Improv in Toronto

How do I sign up to participate?

Click here to find out how you can get involved.

Is there an age-limit to participating?

Improv In Toronto missions are always open to all ages. With that said, we suggest that anyone under the age of 18 have their parent’s permission to participate.

I am visiting Toronto. Is there a mission happening when I’m there?

If you’re planning to be in the GTA, join the IT mailing list and you’ll be notified if there is anything going on. Once you leave, you can easily unsubscribe from the list after your trip. Also keep an eye on our site for our annual events (Mp3, No Pants, SDP)

I have an idea for a mission for you guys. Do you want to hear it?

Yes! Many of our great ideas come from  people who email us. Feel free to email us your ideas. Contact us here. There’s really no harm in sending one in. It may wind up being the inspiration for our next great mission.

Are there any ideas you get all the time?

Yes. Here are a few ideas that we have heard many, many times:

- Get a bunch of people to stand behind someone and pretend they are the Verizon “network,” like in those commercials.

- Recreate that “banned xbox” commercial from YouTube where people use their fingers as guns.

- Get a bunch of people to stare up at the sky and pretend like they are looking at something amazing.

- Act like a stranger (or an agent) is someone important by putting secret service agents all around him.

- Act like a stranger (or an agent) is famous and have a fake paparazzi mob him.

- Do something involving zombies and/or the Thriller dance.

- Have tons of people go into a store and buy the exact same thing. (Or request an item that doesn’t exist. Or everyone pay in pennies. Or order the same small item in a fast food chain.)

How did it start?

Improv In Toronto has a very confusing and interesting history. The entity originally came into existence through the inspiration of Improv Everywhere, back in January 2008. Using a website known as the Urban Prankster Network, we began collaborating and thinking of ideas for missions. From that point as we began holding events, the organization changed leadership a number of times, and went through many drastic changes. Despite all the change we have remained alive and active, and plan to continue our stay in Toronto for years to come.

How can you call it “improv”? Some of your missions are clearly pre-planned!

We are not claiming that everything we do is improv. The name reflects our idea of taking the skill of improv acting, and bringing it to life in public places. We stay in character at all costs and interact with members of the public with no script beyond the mission’s idea. We have no clue how people are going to react to us, and that is where the improvisation comes in. Sometimes people misread our URL as “Improve Toronto.”and in some ways it is a good example of what we try to do.

Aren’t these flash mobs?

Sometimes. While some of our missions may have certain similarities to a flash mob (large numbers of people appearing in a public place and then disappearing suddenly), we really try not to do anything similar to flash mobbing. Some missions use just a few folks while others might use hundreds, depending on the idea and depending on how many people show up to participate.

I live somewhere other than Toronto, can you help me do something similar in my area?

Those interested in participating in Improv Everywhere-style events in their own city should join The Urban Prankster Network. There is probably already a local “IE-inspired” group created there for your city. Join it and get involved.

I’m a journalist. Can I come to your next mission and cover it?

Depends completely on the mission. The smaller missions we make it a policy not to have the media along as it tends to complicate things and take away the element of surprise. But we make  exceptions for our annual events, and largely attended missions. As well we are happy to do an interview, and we can usually provide footage or photos of past missions for your story.

Can you do a prank that draws attention to my cause?

Send us an email with the details, and we will discuss the possibility.

I work for a brand / marketing firm / advertising agency, can we hire you?

Send us an email with the details, and we will discuss the possibility.