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The first ever Canadian Improv PD Performance Troupe! Those with previous improv experience are invited to join the Performance Troupe to focus on applying the foundations of improv for performance.
In this course, you will develop as part of an ensemble & build skills for 2 performances (one mid course, and another at the end of the course). We will dive into more specifics, learn and practice games, performance formats, hosting, show shape, and more!
*This course will be always delivered via zoom with some options to join in person In-Studio on select weeks, depending on space and interest.*
We are committed to keeping our courses accessible. If you are experiencing financial barriers we are happy to offer a pay what you can model for the course. We also have full scholarships available to cover the full price of the course. Email tightropememberships@gmail.com
We are proud to be partnered with the Parkinson Society of British Columbia to offer online Improv Courses focused on health, wellness, and joy.
Wednesdays, 4:30 - 6:00 pm PT, on ZOOM
September 13th - October 18th, November 1st - December 6th
Showcases: October 25th & December 13th
Interested applicants, please email rosemary@tightropetheatre.com
Detours are an inevitable part of my life. Detours to paths not typically trodden by the cautious. I welcomed them all as challenges, though I was thrown some formidable ones, I conquered them and kept moving onward!
But a Parkinson detour? No! This I wanted to retract from. Not an option, I realized. Had to keep moving…
Whew, I was worn ou
Detours are an inevitable part of my life. Detours to paths not typically trodden by the cautious. I welcomed them all as challenges, though I was thrown some formidable ones, I conquered them and kept moving onward!
But a Parkinson detour? No! This I wanted to retract from. Not an option, I realized. Had to keep moving…
Whew, I was worn out when vigorous exercise, diet and various other run of the mill suggestions failed. Ready to crawl into a hole and call it quits…or find a divergence. I stumbled upon an old cast out comrade.
Improv!
And I found the perfect move to: A Parkinson’s Improv Performance Troupe!
Goodbye hole! Hello heal!
Wit and Play are the fuel that empowers me. Reviving an old friend is renewing me!,
Diagnosed with PD 2013. Since the diagnosis my wife and I have travelled to (not in chronological order) Iceland, Denmark, Germany, France, Greece, Portugal, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, western USA, Nova Scotia, Ontario and too many to mention BC
Diagnosed with PD 2013. Since the diagnosis my wife and I have travelled to (not in chronological order) Iceland, Denmark, Germany, France, Greece, Portugal, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, western USA, Nova Scotia, Ontario and too many to mention BC locations. Individually I have parachuted and paraglided (both dual), bobsledded, zip-lined, scuba dived, walked around the Aukland Sky Tower on the Sky Walk, bungie jumped and canoed the Bowron Lakes. I am still able to ski, although I was ready to quit just before I was diagnosed with PD. I was golfing until we moved and covid became an issue, I was able to drop my handicap to under 100 after my meds were readjusted. Aways enjoying a change we moved from a land based house in Tsawwassen to a float home (1760 sq ft) in Mosquito Creek Marina, North Vancouver in 2018. We have experienced and enjoyed our daughter’s wedding, our grandson’s birth, although I was just the voice behind the curtain, and recently his 5th birthday. Looking forward I am hesitant to say we will complete our bucket list since it is always morphing moment to moment. I also facilitate a PD Support group on the North Shore. I have PD but PD does not have me. PD can try and pry my life from my cold, dead hands.
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 degre
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.
Larry Gifford, 50, started his improv training by finding new and creative ways to hide mushy Brussels sprouts on his dinner plate as a child. After a 45 year hiatus he’s discovered shredding is the key to great tasting Brussels sprouts. Yes! And… he’s realized life is one big improv scene – say yes to what life offers you. For instance,
Larry Gifford, 50, started his improv training by finding new and creative ways to hide mushy Brussels sprouts on his dinner plate as a child. After a 45 year hiatus he’s discovered shredding is the key to great tasting Brussels sprouts. Yes! And… he’s realized life is one big improv scene – say yes to what life offers you. For instance, Parkinson’s disease. Not funny? Larry bets he can make you laugh about the degenerative brain disease. And he insists on shaking on those bets. Laughter is one of the ways Larry takes care of himself and continues to a live a full life despite a Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2017. An Ohioan at birth, Larry moved to Canada to continue his 30+ year career in radio. He’s the National Director of Talk Radio for Corus Entertainment. He loves soup. In fact, he and his wife both love soup. And they can talk or not talk forever.
