here for tour updates and for clever and insightful observations, as I will be trying to keep myself sane by posting on this website/blog as often as possible.

Last couple shows in Winnipeg

2011-02-24T14:27:00.008-06:00

You are going to be missing your CRUMBS fix very soon, unless of course you are reading this in Europe, in which case you are just about to get your fix. But, if you are in fact reading this in Winnipeg, you must get your fix in NOW!

CRUMBS are doing two more shows in Winnipeg before going off on their annual Euro Touro. CRUMBS first hopped over the pond to do a show in Europe in 2001, here we are in 2011 and CRUMBS has gone over there to do shows every year since that first amazing Berlin International Improv Festival.

The First Show:

Tuesday, March 1st.

This will be the last CRUMBS show at the King's Head Pub until the Winnipeg Fringe Festival July 13-24th. We will be playing with Dj Hunnicutt as usual, and we will be doing some sort of hilarious improv set as usual. The FREE LAUGHS comedy show that runs every Tuesday at the King's Head will continue doing shows with Outside Joke taking the place of CRUMBS for all your improv needs.

The Second Show:

Saturday, March 12th.

This will be the infamous "Berlin or Bust" improv fundraiser show at the Gas Station Theatre. We will be performing with Dj Hunnicutt on our home turf one last time before jumping on a plane to tour Europe. This is the 10th ever "Berlin or Bust" show we have done. It is amazing to think that CRUMBS has toured Europe for a decade, but it seems that math and history point to this truth.

The Tour:

Click on the link for all the schedule information on how you can best stalk CRUMBS as they tour Europe.

Save journalism in Canada!

2011-02-15T13:15:00.006-06:00

Time is running out to save journalism in Canada. How simply embarrassing it would be if Canada had its very own Fox News spreading false news and fear mongering. Now I am not against The SunTV from existing and having their say, I just think that anyone reporting the news should have to be held responsible for not airing information falsely. That goes for the CBC and CTV and any other media outlet out there. I don't think that just because you can afford to buy your own TV news channel means you can then turn around and report whatever you feel like, there is a certain responsibility that comes with calling yourself a news agency. If you want to broadcast fiction, go right ahead, but don't call it news.

Here is a link where you can have your voice heard.

A link to a news story about the CRTC changes.

A link to the CRTC notice of consultation on fair and balanced rule.

But...... If SunTV decides that perhaps they would like to venture more into the entertainment areas of television instead of reporting the news, I do have some suggestions for them.

1) The Pretend Science Show
This show can be all about how science is fake and that it is a conspiracy to keep the Oil and Gas industry from making money. It could be set in an evil "science" lab, where we follow the day to day adventures of "mad scientists" constantly inventing new ways to oppress the Petroleum Companies.
Bonus: It could be funded directly by the Petroleum Industry!

2) Those silly NDP
The show would revolve around the fruitless campaigning of an NDP candidate and the "pipe dreams" of social services that they hilariously are always trying to champion.
Bonus: It could be cast with actual NDP candidates in true Reality TV fashion!

3) The "Normal" Family
This show would of course be "normal" as a sort of instruction manual for all Canadians. We would see a natural (white) family raising their children while they go to school (and church) and play sports (boys play hockey and girls play ringette). The leader of the house (the father) would give advice about how to be a good citizen while the homemaker (the mother) would give advice to the young girl about how to eventually become a good wife. There of course could be run ins with their wacky neighbours (the lesbian feminazi granola eating left wing nuts who speak gibberish) and the crazy guy across the street (the centrist pseudo-intellectual who talks down to them).
Bonus: I think the hilarity writes itself, though this show would not be shot as a comedy, it would be serious... Deadly serious.

So, those are just a few ideas off the top of my head, but I am sure in pinch I could pitch a few more.

In more funny and less scary news... CRUMBS continues to deliver hilarious live comedy shows (comedy shows that are not claiming to be news, so we do in fact have the freedom to take liberties with the truth).

Check us out at:

-the King's Head Pub on Feb 15th to celebrate the birthday of FRAZ! Musical guest Mama Cutsworth!

-The Gas Station Theatre show "Never Forget to Laugh" in honour of Susan Nisbet on Feb 19th! The show will feature stand-up comedy, improv, sketch comedy and video.

-The King's Head Pub on March 1st which will be the last CRUMBS show at the King's Head until the triumphant return during the Winnipeg Fringe Festival in July 2011!

-And Saturday, March 12th at the Gas Station Theatre for the CRUMBS Berlin or Bust show with Dj Hunnicutt.

Thank you for supporting live comedy, thank you for supporting truth in journalism and thank you for reading these words.

What has been on my mind lately

2011-01-28T18:32:00.011-06:00

Where has my mind been lately?
Well, I am glad you asked (or read the above questions). Here are some of the things that have been on my mind (and tweaking my nose). Speaking of nose tweaks... Somebody give that kid a medal.

1) EGYPT!
Things are going down in Egypt and the powers that be (that maybe won't BE for long) have shut down the internet out of fear. Let this be a lesson and a warning to everyone. The people in power will take away your internet if they get scared of you. If you think that the internet is YOURS and cannot be TAKEN away, you are mistaken. If you believe that internet freedom is important and more than just "net neutrality" you simply must do something and say something. I just don't know what that thing is yet. But in case of emergency, click this link.

On the other hand... The internet is such a waste of time, Cairo must be really getting things done right about now.

