Improv for Parkinson's NYC Study

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 Quinn is an alumnus of Loose Moose Theatre in Calgary, has been a member of Rapid Fire Theatre in Edmonton since 2014, and is the Co-Artistic Director of the Canmore International Improv Festival. A year spent working in every department at Alberta Theatre Projects in 2011 instilled in him a keen interest in the organizational side of theatres, and he went on to earn a degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of Alberta. He is an actor, writer, and co-founder of Marv n’ Berry - Sketch Comedy, cast member of Off Book The Improvised Musical, and has emceed the dog show at the Calgary Stampede for four years. Since 2015, he has been teaching improv for youth classes at the Citadel’s Foote Theatre School, has been a faculty member of the Rapid Fire Theatre Academy since 2018, and spent two years coaching the University of Alberta improv group. Teaching and performing has brought Quinn from coast to coast in Canada and the United States, around Europe twice, and as far as Dubai. He has created and co-created numerous new shows and formats that have been seen at festivals including: Den Andre Teaterfestivalen (Norway), Wurzburg Impro Fest (Germany), Improvaganza (Edmonton), Vancouver International Improv Festival, Bonfire (Edmonton), San Francisco Sketchfest, Seattle Sketchfest, Edmonton International Fringe Festival, Grindstone Comedy Festival (Edmonton), Montreal Skecthfest, Out of Bounds Comedy Festival (Texas), Philly Sketchfest, Floodwater Comedy Festival (Iowa), Hell Yes! Comedy Festival (New Orleans), SAC Comedy Festival (Sacramento), and Charm City Comedy Festival (Baltimore). He is beyond thrilled in this new position of Executive Director for Tightrope Impro Theatre as the dream of starting a theatre company close to the mountains is beginning to come true.  

Peter is a relative newcomer to Tightrope Theatre and improv, having taken up improv in 2018 to help him deal with the cognitive impacts of Parkinson’s Disease. It’s working so far and Peter can be found supporting Improv programs focused on cognitive wellness and serving the PD community. Prior life experience includes an Economics degree from the Royal Military College, a law degree from University of Victoria and 30 years in the traces as a commercial lawyer. All quite conventional aside from a habit of tending towards the sardonic and wordplay. Peter lives in Vancouver and enjoys a broad range of outdoors activities.  

Megan is an actor, improviser, teacher and communications coach, with over twenty years experience. She is a core member of Dirty Little Secrets Improv Show, NYC (5+ years) and is an award winning and nominated actor. As a teacher her work includes the physical understanding of the breath and body and how they pertain to the individual. This work compliments leadership, facilitation, presentation skills and moment to moment communication and engagement. Megan is an empathic coach who uses practice moments to remind us that both positive and formative behaviours can be learned and unlearned. Her buoyant sense of humour creates a fun and inspiring environment, ever reminding that we are improvising every day of our lives!

Stephen is a New York City-based actor, writer, improviser and host. Stephen first stepped on stage at age 8 and has been pursuing a life in the arts ever since. A founding member of the Dirty Little Secrets Improv Show in NYC's East Village, Stephen has performed comedy all over NYC and Brooklyn -- and beyond! As an actor, he appeared off-Broadway at The Cherry Lane Theater in Rattlestick's New Country and in Marvell Rep's Drama Desk Award-nominated The Threepenny Opera. As a writer, Stephen has several episodic series concepts under his belt (with writing partner Meghan Hemingway), including Salmon Elbow and Archipelago. Plays for the stage include Back To Mine, Private Property and Lean-To. Stephen is the co-host of Feelz Right Quiz Night, a live on-line ("onlive!") quiz extravaganza, produced by The Annoyance. These are the golden years!

Mitch Graw first honed his improv background with The UBC Improv Club in Vancouver. While studying for his BA in psychology he taught and performed with the club, serving as its vice-president. He has had the opportunity to perform with a number of companies including the international College Improv Tournament, Bind Tiger Theatre, The Key City Theatre, Second City Toronto and Chicago, and iO Theatre Chicago. He has a passion for blending his science and arts background to apply improv in a therapeutic context, providing assistance to people with both emotional and neurological hardships. He is currently living in Toronto where he continues his studies with The Second City Training Centre.