Stephen Gardner was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease in 2003, at the age of 43. He underwent successful Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery in March 2013. Living in Tsawwassen British Columbia with his wife of 29 years, he enjoys working out at the gym and keeping up to date with the latest research into Parkinson Disease. Until the
Stephen Gardner was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease in 2003, at the age of 43. He underwent successful Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery in March 2013. Living in Tsawwassen British Columbia with his wife of 29 years, he enjoys working out at the gym and keeping up to date with the latest research into Parkinson Disease. Until the COVID-19 pandemic he led a local voice and speech group for people with Parkinson,. He provides support to people with Parkinson who are considering DBS. He is an original member of the Troupe.
Shabbir used to be an Electronic Engineer. At the age of 55 he got his M.S. in Therapeutic Recreation. The patient/client is involved in activities that create “leisure state of mind” as part of the treatment or therapy. He is a member of a specialised Toastmasters club that includes improv activities besides the standard Toastmasters pro
Shabbir used to be an Electronic Engineer. At the age of 55 he got his M.S. in Therapeutic Recreation. The patient/client is involved in activities that create “leisure state of mind” as part of the treatment or therapy. He is a member of a specialised Toastmasters club that includes improv activities besides the standard Toastmasters program. Check out: www.meetup.com/SVImprovMasters . He has taken part in five classes in the Improv for Parkinson’s program.
Diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s in 2008 at the age of 44, Miriam lives with determination in the face of the unknown. Among the many silver linings has been her introduction to Tightrope Theatre’s Parkinson’s
Performance Troupe. Improv helps her to be quick on her “slowed-down” feet. She loves to laugh and make others laugh. She’s
Diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s in 2008 at the age of 44, Miriam lives with determination in the face of the unknown. Among the many silver linings has been her introduction to Tightrope Theatre’s Parkinson’s
Performance Troupe. Improv helps her to be quick on her “slowed-down” feet. She loves to laugh and make others laugh. She’s a cyclist, swimmer, yogi and hiker. Miriam lives in Manhattan with her husband, two daughters and Cavapoo named Winnie.
Always open to mirthful whimsy, Clara is a proud Canadian whose diagnosis of PD a decade ago re-kindled her creative passions. After a precocious start in fine arts and a fulfilling career in a variety of teaching and therapeutic roles focused on deaf and hard-of-hearing populations, Clara has returned to a broader palette of artistic en
Always open to mirthful whimsy, Clara is a proud Canadian whose diagnosis of PD a decade ago re-kindled her creative passions. After a precocious start in fine arts and a fulfilling career in a variety of teaching and therapeutic roles focused on deaf and hard-of-hearing populations, Clara has returned to a broader palette of artistic endeavors. Her recent artistic adventures include visual arts in digital and paint media, textile work, acting, designing and crafting plays, and improvisational merry making. All these activities have been fueled by the laughter and joy she’s able to spark amongst and for persons with PD and their supporters. International efforts to harness and enhance creative spirits with the wider PD community have included the Crane Dance Project highlighted at the WPC in Kyoto in 2019 and the “I am Dance” project currently underway with a path toward the WPC in Barcelona scheduled for July, 2023.
Geoff Cohen was born in the UK and has been living in Vancouver for the past 19 years. He has a degree in Electrical and Electronics design and engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science and Computing Communications and more than 27 years of computing and optical disc industry experience as well as many years of board
Geoff Cohen was born in the UK and has been living in Vancouver for the past 19 years. He has a degree in Electrical and Electronics design and engineering and a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science and Computing Communications and more than 27 years of computing and optical disc industry experience as well as many years of board level director experience. He was a Founding Director of GreenNet Ltd., the founding partner of The Association of Progressive Communications (APC), now a global computer communications network
with primary computer nodes in twenty-two countries serving approximately 38,000 organizations worldwide.
He was also the founding president of SCS Solars Computing Systems Inc. and creator of the Internet and CRS based SolarNet Travel System, that became one of the most widely used system of it’s kind in the world with more than 450,000 travel agency users worldwide.
Geoff Cohen also acted as the Americas Technical Director for 4M Systems Inc., the Swiss based multi-national manufacturer of recordable and pre-recorded CD and DVD replication equipment He is the founder and Managing Director of SysDisc Solutions Inc., a company specializing in Optical Disc Manufacturer facilities design and supplying pre-owned systems, support equipment and a wide range of on-line purchasable spares for the Optical Disc Industry. Sysdisc, in partnership with Maynards Industries, successfully
organized and directed the 2 largest valuation and liquidation sales in North America for years 2005 and 2006.
