Each project draws from a pool of top-notch actors, comedians, improvisors, musicians, technical directors, and  designers. 
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Kirsten Van Ritzen - Artistic Director
Kirsten is a professional  actor and comedienne who has received acclaim for her work in theatre, film, television and  radio.  She is also a writer, director, producer and  teacher.  She has worked across Canada and since moving to Victoria  has made her mark on the vibrant local arts scene. 

Kirsten has  acted in more than fifty plays in theatres across the country.

Highlights include QUIET IN THE LAND  (Blyth Festival), THE BUZ' GEM BLUES (Lighthouse  Festival) , WHAT GIVES?/ALL EARS  (Teatro la Quindicina), EXIT OTHELLO (Workshop  West),  I OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES  (Sunshine Festival) and ALLEYCATS THE MUSICAL (Hoarse Raven) -  Ovation Award  Nomination Best Performance Female. 
On Vancouver Island:  THIS LITTLE LIGHT workshop (Belfry); STREAM, EMERGE staged readings (Theatre One); HOUSE AT POOH CORNER, THE GIVER, THE SECRET GARDEN (2014 & 2017),  HANA’S SUITCASE (all Kaleidoscope Theatre), SMALLTOWN A  PICKUP MUSICAL(Theatre Skam),  eleven CHORUS/LINE  CABARETS  (Gotta Getta Gimmick) and the 2017 premiere of BLACKSTONES & BATHTUBS Musical (Razzle Dazzle) at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo. 

She is represented for Film/TV by Lucas Talent, Canada's 2nd largest talent agency. She has played roles in REBOOT THE GUARDIAN CODE (Netflix/YTV),  THE BRIDGE (Hallmark), GAME OF LOVE (UP TV), SO YOU SAID YES (Hallmark) ,  STRANGER IN THE HOUSE  (Lifetime) and MARK & RUSSELL'S WILD RIDE (Disney), and thriller short ROADKILL.  

Kirsten has performed in hundreds of comedy variety & stand up shows.  She was invited to perform at Orlando's inaugural CFL Sketch Comedy Festival (2019);  Executive Produced/performed in SHE KILLS ME  series for APTN-TV ; hosted/produced Victoria's 2014 FUNNY WOMEN FESTIVAL and THE MERRIDALE SHOWDOWN 2015 season.  Nominated for a 2014 M Award "Top Comedian" her stand up is heard on CBC Radio's LAUGH OUT LOUD. 

Kirsten is a founding member of  Edmonton’s  DIE-NASTY the Canadian Comedy Award- winning improv troupe.  She starred in and co-produced five seasons of SIN CITY THE LIVE IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA at Toronto's The Second  City. The troupe was nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award and  invited  to the  Chicago Improv Festival. a special aired on  CBC-TV as LIQUID SOAPZ. Kirsten hosted the alt comedy  show  LUCILLE'S BALL as "Louise", headlined MARCH OF DAMES, did several one-woman sketch shows, and performed  numerous improv comedy and variety shows in Toronto.

Kirsten is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada. RADIOLAND '48 was developed at  Lunchbox Theatre (Calgary)and Theatre One (Nanaimo).  She has written and performed several solo plays: ALL MY DAY JOBS published in ONE FOR THE ROAD (Signature Editions) and THE KIRSTEN VAN RITZEN SHOW  - for which she was named "Best  Solo Comedy Artist".    Her novel THE COMEDY DIVA DIARIES is available thru major book retailers.  www.comedydivadiaries.com
 
Kirsten teaches workshops in acting and improv to both recreational and post-secondary students. She has taught at York University (dance), Randolph Academy,   Vancouver  Theatresports, St. Albert Children's Theatre, The Second City  Training   Workshop Centre, Pacific Film and New Media Academy, Victoria Academy  of  Dramatic Arts and more.

www.kirstenvanritzen.com


                                                                      

  


  


 
 


 


 




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​Ian Ferguson 
Producer & Director 
 
 Ian has worked in the  entertainment  industry for three decades as a writer, producer and  performer.  

Ian is the author of THE SURVIVAL GUIDE TO B.C. (Heritage House) and TRUDEAU ON TRUDEAU (Simon Schuster).  Ian won the  2004  Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour for VILLAGE OF THE SMALL  HOUSES; and is co-author (with brother Will Ferguson) of the best- selling  humour  book HOW TO BE A CANADIAN: EVEN IF YOU ALREADY ARE ONE  -  shortlisted for the Leacock Medal and winner of the CBA Libris Award for Best Non-fiction Book of 2002.  

Ian trained as an actor in the BFA Acting program at University of Alberta,  and holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from York University. He is an award winning playwright who wrote and directed two dozen plays and numerous sketch comedy shows as  Artistic Director of Edmonton's Union Theatre. 

Ian is the founding director and co-creator of  the  live  improvised soap operas DIE-NASTY (Edmonton) and SIN CITY (Toronto) both Canadian Comedy Award nominees, as well as SIN CITY IMPROV SERIAL (Victoria). The five season run  of SIN CITY Toronto included three years at The Second City where Ian taught  improv for the SECOND CITY WORKSHOP Training Centre.

Ian was  co-executive producer and directed LIQUID SOAPZ  (CBC-TV). He directed four pilot  episodes of a sitcom, and thirteen  episodes of SHE KILLS ME for APTN.   He wrote and directed GONE SOUTH a feature length documentary about Canadians in Hollywood which has screened at a number of North American Film Festivals.  Ian sat on the board of the Greater  Victoria Film Commission, and was a member of the Aboriginal Media Producers  Association.   
http://ianferguson.mysite.com/