Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Colin Mochrie, George Stroumboulopoulos to headline comedy-filled Improv Marathon

Hot off his hilarious performance at the It's Always Something Variety Show, Colin Mochrie headlines, along with CNN/CBC star George Stroumboulopoulos, a number of madcap performances as part of a groundbreaking improv comedy marathon from December 13 to 15th. The event is in support of Gilda's Club Greater Toronto, a charitable organization providing free social and emotional support to adults, teens and children living with cancer.

The 55-hour soap opera marathon is being held at 50 Tank House Lane in Toronto's Distillery District at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts and begins Friday December 13 at 3 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m. Sunday December 15, with each performance or "episode" running 1 hour and 45 minutes in length, followed by a 20-minute break. Admission for each episode is by donation at the door, with all proceeds going to Gilda's Club Greater Toronto.

Gilda's Club Greater Toronto namesake Gilda Radner of Saturday Night Live fame - itself hailed for its groundbreaking departure from the pre-scripted, canned laughter formula of taped shows -- would surely approve of the concept.

Featuring Gemini-award winner Mochrie, along with Stroumboulopoulos, other 'special guests' from Toronto's comedy community, and cast members from eight improv comedy troupes from Toronto, Western Canada and around the world -- including France, Germany, the U.K., India and Australia -- Christmas at Choke-Poke Toys is an attempt at the longest continuous improvised live soap opera.
The improvised soap opera marathon is being presented by Soulpepper Theatre in association with the National Theatre of the World (NTOW), as part of a larger improv event, the first-ever Impulse Festival. "Anything can happen and will," says Matt Baram, Co-Artistic Director of NTOW.

In addition to making a donation as admission to the improv marathon, attendees are also encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to help Gilda's Club Greater Toronto support the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish.

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