2) THINGS ARE BIG AND SMALL!
Here is a neat-o website that has a visual representation of just how big and how small things are. This kind of thing is great to feel really insignificant and yet at the same time feel like your problems might not matter all that much.

A keen follower on facebook pointed out and linked this classic film from IBM which elegantly showcases this on the youtube.

3) CANADA NEEDS TO STAY SMART

Here is an online petition to keep truth in journalism. Thank Science I can take some liberties because I am a comedy professional...
Sign it and help fight the idea of a "Canadian FOX News". How embarrassing that would be. Actually, scary is a better word.

4) REALLY CATHOLIC CHURCH?

Canadian Catholic bishops are warning married couples about what sex they should be having. This while controversy rages about what priests have been doing and how the church has been forced to keep it a secret and not report it? Really?

Another keen follower on facebook added: "You don't play the game, you don't make the rules."

5) HOMEOPATHY, THERE'S NOTHING IN IT
The CBC aired a science based perspective on Homeopathy. They probably could have gone even further in their criticism.

and part 2

International Homeopathy protest

Remember kids, science is your friend!

6)"THIS AIN'T CANADA RIGHT NOW"
A video surfaced where a police officer at the G20 summit was informing someone of what the law was. He then said something that should make every Canadian angry, even Stephen Harper.

Hey, Stephen Harper, do we need to sick a baby on you? Smarten up huh?

CRUMBS looks back on 2010

2011-01-07T19:08:00.012-06:00

With some simple analysis of the major news events of 2010 one can easily draw some pretty startling conclusions. Once the year is looked back upon the eerie series of events become much more entwined than when they first played out. Perhaps this is why some folks say that "Hindsight is 50/50".

First of all, the Earthquake in Haiti...

... Causes a collapse in a mine in Chile...

... While trying to dig them out they caused the Bp Oil spill in the Gulf...

... Wikileaks tried to spead the word...

... But ended up leaking the oil along the Ocean current that leads right to Iceland...

... This obviously caused the economic decay of that country which then sparked their volcano...

... Which of course spread ashes all across Europe...

... It caused this biggest grounding of flights since 911...

... This of course obviously spread the economic collapse from America to Iceland to Europe!

All we can do is hope that the world does better in 2011. CRUMBS invites you to enjoy 2011 in the safety of our comedy shows. While the world goes to hand basket hell, laughter will be our medicine.

Join us:

Tuesday January 18th at the King's Head Pub at 9pm (with special guests)

Tuesday February 1st at the King's Head Pub 9pm (a special improv experiment)

Tuesday February 15th at the King's Head Pub 9pm (the Fraz birthday special)

Tuesday March 1st at the King's Head Pub 9pm (another improv experiment)

Saturday March 12th at the Gas Station Arts Centre for the annual Berlin or Bust fundraiser that helps CRUMBS tour Europe and study the state of the world over on the other side of the ocean.

CRUMBS heats things up

2010-11-25T11:13:00.008-06:00

CRUMBS heats things up... Well, maybe that is just wishful thinking on my part.
CRUMBS makes their home base in Winnipeg and Winnipeg is been hit by the "winter stick". This should come to no surprise by anyone living in Winnipeg, but for some reason people here are always a little surprised. Maybe surprised isn't the right word, perhaps shocked is a better word. The snow falls, the cold drifts in, the roads are slippery and everyone decides to somehow forget how to drive. Everyone somehow complains about the winter when it hits even though they chose to live here. Its like complaining about the mosquitoes in the summer, or complaining about the Jets leaving. Let me also add that winter did not rear its ugly head (and it is one mighty ugly head) until the middle of November (NOVEMBER!) yes it did rear its ugly head and shake a whole hell of a lot of dandruff (to be read as snow) but it did come late.
My Winnipeg (film by Guy Maddin)
Ditching your car (and why you always have a shovel in your trunk)

Alright, enough of that yearly head shake of disbelief at my fellow citizens.

Winnipeg not only got slapped with winter (I thought I said enough of that...?) they also lost a member of the comedy community. We lost Susan Nisbet, a self professed "sit down stand up comic". She was and is an inspiration and her humour lives on. Why I just saw a live stand-up show just this week where several of her jokes slayed the audience. Even in death... she can kill.

CRUMBS returns this week to the King's Head Pub for some Hot Hot Comedy. We will be doing some shows and we will be turning comedy into pure heat for your entertainment.

CRUMBS at the King's Head on Nov 30th
With special guests Sarah Constible and Tricia Cooper and Alix Sobler

CRUMBS at the King's Head on Dec 7th

CRUMBS March 12th 8pm
at the Gas Station Arts Centre Theatre for the
"Berlin or Bust XI"
This show is the annual fundraiser for the CRUMBS European tour that happens. This will be the 11th one, which means that CRUMBS has been touring Europe for over a decade... time flies when you are touring Europe. It was the spring of 2001 that CRUMBS first were invited to perform at the inaugural Berlin International Improv Festival. They went over to the old country to do some shows and "find themselves". They have been back to tour there every year since.

So, let's see you at the shows folks, because we know its going to be cold, we know the roads are going to be icy and we are used to it. We kick winter in the ass.

And life returns to normal

2010-11-16T16:53:00.005-06:00

So the past little while has been quite busy in the land of CRUMBS. What with returning from New Zealand and then doing some time on a movie set and then launching right into the Winnipeg if... Improv Festival. It is going to be nice to really just focus on the regular shows and workshops that we do.
-Yes we still do a weekly radio show on 101.5 UMFM on Mondays at 5pm. You can download the podcasts here.

