DETAILS

2nd Annual Homecoming Festival
Loose Moose Theatre
Thursday, October 6 - Saturday, October 8

More in: Comedy

Calgary’s own Loose Moose Theatre Company spreads its laughter nationwide.

And not only because it invented Theatresports, a competitive style of theatre that pits one team of improvisers against another and is now played around the world. It’s also a place for budding actors to cut their teeth and veterans to hone their skills. Many of those who started out as a “Mooser” have moved on to significant careers in radio, film and television.

“Their background in improvisation has helped them develop their skills and is integral to what they do,” says Loose Moose artistic director, Dennis Cahill.

The Homecoming Festival, inaugurated last year, brings the alumni home and showcases their talent in a series of shows that range from sketch comedy and standup, to creating an entire play from scratch.

Take headliner Ryan Belleville, for instance, a standup comic who recently launched a new TV show.

“Ryan came to us when he was about 16,” recalls Cahill. “He was very charming, and certainly came with skills and acting experience.” The then-teenager rocked the improv games and has since moved on to a rich, award-winning career. Even though Belleville is mainly in standup now, Cahill points out the value of the improv foundation, courtesy of Loose Moose. “Although, like any standup comedian Ryan has prepared material, sometimes he’ll take off on a new direction. It gives him an edge.”

After Belleville’s act on October 7, there will be a late-night sketch-fest — some from the archives, some as fresh as they come. The short comedic scenes are sure to incite laughter, but even Cahill doesn’t know what will happen because — true to Loose Moose tradition — the sketches were developed autonomously by both former and current Moosers.

“I’m looking forward to it,” chuckles Cahill. “It’ll be kind of a surprise for me too.”

Some of the more innovative programming is saved for the weekend. Audiences can cheer on teams in the Battle of Alberta Theatresports on October 8 when Edmonton’s Rapid Fire Theatre goes head-to-head against Loose Moose’s hand-picked improvisers.

Cahill says Sunday’s pay-what-you-can show, More or Less, is a bit more experimental. Everyone — performers and audience — starts the evening with nothing, and by the end they should have a complete play. One of the performers will direct a section (or “chapter”), and then the audience votes whether they want to see more of that scene. If not, then another director takes the stage and offers up a new storyline.

“It’s a bit like channel-surfing,” says Cahill. “Even if the audience votes not to see more of a scene, that doesn’t mean they didn’t have a great time watching those five or 10 minutes of theatre. The audience is involved in the process.”