He is a founding director of Beauspace Development, a property development and management company with current interests in several towns and cities throughout British Columbia. He is also a founding director of Earthlandia Technology, a software development
company specializing in research and development of proprietary mobile space IP technology and the design and development of Apps and websites for mobile devices. He also volunteers as director of AV for an annual Educational Social and Economic conference. This year will be his 12 th year as AV director. The conference is a 5 day conference based in a different North American city each year with typically 1,500 participants. Additionally this year Geoff is acting as AV director for a 3 day Vancouver based Baha’i inspired Youth conference at UBC of approximately 1,300 youth. This
youth conference is one of 81 conference worldwide with approximately 350,000
expected attendees.
Prior to his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2019, Mitch participated in two different improvisation groups in New Jersey, where he was living at the time. Group improv greatly helped him cope with his diagnosis, then the pandemic, then moving to Arizona with his wife of 30 years.
Mitch recognizes that laughter, collaboration, and thinking on y
Prior to his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2019, Mitch participated in two different improvisation groups in New Jersey, where he was living at the time. Group improv greatly helped him cope with his diagnosis, then the pandemic, then moving to Arizona with his wife of 30 years.
Mitch recognizes that laughter, collaboration, and thinking on your toes are the secret sauce for surviving one's golden years while living with a chronic brain disorder.
A former quantitative analyst on Wall Street, Mitch enjoys poker and crossword construction.
Tamar is:
- a transplant from Israel who feels very much at home in New York City;
- a lover of the desert who chooses to live among skyscrapers and urban canyons;
- a nomad at heart who has been living in the same home for over 4 decades........
"Hi everybody. My earthly life journey has ended and I have started a new path. I have had a wonderful life and leave with so many great memories. I married my dancing partner and the love of my life, Tammy. She is my angel who fell from the sky and her blue eyes and loving smile cast a spell on my heart forever. I have a wonderful son, Akshay, who is my pride and joy and carries my crazy love for sports. I know this is the Maple Leafs year. I also know that he and Kathleen make a beautiful couple.
I am blessed to have grown a new family. Thank you Sydney, Seth, and Jenn for embracing and loving me. I will always be Pop Pop to Stella and Jameson. How lucky I am to be a Grandpa.
I am so fortunate to be so close to my mother, Harbax. She was always there for me to lean on and I am so grateful for our Thursday dinners and chats. I look forward to seeing Dad and giving him a big hug from both of us.
I have many memories of when I was young growing up in Sherwood Park, Alberta, particularly with my brother Paul. I am glad I was able to watch his three sons, Tristan, Aidan and Dallyn grow to be beautiful men.
My life has been filled with much love and support. All the years with the Parkinson Wellness Project and the Self Realization Fellowship gave me purpose and focus. The everlasting love filled my soul.
I am glad I was able to connect with so many relatives and friends across this world in my life. A special shout out to my great friend Randy. Our talks on every subject under the sun were blessings.
Thank you all for being a part of my life. I am at peace now. I love you all and feel divinely blessed I was able to have you in my life."
Margot Escott, LCSW is thrilled to join the team at Tightrope. She is an improvisational theatre teacher in Naples, Florida. Margot has been teaching Improv for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners since 2017, in person and virtually. Her classes also include folks with other movement disorders such as PSP and MSA
She was a car
Margot Escott, LCSW is thrilled to join the team at Tightrope. She is an improvisational theatre teacher in Naples, Florida. Margot has been teaching Improv for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners since 2017, in person and virtually. Her classes also include folks with other movement disorders such as PSP and MSA
She was a care partner to her father, Ivan Escott, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1998 and died with Lewy bodies in 2007.
In her clinical psychotherapy practice she has worked with people with PD and other movement disorders and care partners and is a frequent speaker at conferences for mental health providers.
She presents workshops on “The Healing Power of Laughter and Play” for over 30 years, teaching adults how to discover the joy of play.
When she discovered Improvisational Theatre she immediately saw the connection between therapy and improv and has been using applied improv for over a decade. She teaches people with mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, people on the Autism Spectrum and trains therapists to use improv in their clinical work.
She performed onstage and is currently performing with various groups online.
She received her training in improvisation with Jay Sukow, Laura Hall, Michael Gellman, Aretha Spolin Sills, David Razowski and many other teachers from Second City Chicago and IO.
She produces the podcast, Improv Interviews, with leading improvisers and actors for over a decade at: https://margotescott.com/podcast/
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 the
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.