-Yes we teach improv workshops at Prairie Theatre Exchange and in most High Schools (the cool ones anyways).

-Yes we do our regular shows at the King's Head Pub as part of the Free Laughs Comedy Series every Tuesday night (1st and 3rd Tuesdays are the CRUMBS nights)

-Yes we are starting to do the private Christmas party shows for all the businesses that are smart enough to book us while we still have time.

-Yes we are putting together some special shows at the Gas Station Theatre (which is inside the Gas Station Arts Centre now called the G-Sac!) in February and March 2011!

-Yes we are going to be producing the Big Stupid Improv show and CRUMBS at the 2011 Fringe Festival this July.

-Yes we are going to be touring Europe again this spring.

-Yes it looks like we are just as busy as we have ever been... who needs sleep right?

Improv Festival is here!

2010-11-10T09:42:00.007-06:00

So I have been a busy guy lately. I have not only been organizing the busiest and best week of improv that Winnipeg ever sees (The Winnipeg if... Improv Festival 2010), I also got cast in a real live movie. The movie is called Goon and is directed by Michael Dowse (who also directed Fubar and Fubar 2). It is a hockey movie set to be the next Slapshot. Very fun to work on. I got the part of 'Back-up Goalie' which is really because I am really good at looking bored on the bench and chewing bubble gum (which is almost all I did). When I was on set I really had to channel the spirit of Habs great Ken Dryden (who was famous for looking bored even while on the ice).

So I spent a week on the set of a real movie with real film crews and real famous actors... But the whole time I kept thinking about the very real Winnipeg if... Improv Festival that was set to happen and that I was putting together. All the good things have to happen all at once I guess. "When it rains, it pours", well, I guess I am happy and thankful that I got wet with all of this.

Now everyone reading this should go to the Gas Station Theatre and see all the lovely shows and all the lovely players that are in town for this lovely festival.

Amy Shostak from Edmonton's Rapid Fire Theatre
Kayla Lorette from Toronto's Ghost Jail Theatre and YTV's That's So Weird!
Jayden Pfeiffer from Regina's General Fools
Fraz Wiest from Regina/Toronto/Winnipeg/Your Heart
Christian Capazolli from New York City's 4Track
George Basil from New York City's 4Track (but he lives in LA... whoa, sooo cool)

These special guest will be joined by the talented locals we brew right here in Winnipeg. Members of CRUMBS, Outside Joke, The D&D Improv Show as well as stand-up comics and sketch artists from this city as well.

What's that? You also heard that we will have the musical styles of Dj Hunnicutt and Mama Cuttsworth? Well, you heard correctly.

This week of improv is so wonderful, I don't think I will sleep until after it is done.

CRUMBS and the Winnipeg if... Improv Festival

2010-10-22T18:58:00.006-05:00

The Winnipeg if... Improv Festival is coming up very soon. It all starts on Tuesday, November 9th at the King's Head Pub as part of the Free Laughs Comedy show that happens every Tuesday night there. The opening show will be like a CRUMBS & Friends show... but on STEROIDS! Mostly because we will have some fabulous guests there to help make the show special.

The Festival then continues with shows at the Gas Station Arts Centre for the rest of the week.

Wed, Nov 10th
The local underground comedy showcase. See the best local stand-ups and sketch comedians present their hilarity at the Gas Station.

Thu, Nov 11th
The Dungeons & Dragons live improvised show. Watch warriors, magic users and monsters battle it out for your laughs. Dice included.

Fri, Nov 12th
The Mainstage show featuring Rapid Fire Theatre (Edmonton), Outside Joke (Winnipeg) and Ghost Jail Theatre (Toronto) mash-up their improv shows.

Sat, Nov 13th
The Mainstage show features 4Track (New York City/Los Angeles) and CRUMBS (Winnipeg) join forces and destroy all things that aren't awesome!

Get your tickets today by calling the Gas Station Arts Centre at 284-9477

OR

Go to the Winnipeg if... Improv Festival website

***

If you missed the CRUMBS radio show you can catch the podcast HERE.

In the show we honoured June Cleaver from "Leave it to Beaver". We also learned a little from Eddy Haskell.

We talked about New Zealand.

We talked about the Improv Festival.

We talked about the open mic comedy nights on Sundays at the Cavern and Thursdays at the Standard.

We also talked about election time, which in Winnipeg is Oct 27th. We are really hoping that people aren't going to give Sammy another shot at owning our city.

NO not this Sam Katz!

This one:

CRUMBS in New Zealand

2010-10-14T17:47:00.002-05:00

So CRUMBS finally popped the Southern Hemisphere cherry. We did the Wellington International Improv Festival thanks mostly to Derek Flores who vouched for us. The festival was fun and we met a bunch of people, mostly Kiwis. People in New Zealand are damn nice... Or should I say "sweet as".

Highlights?

Well we saw a live Kiwi (the bird as well as the people).

We learned to say "sweet as"

Ate Pineapple Lumps

Experienced my birthday a day early and in spring.

Experienced crazy wind in Wellington... c'mon Wellington, can you do something about the wind already?

Experienced a 5.0 Aftershock in Christchurch.

