The Canadian Improv Showcase offers onsite, customized curriculum enhancement workshops for all grade levels. K through grade 12. All our workshops have been designed by educators with more than 30 years of classroom experience. Several of our instructors are retired educators. Each workshops is customized to the grade level and experience level of the group we are working with. No two workshops are alike and we have students up, doing and experiencing almost the entire time. We can work with students with special needs designations and provide a highly engaging workshop experience. Cross curriculum connection possibilities are endless!

To date we have visited more than 500 schools across Ontario, many of which we have visited on numerous occasions. 

Following the pandemic we are seeing a drastic need for this kind of interactive programming that fosters interpersonal skills that will benefit students in the real world and lead to healthy and vibrant futures. The benefits to our programming include:
• Improved Self Confidence
• Increased Team Building
• Better Listening Skills
• Increased Respect for Self & Others
• Enhanced Concentration & Focus
• Greater Comfort Taking Risks
• Improved Creative Thinking & Problem Solving
• Enhanced Presentation Skills & Public Speaking Skills
• Improved Leadership & Resiliency

Elementary Grades

For elementary grades we offer an Introductory to Improvisation workshop that is customized to the grade level and experience level of students.
We recommend a group size of no more 40 to 50 students per workshop.
We are happy to do multiple workshops during the same visit.
We can work with multiple grade levels and split classes at the same time.
We also offer interactive performances for the whole school. Please be clear if you are interested in a workshop or performance when inquiring as pricing is different. Please remember all our programming is conducted onsite eliminating any bus costs. For schools outside the GTA please see our Pricing page for an idea of our potential travel fee. 

Secondary Grades

For secondary grade drama students we offer a selection of customized workshops:

Intro to Improvisation

This workshop explores the fundamentals and foundations of improvisation and reinforces what students have learned in previous grades. The focus is on the 'rules of improv', scene building, scene integrity, group mind and team work as well as dispelling the tendency to just 'go for the joke.'  The format is very free flowing with instructors adjusting and adapting based on the skills and progress of the specific group. Exercises utilized will include ice breakers, team builders, physical and vocal warm-ups and much more! 

Improv Intensive

This workshop is designed for more experienced students who need a challenge or a push to reach the next level.
The focus of these workshops is customized based on the direction of the drama teacher and the needs of their students. 
For example, we were tasked with getting a group of students who have been working together for several years outside their comfort zone and willing to take risks beyond their normal selection of characters and choices. We employed a select series of large and small group exercises that challenged them to change their focus with tremendous results. By not having any preconceived knowledge of the students skill sets we were able to help them break out of their self imposed molds and really grow as performers. 
The opportunity to work with our highly experienced and skilled professional actors is often enough to provide a needed push, but we are always excited at the prospect of working with young talent, to help them flourish and offer guidance towards a potential future in professional acting. 

Musical Improv

For a group of students that really want a challenge this workshop gives participants that chance to try musical improvisation in a safe and exploratory environment. We provide musical accompaniment for this workshop. Likewise, students who are musically inclined are encouraged to bring any instruments they have to add to the experience. This workshop really teaches the joy of failure and how much we learn with every bump in the creative road. Musical improvisation isn't for everyone, but it is fun to try, a great team building experience and hilariously memorable for all those who participate.

Improv Shakespeare

This workshop is available to both Drama and English classes.
For many students the Bard is a source of frustration! A lost and forgotten language with no relevance in today's society. 
This workshop dispels that myth by breaking down the prose, the language, the format and making it relatable and approachable through improvisation. 
We will explore the typical Shakespearean archetypes and how we can relate them to present day. 
We take typical Shakespearean characters and connect them to todays trends and influences, utilizing them in various scenes. 
We explore typical Shakespearean situations and plot devices demystifying them by acting them out using modern language. 
We explore contemporary situations, relevant to today's youth, and improvise Shakespearean prose as well as explore iambic pentameter, thesis,  anti-thesis and much more! Each session is conducted onsite and customized to the group we work with. 

Stage Combat

Through our sister programme, the Knights in the Classroom, we can offer you a selection of both unarmed and armed stage combat or fight choreography workshops. To learn more visit their website by clicking here.

What educators have to say about our programming

“The improvisation workshop held in class with my grade 9 students had a profound impact on their confidence, their ability to take calculated risks, and their ability to support each other. Resilience is something that students tend to struggle with a lot lately, and experiences like this do more than just fulfill curriculum expectations as set by the board of education. The skill and talent of the improv team allowed our students to push themselves out of their comfort zone so as to become more resilient, where they leave their technology aside, and really work towards developing skills required of them moving forward in both their educational and professional lives. These experiences are crucial for these reasons, and the ability to take part free of charge through the grant opportunity makes this equitable and achievable for all students.”
Haylei L. Cockburn Stouffville District Secondary School
"This morning we had the pleasure of hosting and participating in a drama workshop from the Canadian Improv Showcase at Elmvale District High School. Their presentation was extremely organized, effective, and professional by introducing many dramatic elements to our students who were engaged and interested throughout. Tammy, Matt, Peter, and Andrea were knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and allowed our students to take creative risks and were overall excellent instructors. I would recommend this group to any school or institution, especially ones looking to foster and/or develop their arts programs. We are very grateful to have received such a dynamic workshop and many thanks to the Canadian Improv crew for bringing their talents to our wonderful school. "
Jesse Muldoon Elmvale D.H.S.
"A fabulous day for our grades one to eight students! I was sceptical about grouping together several classes but that was no problem at all. The level of engagement of the kids was full throttle right from the opening segment. As a teacher, it was nice to step back and see students from a different perspective, many of whom I would never have guessed would volunteer to do improv. Members of the showcase group were kind and welcoming to the student's suggestions and that built an immediate atmosphere of trust and fun! Now, the students want to start a lunch hour improv club!"
Susan Vuylsteke St John French Immersion
"Yesterday, Tammy, Matt, Peter and Andrea came to EDHS to host a drama workshop for our Grade 8 students. This workshop ran smoothly, included everyone with all abilities, and facilitated participation on a variety of levels. This workshop encouraged students to think outside the box and step outside their comfort zone in a safe and controlled environment. Further, students were provided with a chance to interact with dramatic elements and connect with each other in new and engaging ways. Even some of our shyest students found themselves on the stage performing in front of their peers! It was an experience that I’m sure they won’t soon forget. ​I would highly recommend this group to any school. We appreciate the time that was put into such a dynamic workshop, the knowledge that the team had, and the overall positive experience for students and staff."
Anija Kaeja Elmvale District High School
"The workshops were great! My students told me how much they enjoyed them and I was very impressed at how effective they were in this virtual world of ours."
Roksolana Jaworskyj St. Elizabeth Catholic High School