Shows In Small Spaces Part 3: Bad Dog Theatre
Posted December 22, 2009 7:18 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CityNews.ca writer Shawne McKeown highlights some of Toronto’s tiniest theatres – 100 seats, or less – in the six-part series “Shows in Small Spaces”.
Part 1: The Cameron House; Part 2: The Alumnae Theatre Studio; Part 4: Bread & Circus; Part 5: Tarragon Theatre’s Extra Space; Part 6: Theatre Passe Muraille Back Space
Part 3 – Bad Dog Theatre, 138 Danforth Ave. (60 Seats)
It takes a lot of work to make an insurance office funny. Just ask the members of the Bad Dog Theatre.
Some of the core comedians with the improv theatre company poured their blood, sweat and, very possibly, some tears into the 2003 renovation that turned an office on the Danforth into a cozy 60-seat black box theatre and two training studios.
“It was all volunteers … Everybody, literally, has a little bit of blood invested in this theatre, between all the hammered fingernails and stapler accidents,” Bad Dog associate producer Jan Caruana told CityNews.ca. She’s also a member of the Second City Touring Company.
Bad Dog evolved out of the long-running Toronto improvisational comedy institution Theatresports, which drifted from venue to venue over the years with no permanent home. Finally, in 2003 the members managed to pull together the funds to establish a permanent performance space at 138 Danforth Ave., just east of Broadview.
“That’s what makes the Bad Dog so great. It’s really community and membership driven and people really feel like they have a stock in this place,” Caruana said.
The theatre provides a home for a wide range of comedians, from the city’s best-known and most respected improvisers, including veterans Kerry Griffin and Jane Luk, to neophyte performers looking to test the waters.
Bad Dog often has a jam-packed lineup of weekly shows. “A Twisted Christmas Carol” is currently running until Dec. 23.
And Doctor Who fans take note: Bad Dog will be running a parody of the sci-fi show in January.
The company stages shows like “A Twisted Christmas Carol” that are a mix of improv and loosely scripted material. The performers know they have to hit certain beats, but what happens in between is anyone’s guess.
Bad Dog also features pure improv shows. The company runs what it calls its “Hot” series, in the genre of a soap opera. Past titles include “Hot Doctors In Love” and “Hot Oil Barons In Love”. The next installment: “Hot Teachers in Love”.
There are also the Theatresports shows that run Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm. Caruana said these are “family-friendly” and performers keep the F-bombs and explicit material to a minimum.
Also coming up at the theatre is the annual Globehead competition where improv teams battle it out for the coveted trophy (a Ken doll on a stand with a ball on its head spray-painted gold).
While the thought of stepping on stage with no idea what you’re about to perform may be terrifying to most people, the performers at Bad Dog praise the company’s sense of community for providing the safe environment needed to stretch their comedic wings.
“It’s the working together, I think… creating something out of nothing,” Caruana said.
“I think this is the purest form of theatre, you really have to be in the moment all the time for the scene to really work and be connected to your scene partner.”
Bad Dog performer Ken Hall echoed her sentiments.
“Usually when you’re in the moment, you’re not thinking about what you’re doing, so the irony is if you’ve had a really good show you often forget what those really funny things were.”
The company also offers classes and plenty of opportunities for students to hit the stage.
“We have a lot of shows where students play with more experienced people so it gives them a comfort level and a backup,” Griffin said.
While the feelings among the company are warm and cozy, the theatre itself is on the chilly side, but Caruana doesn’t mind.
“I think comedy is best served cold.”
Click here for more information on Bad Dog Theatre’s shows and classes.