So improv festivals are kind of about the shows and mostly about the people, and we met some good folks. At the festival with us were:

WiT from Wellington

The Court Jesters from Christchurch

Rebecca De Unamuno from Sydney, Australia

The ConArtists from Aukland

We did some fun stuff like:

Go see the Ron Mueck exhibit at the Christchurch Art Gallery, check it out folks.

Played Dinosaurs in our CRUMBS show in Wellington.

Totally rocked the massage chairs in the Hostel in Wellington.

Ate at the Burger Fuel in Wellington.

So all in all, New Zealand did in fact rock (in the case of Christchurch, it rocked back and forth and up and down). CRUMBS will return to the Southern Hemisphere and rock it some more.

CRUMBS in Calgary!

2010-10-01T16:34:00.013-05:00

CRUMBS is performing in the Calgary Improv Festival and it just happens to be the very first time that CRUMBS has ever performed in Calgary.

We happen to be staying in the funkiest and swankiest hotel ever (the Hotel Arts) and performing shows in a really nice theatre (the Engineered Air Theatre, which does happen to be the "strangestly" named theatre we have ever performed in).

Calgary is the land of:

Oil

The Stampede

Loose Moose

The Improv Guild

The Saddledome

Tubby Dogs

The Dutch Pancake House

Right Wing Religious Nuts of Canada.

But besides being the capital of all things Right wing, we are having a blast here in Calgary. The audiences are smart and the hosts here are so very "hosty".

*************************************

For those that missed the CRUMBS radio show last Monday, you can download podcast and enjoy it on some kind of machine that plays podcasts. The show explored the "hot topics" of Seeing shapes and colours when hearing music, The UN appointed contact person for when the aliens come, and the idea of an arch nemesis.

Download CRUMBS podcast here.

*************************************

Next stop for CRUMBS? New Zealand... look out Southern Hemisphere, we are gonna make you flush the opposite direction that you're used to.

CRUMBS radio show Sept 20 2010

2010-09-21T01:25:00.012-05:00

Another CRUMBS radio show, another hour of ramblings. But truthfully, there is nothing quite like having an hour of the airwaves to get whatever words have been stuck in your throat dislodged. It is a beautiful feeling, and a blessed honour. I just hope the ears out there enjoy it as much as my lips do. Well, if your ears missed it, here is a little something for the eyes.

To download CRUMBS radio podcasts click here.

We talked about Terry Fox the Canadian hero.

Terry Fox was born in Transcona... I'd run too. It turns out that if Winnipeg wants to claim Terry Fox as their own, they also must admit to claiming Transcona. Transcona for those that don't know is the area of town that is the butt of all jokes. Like the Newfoundland of Canada, which just happens to be where my paternal grandparents were from.

We talked about the guy who swam the English Channel. Not the first guy to do it.

The guy who did it without any arms or legs. How can a guy with no legs and no arms swim across the English Channel? Was his name Bob? No, he was a Frenchman who was in an electric accident while fiddling with a TV aerial.

We had Susan Nesbit call in and gave shout outs to the disabled. Susan then told us she has no such dreams of inspiring people, yet I am sure she has inspired a few already. She is so modest. She then pretty much told all our listeners that she was going to strip on stage in a turtle pool filled with pickles. She then recommend pickled carrots for my collection.

We also talked extensively about pickles and all things pickled. Have I ever mentioned that I have a world class pickle collection?

We talked about our week and the highlights.
Mine was a fancy dinner at Bistro 7 1/4.

Lee's was seeing Hayes Carll play his music.

We also had Mike Green call in and weigh in on the bisexual softball issue. It turns out there just might be varying degrees of "gay" that still needs to be worked out. Is there such a thing as not gay enough?

Mike Green runs the open mic comedy night at the Standard that runs every Thursday at the Standard Tavern on Sherbrook. He is also son of the Math icon "Math with Marty". Seriously, you should scroll to the bottom of Mart Green's website and check out his thoughts on physics and Winnipeg transit.

So, you should also check out the Free Laughs Comedy Show on Tuesday (every single Tuesday). This Tuesday is the launch of our 5th season and CRUMBS will be performing improv scenes with members of the comedy community and the audience. Won't that be fun... The answer is yes.

***********************

Tales from Atlanta

2010-09-15T15:46:00.014-05:00

CRUMBS have been trying to get down to Atlanta for years and years. The company down there who kicks-ass at improv is Dad's Garage and we first ran into them at Edmonton's Improvaganza Improv Festival. Well, Dad's Garage runs their own Improv Festival and Theatresports tournament called The World Domination and this year we finally got our asses down there... We were not disappointed.

The tournament is a theatresports styled competition and anyone who knows what that means knows what is at stake, anyone who doesn't know what that means... It is a pretty big deal. So CRUMBS went down into the hot/sticky/muggy world that is the southern USA and did what we do best (we also did some improv). The last night of the Tournament was the finals and it was between a group from New York City (4Track) and CRUMBS (from little old Winnipeg). When the dust settled and the audience had finished losing their heads from hilarity and the judges had finally tabulated their scores... CRUMBS found themselves in 2nd place and 4Track walked away with the crown. Congratulations to 4Track for their first ever International title (This was CRUMBS first finalist showing since 2008 in Vancouver's International Tournament).

4Track are so funny and down to earth. Look here is a video to prove the funny.

4Track Comedy - Webchat - watch more funny videos

Not only did we get to perform and hang-out with our awesome friends 4Track, we also were playing with:

Skin & Lungs
Who are Jayden from the General Fools in Regina and Ryan from Sunday Service.

