ABOUT Musical Improv Montréal (Classes and Shows) is an independently owned entity, currently unaffiliated with other schools, theatres, or venues. All curriculum was designed and developed to be used solely for this program. Classes are held in spaces rented out per term. All performances are produced through individual agreements with the appropriate venue per show. ADINA KATZFounder, Artistic Director, and Teacher Adina Katz started performing musical improv before she even knew it was a thing that other people did! She merged her love for live theatre, music, improv, and comedy, and started putting on sold-out shows in Montreal back in 2011 with her Musical Improv troupe, “Way The Hell Off-Broadway.” Since then, she learned that Musical Improv is officially an art form very popular in New York City and Chicago; so while she lived there, she studied and performed with the best (Second City, Magnet Theatre, Upright Citizens Brigade, and more). Since then, she has returned to Montreal, and founded the Musical Improv program, running multiple classes and shows, and performs regularly with her all-ladies power troupe, “The Jazz Ands.” She has also has recently returned to New York to Magnet Theatre and Chicago’s iO for improv intensives to stay sharp and on the pulse of the top improv approaches and techniques for performance and for instructing the craft. Aside from Musical Improv, Adina is very involved in the Montreal theatre scene as a performer, director, writer, dramaturg, teacher, and producer. To learn more about Adina, click here. JOHN GILBERTMusical Director John Gilbert is a Montreal-based musical director and piano player. He was trained classically at Ecole Vincent D’Indy and McGill University but now prefers to work without the aid of sheet music. He is also a vocal coach and a multisubjectivorous geek. BRAD KANEProgram Consultant and Teacher Brad Kane has been performing and teaching improv across Canada and the US for over a decade. He produces the award-winning musical improv show Make it a Musical which premiered in the 2019 Montreal Fringe festival. He loves video games, comic books, board games, and all traditionally nerdy things. MARIANA VIALTeacher Mariana Vial is an improv performer, teacher, coach, show producer and lifelong fan. She got her start in with the Canadian Improv Games all the way back in 1999- and the fundamentals of teamwork, story-telling and commitment to the moment have stayed with her ever since. Through the years you may have seen her in festivals like Ladyfest Montreal, MProv, Big City Improv Festival, and on stage as much as possible. She didn’t think she could love improv more until she discovered musical improv and joined her beloved troupe The Jazz Ands. Mariana is absolutely thrilled to be joining the teaching team to share the musical improv joy! KIRSTEN RASMUSSENSpecial Guest Teacher Kirsten Rasmussen (shey/they) is an actor/writer/ comedian and peanut sauce enthusiast living in Toronto, Ontario. If you want to see Kirsten on your TV screen you can find her screaming her guts out in Band Ladies on Highball TV, and throwing curveballs in Slo Pitch Season 1 & 2 on Out TV and IFC. Her other credits include Schitt’s Creek, TallBoyz, BitPlayas, Odd Squad, The Beaverton, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Dino Dana and a tiny but dignified masked role in Mrs. America. Kirsten has written on The Snoopy Show for Apple Plus and This Hour Has 22 Minutes on CBC, and for a new animated series called Welcome by Titan 1 Studios. Kirsten has won three Canadian Comedy Awards for her work as a live comedian, and sketch director. She’s an alumni of The Second City Toronto’s Mainstage Company where she wrote and starred in three shows, and in their hit feminist revue called She The People, and she directed the maintstage show, The Skyline’s The Limit. Kirsten directs sketch for solo artists and groups in Toronto, most notably directing the Canadian Comedy Awarded Extravaganza Eleganza- an all Queer sketch revue, and Dead Parents Society featured in Next Stage 2023. Kirsten was a founding co-director of Montreal Improv Theatre. Kirsten has toured this country, the one below, the high seas, down under and Germany performing sketch and improv. PETER MIKAAssociate Musical Director Peter Mika has been active in the Montreal music scene for over 40 years. He has played in numerous bands and has often been sought out for studio sessions. A seasoned jazz and blues player, Peter has also worked extensively in many music theatre and cabaret productions including Les Misrables and Phantom of the Opera. KATIE PAGNUCCOProgram Consultant and Teacher Katie Pagnucco is a science educator by day, and improviser by night. In addition to performing in the Montreal Fringe in an award-winning ensemble as well as various touring troupes, Katie has had the opportunity to teach improv and science communication workshops across Canada, the US and Europe for nearly a decade. TARA BOYCEAdministrative Stagehand Tara Boyce studied Musical Theatre at Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, and has performed in improv, as a chorister, stand-up comedian, singer-songwriter and in Broadway style revues. Musical Theatre is her love language. She also studied Creative Writing at Concordia University, and is the writer, creator and host for the Addicted to Recovery podcast. Tara works in social work and piloted an Improv and Drama for Life Skills course series for neurodivergent adults. Other interests include JRPGs, fantasy novels, Reality TV, and Prog Metal. Her own yet unproduced musical is waiting to one day take the world by storm (stay tuned.) RACHEL HANSARDLogo & Graphic Designer Rachel Hansard is a 3D Character Animator working in TV and film by day with a love for improv and singing; music, movies, and improv are her huge passions. Since living in Montreal for three years she has loved being a part of the Musical Improv community. While growing up in South Florida she took many years of vocal lessons along with being involved in multiple musicals. While in high school she competed in “Thespians” and qualified for nationals for Solo Musical and Monologue. Rachel received her BFA in Animation from Savannah College of Art (SCAD), where she also took improv, design, and screen design classes. Post Grad, Rachel took more improv classes in Florida before moving here, where she became an active member of the Montreal improv community. Her favorite musicals are Wicked, Waitress, and Hadestown. Rachel’s thrilled to bring her talents on stage and creatively to the Musical Improv team here in Montreal! See Rachel’s Work: https://www.rachelsanimation.com Charlie GedeonIT Guy Charlie Gedeon tried his hand at fame in middle school when his first YouTube channel didn’t get all that far. Years later, improv would be his way back into the spotlight where he can laugh with friends and exist outside the digital realm of his day job running a UX design studio. Besides improv comedy, Charlie writes on his blog and uploads videos about creative thinking to the Pragmatics YouTube. ZAIN BALOCHShow Photographer Photo & Bio coming soon! Countless students who have participated in the Musical Improv Montreal program have given back, contributing time, ideas, expertise, volunteering in some way to help this program grow into what it is today. While it continues to flourish, we cannot do it without the passion and love this community continues to show. Thank you to everyone who has supported this thriving art form in Montreal! If you would like to get involved, feel free to send as a message through our contact form.