Dan is thrilled to lead Tightrope’s offerings for the Workplace and for Health & Wellness. His passion is to bring learners into the moment together, where co-creation can happen. A graduate of Queen's University Drama (B.A.H) and Artist in Community Education (B.Ed), Dan has been performing and teaching theatre and improv for over twent
Dan is thrilled to lead Tightrope’s offerings for the Workplace and for Health & Wellness. His passion is to bring learners into the moment together, where co-creation can happen. A graduate of Queen's University Drama (B.A.H) and Artist in Community Education (B.Ed), Dan has been performing and teaching theatre and improv for over twenty years. Using his background as a high school teacher and corporate trainer, Dan loves to apply the concepts of improv to the way teams work together. Dan has been training professionals in applied improv for the workplace since 2014. As a facilitator with Improv for Business, he has led successful and impactful training for teams from VanCity, Telus, PCL, ReThink, Microsoft, YVR, BC Children’s Hospital, Amazon, and many more organizations in BC and across North America. Dan trained and went on to perform as a mainstage ensemble player at Vancouver Theatresports for seven years and taught improv on the faculty of the Improv Comedy Institute. In 2015, Dan moved to New York City with his husband Jonathan and studied improv with UCB and Annoyance Theatre. There he founded the Dirty Little Secrets Improv show, which still runs monthly in the East Village of Manhattan. Returning to Vancouver, Dan co-founded Momentous Comedy and continues to produce improv shows across the city. Dan serves as the President of the Queer Improv Society of Vancouver where he builds community through improv, guiding the non profit board, directors, and a troupe of over 40 members. Dan is also a Leadership Communications Consultant with The Humphrey Group and continues to deliver leadership training and executive coaching across the globe to Fortune 500 companies, governments, professional associations, first nations councils, and with Universities including UBC Sauder Executive Education programs. Dan brings the joy he finds in collaborative performance to every training he facilitates. After resisting for a long time, Dan finally created an instagram account for his dog, Kai. @kaidangerfloof
Megan Dunlop is an award winning and nominated actor, improviser and communications facilitator. Born in Toronto, she has made NYC her home for the last decade, acting in theatre, television and films (Magnet Theatre, UCB, HBO, PBS, The History Channel, Amazon Prime, etc.). Megan has been a part of the renowned Dirty Little Secrets Impro
Megan Dunlop is an award winning and nominated actor, improviser and communications facilitator. Born in Toronto, she has made NYC her home for the last decade, acting in theatre, television and films (Magnet Theatre, UCB, HBO, PBS, The History Channel, Amazon Prime, etc.). Megan has been a part of the renowned Dirty Little Secrets Improv NYC team since its inception in 2015. In a leadership role she has worked with learners from CSRs to managers, CEOs, CFOs and DVPs demonstrating strong leadership, clear, effective communication and compassion and patience with all whom she encounters. Previous clients include: Allstate, AmEX, Bank of America, BlackRock, Citigroup, General Electric, HSBC, Jewish Community Centre, Royal Bank, Mercer, TD Bank and more. Megan has been teaching Improv for Parkinson’s since 2016 and working with Tightrope Theatre since 2021, teaching Improv for Brain Health, Improv for Parkinson’s and Improv for Work. Her loved combination of people, service and having a laugh is what keeps her curious and inspired!
Rick Horner is an improviser in suburban Philadelphia. Rick founded the improv incubator, a weekly evening of improv for improvisers and actors in the area to meet up, get connected, and play. Rick is an Advisory Board member for The Collective Success Network, and on the Workshop Development Team for the Global Play Brigade. He is curr
Rick Horner is an improviser in suburban Philadelphia. Rick founded the improv incubator, a weekly evening of improv for improvisers and actors in the area to meet up, get connected, and play. Rick is an Advisory Board member for The Collective Success Network, and on the Workshop Development Team for the Global Play Brigade. He is currently the Ensemble Director for Bright Invention and has taught many classes and workshops in and around Philadelphia. Rick studied at The Second City Training Center in Chicago and has also studied in Philly with such teachers as Keith Johnstone, Joe Bill, Ali Farahnakian, Ari Voukydis and Matt Besser of the Upright Citizens Brigade, among many others. He has studied online with David Razowsky, Michael Gellman, Deana Creiss and Liz Allen, among many others. Rick is an Army veteran who really likes Planet of the Apes.
Parkinson's Society of BC empowers the Parkinson’s community in British Columbia through providing resources and services to enable self-management, self-reliance, and self-advocacy.