Pete & Pat
Who are Peter Oldring from LA and Pat Kelly from Vancouver. They are CBC's This and That.

Rapid Fire Theatre
Who were Joe, Arlen and Jules aka The Young Guns.

We of course also played with the amazing folks down at Dad's Garage, some of the players we hadn't seen in years. It was great to be there and see their home.

Other highlights? Well, let me see here:

-My very first Mint Julep, which is a tasty concoction of bourbon, sugar, mint and ice.

-Sweet Tea Vodka, which is just soooooo tasty (and dangerous).

-Whirlyball, which is a game played with bumper cars...

-Veggie Corn Dogs, which I have not had in a decade (corn dogs I mean).

-Being a cocky bastard playing some cup flippy game.

Lowlights? Well, I have to say the damned HEAT and HUMIDITY! I don't understand how people do it!

Oh Atlanta, I miss you and look forward to being in your warm embrace (and when I say warm, I mean HOT).

CRUMBS in Atlanta

2010-09-07T12:28:00.011-05:00

CRUMBS goes to Atlanta for the first time ever. We have been trying to get down to see our friends in Dad's Garage for years and it finally happened. Dad's Garage is the name of a theatre down in Georgia that does some wicked-ass improv for those that don't know and wondered what I was talking about when I mentioned Dad's Garage and thought I was really into my fathers mechanic's shop which happened to be in the southern United States.

I am looking forward to:

Peaches

Coca-Cola

It being hot

I have no idea who or what this actually is, I suppose it is a TV show about weird people doing weird things in a city known as Hotlanta?

CRUMBS is going down to compete in the World Domination Improv Festival. We will be down there with such improv super acts as:

The Teams:

Rapid Fire Theatre (Edmonton, Alberta)
CRUMBS (Winnipeg, wait... Hey, that's us.)
4Track (New York City)
Skin & Lungs (Vancouver & Regina)
Pete and Pat (Los Angeles & Vancouver)

This is the song that will be stuck in my head the whole time I am there:

This is the song that will be stuck in my head on the flight home:

What really helped was that our good buddy Kevy is now the Artistic Director of the theatre, not that we didn't have good buddies already in Atlanta, it just translated into CRUMBS actually getting there. We will no doubt love our time down there, we have been playing with these folks for years and look forward to seeing what their home turf is like. We have heard all the legends and stories, now for the reality.

Who is Kevy? Well here he is:

CRUMBS return to Tueday Nights!

2010-09-02T17:02:00.006-05:00

Yes folks, you read that headline correctly, CRUMBS is returning to their Tuesday night time slot on the FREE LAUGHS Comedy Series at the King's Head Pub.

The FREE LAUGHS Comedy Series is now entering the 5th season of doing kick ass comedy shows... 5 years... 5... years. Time flies when it flies.

First of all, kudos to Lee White for putting on an amazing show last week called the Kings of the King's Head. It was a mish mash of all your favourite Game Shows (well, all of his favourite ones). We had Team Improv versus Team Stand-up.

Team Improv consisted of:
Stephen Sim (from CRUMBS)
RobYn Slade (from Outside Joke)
Gord Tanner (from the Royal Leichtenstein Theatre Company)

Team Stand-up consisted of:
John B Duff (from Shitz N Gigglez)
Ryan McMahon (from Comedy Loser, Clarence Two Toes)
Dan Robertson (from Genius Island)

In the end, after playing general trivia, Password, the Price Is Right, 15 Point Pyramid, Name that Tune and Family Feud, the Stand-ups stood up to Team Improv and reigned supreme!

So now Season 5 of the FREE LAUGHS COMEDY SERIES continues!

And we open things up with CRUMBS improv with Dj Hunnicutt. We haven't done a show for years... well, months. This show is gonna show everybody that we still can do it and do it well.

Here is the facebook event page.

Sept 7 CRUMBS & Dj Hunnicutt Improv Comedy
Sept 14 Ryan McMahon Best 5 mins Comedy Variety
Sept 21 CRUMBS & Friends Improv Comedy
Sept 28 Shitz N Gigglez Stand-up Comedy

Oct 5 Outside Joke Improv Comedy
Oct 12 Ryan McMahon Best 5 mins Comedy Variety
Oct 19 CRUMBS & Friends Improv Comedy
Oct 26 Shitz N Gigglez Stand-up Comedy

Nov 2 CRUMBS & Dj Hunnicutt Improv Comedy
Nov 9 Winnipeg iF Improv Fest
Nov 16 Ryan McMahon Best 5 mins Comedy Variety
Nov 23 CRUMBS & Friends Improv Comedy
Nov 30 Shitz N Gigglez Stand-up Comedy

And then of course the shows continue, but that is the schedule so far. See you all there.

CRUMBS radio August 30th 2010

2010-08-30T18:46:00.009-05:00

Hello and welcome to yet another post about another radio show involving another week of scoops that the mainstream media is reluctant to comment on. When we started this radio show way back in 2002 we never would have thought that we would be here in 2010. Mostly because we were absolutely sure the world was going to end in 2007, which it didn't. Enjoy the CRUMBS radio hour every single Monday at 5pm CST.

Download the podcast here.

listen online live here.

The show touched on such topics as:

***

Becky & Aitor visiting Winnipeg on their North American tour. Becky & Aitor are two amazing artists who spread their unique brand of love every year across Canada and the States. They tour the "craft fair" circuit and have enjoyed many a success with it. Becky produces world famous buttons and Aitor is known for his "unflattering portraits". If you ever get the chance, buy a button and get your picture drawn.

***

Lee's apartment building was on fire! Everything worked out in the ending, but people should be really careful when they smoke cigarettes.

***

The Sex Pistols have released a perfume. Yes, I am talking about the same Sex Pistols who have been famous for being a punk rock band in the 70's. It turns out they have decided to turn their backs on what it means to be punk and have thrown their gloves into the capitalist ring. But if we dig deep into the origin of the Sex Pistols we aren't really surprised to learn that they actually formed as a sort of commercial for a clothing store... So it isn't that crazy after all.

***

What is new to Manitoba? Jellyfish! We finally have them after so many years of being jellyfish free and being jealous of all the other countries who have this pesky little slime bag.

***

What is coming to Winnipeg? The Bodies exhibition. Ladies and Gentlemen, being someone who has actually seen this exhibit before, I can say that it is amazing. This is your chance to see what the inside of a human body looks like without going to jail or medical school (I hear that both can be quite unpleasant).

***

And of course, what Winnipeg radio show or blog would be complete without a mention of our sweet Mayor Sam Katz kicking ass, or in this case, kicking a small child in the face.

***

Thank you for reading/listening

CRUMBS Radio August 23rd 2010

2010-08-23T18:51:00.013-05:00

Another episode of the CRUMBS radio show has gone off without a hitch and if you missed it live you can always download the "podcastic" podcast. The CRUMBS radio show is a live radio show on 101.5 UMFM in Winnipeg and streaming live on the www.umfm.com website.

To stream live go here

To download the podcast go here

*********************************

This weeks show we scraped the surface of several topics.

First of all, Stephen did NOT go on a fishing trip, while Lee DID go out and buy a number of fish. How many fish? Well that is a tricky question, because several of the fish were in fact eaten by one or more of the fish. More evidence will be gathered before there is an aquarium trial.

The epic traffic jam in China enters its 9th day and the games of "eye spy with my little eye" are starting to wear thin.

World Helium supplies are running out and the world will soon be completely out of the inert gas. What does this mean for balloons that float and high pitched voices?

The GOOD news and the BAD news.

The GOOD news is we found the Chilean miners trapped underground for 17 days. The BAD news is we can't actually rescue them for months. And we thought a 9 day traffic jam was bad.

This is not an actual picture of the Chilean miners, this is an old Black and White picture from "the olden days".

********************************

We heard from our "funny talking" man on the street reporter who talked about planned a planned rally the citizens of Winnipeg are undertaking that are fed up with the delays in construction affecting the new Bombers stadium. It turns out people will just show up and dig with their bare hands.

We also heard a live report from the traffic jam in China... and they sound pissed! The Red Cross will help Haiti and Pakistan but there is no love for commuters in China.

********************************

Like always, we did promote the ongoing Live Comedy nights happening in Winnipeg:

Sunday Nights
The Cavern (the basement of the Toad in Osborne Village)
Open Mic Stand-up
Free

Tuesday Nights
The King's Head (120 King Street)
Free Laughs Comedy Series
Rotates between Stand-up, Improv, Alternative Comedy

Thursday Nights
The Standard Tavern
Open Mic Stand-up
Free

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for listening, thank you for reading, now go out and do something.

***************************

CRUMBS radio show August 16th 2010

2010-08-16T19:18:00.010-05:00

Ladies and Gentleman,

The CRUMBS radio show continues to pump out content and digs deep into the pockets of information to deliver you the scoops you so deserve. Every Monday at 5pm CST on 101.5 UMFM or www.umfm.com on the internet.

Download Podcasts of the show here.

Listen online to the show here.

This week the show touched on:

It was reported on our show by one of our eye witness reports that our city's mayor Sam Katz was seen texting while driving his car... This of course is now against the law in Winnipeg and you would think that after the Mayor had banged down his by-law gavel and uttered the magic words that makes these things into law, he of all humans would know not to do it. We will be investigating this issue further.

Stephen ate raw oysters for the first time in his life. This isn't really news though, more of one of those human interest stories.

The famous Winnipeg festival Folklorama happened and broke attendance records again. The festival, which celebrates several cultures in this mash up of cultures we call Canada, is the longest running and oldest of its kind in Canada (perhaps North America... Maybe even the world?).

Frequent CRUMBS radio caller Andrew made a 5 second short film and will be featured at The Malta Film Festival.

As always we also plugged all the live comedy shows that happen in this city.

Sunday nights at the Cavern (the basement of the Toad in Osborne Village)
Show up at 9pm to sign up because this show is an open mic show. The comedy starts at 9:30 and the hilarity never stops (they do kick you out of the bar at midnight).
This show is FREE!

Tuesday nights at the King's Head Pub for the Free Laughs Comedy Series.
This show is also free and has been running for years. We enter into the 5th season in September. The show rotates between Improv and Stand-up comedy. Always great.

Thursday nights at the Standard Tavern on Sherbrook.
This show is also an open mic stand-up night and is also free.

How do we make money? We get paid in laughter.

CRUMBS radio show

2010-08-11T13:03:00.010-05:00

CRUMBS has been doing a radio show at the U of M since... since a whole lot of years. We have been filling the airwaves via this College and Community Radio station known as 101.5 UMFM with CRUMBS nonsense.

The show has evolved and evolved over the last... whole lot of years. We started out getting people to call in with suggestions and we would improvise little radio plays. Then it just turned into a live call in show. Then we really started to make fun of the news and current events. Now it has been fun to do all those things and also do live interviews with cool people.

This last week was an interview from Vancouver with our old friend Paul Anthony. He is the coolest and the craziest. Perhaps he is another "C" word I cannot recall at this moment as well.

Paul was/is a co-conspirator in our battle waged versus comedy. He was in the seminal Winnipeg sketch comedy troupe "Higher Than The Ground" along with Stephen (me) and Lee White (him). That lasted from 1992 to 1996 until finally self destructing. Paul moved to Vancouver to conquer the West Coast and Stephen formed CRUMBS with Lee.

Paul runs the highly successful show Talent Time in Vancouver which is not only a live talent show but also his very own TV show... I know, cool right? Paul also acts in real live movies including the upcoming smash hit "Suck" which is like "Lost Boys" meets "Hard Core Logo" because it is a Rock'n Roll Vampire movie... duh.

But what am I doing? Writing Paul's bio? Just download the podcast and listen to the show and the interview/conversation. Be on the "listen out" for further CRUMBS explorations of interviews and storytellings from around the world and enjoy them.

Download Podcast here

The CRUMBS radio show can and will be listened to live in non podcast form every Monday at 5pm CST on 101.5 UMFM or by listening online live at www.umfm.com

Listen online here

Check out Talent Time here

Check out Suck the movie here

Thank you for downloading the podcast and listening to the CRUMBS radio show every Monday. Thank you for going out and seeing "Suck" and maybe even buying the DVD. Thank you for supporting Talent Time out in Vancouver. And thank you for reading this.

CRUMBS in the summer!

2010-08-08T13:06:00.009-05:00

Oh summer, oh hot hot sun, oh sunburns, oh sunstroke, oh global warming, sweating, dying of heat...

But it isn't all bad is it? No, of course not, nothing is all bad. CRUMBS just goes into summer hibernation. We still do our radio show every Monday at 5pm on 101.5 UMFM.

We still end up showing up at the Cavern in the basement of the Toad in Osborne Village for the open mic stand-up shows that happen on Sundays.

There still is Tuesday night comedy shows at the King's Head.

There also is an open mic comedy night on Thursdays at the Standard Tavern on Sherbrook.

Jeez, it seems like there is still great summer comedy happening in Winnipeg.

Upcoming action?

Okay, how about Becky Johnson coming through town. Becky makes an appearance every year or so and delights the pants off Winnipeg. She will be rolling through town on the weekend of August 20th and we are hoping to showcase her on a stage at an actual improv show with CRUMBS that weekend. We are hoping to have her at the Rocker on the 3rd floor of Mondragon on Albert Street. Stay tuned for the scoop.

More upcoming action?

Okay, how about the official launch of the Free Laughs Comedy Series Season 5! Season 5 already folks, perhaps the longest running weekly underground comedy show in the history of Winnipeg. The shows are running all summer but we have an official launch at the beginning of September. We will have tons and heaps of special new things... mostly we will just continue the amazingly hilarious party time we throw every Tuesday night at the King's Head. Go there.

CRUMBS Winnipeg Fringe 2010 almost done!

2010-07-22T16:55:00.005-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Winnipeg Fringe of 2010 is almost over. At the time of this post writing there are only 3 more CRUMBS shows to see, but by the time you are reading this there might only be 2 or maybe just 1... Heck, the Fringe might be done by then.

Here is the Fringe 2010 in point form:

-The secret midnight cabaret at the King's Head was great and always is a "cluster-fuck" of a show.

-The badly designed CUBE of an outdoor stage at Old Market Square proved in practice that is was badly designed... way to go Winnipeg.

-CRUMBS got great reviews and shitty reviews. Our show is great and shitty? The CBC and Uptown Magazine seem to know what is going on but The Winnipeg Free Press is always so out of touch with what is actually good, they embarrass themselves really.

-Speaking of reviews, I don't know which review was more confusing, the Winnipeg Free Press review where Janice Sawka clearly didn't like the show (or show any sense that she knows what she is talking about) or the great review on the Uptown website that is just, I don't know, confusing. Read it and let me know what you think.

-Hanging at the King's Head every night instead of once a week.

-Hanging out with all my out of town friends that I get to see only once a year.

-Hanging out with my family downtown, I should really see them more (and yes, my dad is reading this blog and so this is for you dad. Let's hang out more)

-Catching car thieves in the act and being chased after calling 911 (but I was on my bike and all the PCP in the world wasn't going to help this guy catch me). I wonder if the cops showed up fast enough to catch them bastards?

-Killer audiences at the King's Head. Performing for our hometown crowds for packed houses reminds me that I am doing good.

-Kevin McDonald of Kids in the Hall coming to our show and loving it (or so I am told). Be on the look-out (ear-out?) for him guesting on one of our upcoming radio shows.

CRUMBS Fringe Reviews

2010-07-15T18:33:00.005-05:00

*photo credit to Leif Norman

Oh Rainbows... You are so magically hilarious.

But back to the Fringe,

The Fringe has officially started. How do I know? Well, because Fringe reviews are already starting to come in... That and the shows have begun.

CRUMBS review #1 CBC

CRUMBS review #2 ratewinnipeg

Here are the shows to check out. All shows are at the King's Head Pub at 120 King Street. If you really want to see the show you should probably get there an hour early to actually make sure you get one, or buy a ticket from on the internet.

Wed, July 14th at 9:30 pm we kick things off.

Thu, July 15th at 10:15 pm
Fri, July 16th at 10:15 pm
Sat, July 17th at 10:15 pm
Sun, July 18th at 10:15 pm
Mon, July 19th at 10:15 pm
Tue, July 20th at 10:15 pm

Wed, July 21st No Show! Don't Go!

Thu, July 22nd at 10:15 pm
Fri, July 23rd at 10:15 pm
Sat, July 24th at 10:15 pm

You can phone for advanced tickets at 942-6537
You can internet your advanced Tickets HERE!

CRUMBS at the Fringe!

2010-07-08T16:47:00.009-05:00

Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Winnipeg Fringe Festival is almost here, heck, maybe it is here by the time you are reading this.

CRUMBS performs the amazingly hilarious make'up improv comedy freestyle awesome show at the King's Head Pub upstairs. Ladies and Gentlemen, Stephen and Lee have been touring this show all over the world and people keep inviting them back for more. They have been touring and doing their shows with Dj Hunnicutt, who just happens to be an amazingly amazing Dj and he enhances the already awesome show to higher levels of awesome.

Wed, July 14th at 9:30 pm we kick things off.

Thu, July 15th at 10:15 pm
Fri, July 16th at 10:15 pm
Sat, July 17th at 10:15 pm
Sun, July 18th at 10:15 pm
Mon, July 19th at 10:15 pm
Tue, July 20th at 10:15 pm

Wed, July 21st No Show! Don't Go!

Thu, July 22nd at 10:15 pm
Fri, July 23rd at 10:15 pm
Sat, July 24th at 10:15 pm

Then it is all over! But folks don't just line up like everyone else... buy your tickets in advance. The last few years people have been pretty pissed that they have lined up hours early and still were denied entry. We sell out fast folks, fast. So go online and get your tickets now, yes NOW.

Get your advanced tickets here.

Here is some information about the Fringe in Winnipeg.

#1 It is the best one in North America. It isn't the biggest (that distinction belongs to Edmonton's Fringe) but it is the best one. It has people who are really interested in seeing the shows and there really is a buzz in the city while the festival is going on. Winnipeg has a nice fountain while Edmonton has a waterpark inside their mall... Edmonton is always out bigging us.

#2 It is where you can see shows shows shows and more shows. Anyone can apply and anyone can get pulled in the lottery. That means you can see a show from a pro group and an amateur group. You can see a dance show from China or a real live play from England. You can see a local company perform an original work or a theatre company from America perform Shakespeare... You can see almost anything at almost anytime for a whole 12 days.

#3 People are around and Winnipeg feels like an actual city with an actual downtown with actual cultural life. This alone is worth seeing.

#4 CRUMBS puts on a show every night just for you. Seriously, it's just for you.

*plus
Don't forget about the CRUMBS live radio show on every Monday at 5 pm CST on 101.5 umfm... you can even tune in over the internets.

Listen online here.

Download Podcasts here.

*double plus
Don't forget to continue to go see live comedy in Winnipeg.

Sunday nights at the Cavern in Osborne Village

Tuesday nights at the King's Head Pub

Thursday nights at the Standard

CRUMBS in Bochum

2010-07-03T11:41:00.009-05:00

First, listen to this song... It will make sense after you read about the show.

When CRUMBS arrived in Bochum, Germany they/we were tired and tired and tired. Then we rested and we were ready to conquer. We had last been in Bochum 3-4 years earlier and so we needed to remind Bochum why we were there. That is exactly what we did.

Now Bochum is a strange town, it is in the middle of several towns. We slept in Dortmond yet we taught and played in Bochum... we could have just as easily been in Essen or in Dusseldorf. This little corner of Germany is filled with people, and now we filled it with laughs. Thank you Hottenlotten for bringing us back!

The show: suggestions were Lighthouse and Woodcutter.

First, the Canadian Woodcutter warns of the danger of the woods at night. (You know, the classic Canadian Woodcutter... lumber jacks... for some reason, Europeans love this cliches).

Second, we see the lighthouse keeper family. Mom is sick, and son wants to go to the fair instead of do lighthouse keeper duties.

The Woodcutter (Jim) gets a new partner (Philipe) and is also told to increase his quota (and possibly have to cut wood at night).

The Lighthouse keeper lets his son go to the fair with Suzy, but then has problems (of course) he cannot get the light to light because the power has been diverted to the fair.

We then see a couple of Germans (Hans & Gunter) on an Oil Tanker getting dangerously close to the coast.

The young boy wins Suzy a prize at the fair. They go up on the Ferris Wheel and they "do it"... not a bad day in the life of a young boy... but from the Ferris wheel they can see that the lighthouse isn't lit and that there is an oil tanker in the fog.

The Woodcutters have to fight Grizzly bears (another favourite cliches) and we find out that Grizzlies killed Jim's last partner. Jim dies while defending his new partner.

The Young boy and Suzy light the prize (a stuffed turtle) and the fire alerts the oil tanker to move. They save the day.

Two themes that kept returning...

Fog = Clouds = Heaven = Dance Party

We all miss the good old days.

Blogging the European tour is almost done. Be on the look out for the blog to then talk about the upcoming Winnipeg Fringe Festival and the ongoing CRUMBS radio show and the ongoing Free Laughs Comedy shows happening at the King's Head.