Kelly started doing improv in 2010 through Rapid Fire workshops.
There she met some swell pals that pointed her in the direction of the University of Alberta’s Notorious UIG. Through the UIG she did improv festivals in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Calgary, the U of A’s very own Notorious Improv festival, and did a festival in Regina with her own troupe, Be Our Guest. Outside of the world of make em ups, Kelly enjoys training to become a better MMA athlete and teaching women how to Box and have fun keeping fit. Plus eating all the food, if you’ve got food you don’t want, she’ll take it right off your plate, probably before you offer.
FAVOURITES
TV Shows: Arrested Development, It’s Always Sunny, Schitts Creek, Broad City, Frontier, VEEP, Handmaids Tail, the list goes on… honestly, I watch, what some people may categorize as, “Too much TV”.
Movies: The Apartment, The Departed, Bringing up Baby, Inherent Vice, Harvey, Birdman… again, it’s a big ol’ list.
Video Games: Dr. Mario, Golden Eye, Mario Party 2, Tetris.
Books: No time for books, busy watching TV.
Authors: Chuck Palahniuk, Richard Brautigan
Music: Love more than I hate… I think.
Websites: I don’t know what this is.
Food: Sloppy Sandwiches, or really any vessel that gets hot sauce in my body.
Words to live by: “In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.” – From the movie Harvey
I go to school, I sleep at parties, I teach boxing and kickboxing to the loveliest of people, and I watch “too much TV”.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH RAPID FIRE?
I started taking RFT workshops once I finished high school, the goal was get on SNL, I think setting time effective realistic goals is key to success. I was hooked! And a sweet angel of a human invited me to join the University of Alberta Improv Group. From there I got to play with so many wonderful people and grow as an improviser. Then boom two years ago here I am.
WHAT ARE THE KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL IMPROV SCENE?
Having fun! Find what inspires you to have fun in a scene and run with it. Also, eye contact, if your scene partner is on board with what you are building together it’s going to be electric.
WHAT ARE SOME TIPS YOU CAN OFFER AUDIENCE MEMBERS ABOUT GIVING SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVISERS?
It doesn’t need to be super clever or the funniest thing in the world, don’t put that kind of stress on yourself! It’s exhausting! Just say “fork” and we’ll do the clever/funny stuff.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT SHORT FORM VS. LONG FORM AND VICE VERSA?
I love the ability to explore your ability through the different levels of energy you use to sustain a scene, with short form its big bursts of high energy, sometimes making you think a little quicker on your feet and chase that initial impulse. Long form gives you some more room to breathe, to dig deeper into what your relationships are on stage and really milk them for what they’re worth.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR IMPROV STYLE?
I what to say I dig doing fun kooky characters, I also want to say that I am bad at puns and I love selling how bad at puns I am, interpret this as you will.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ON STAGE?
Being everyone’s favourite wine moms Shirley and Janet with my pal Syd. But also doing a solo scene as Shirley at my first Maestro last year. I’ve never been so sweaty, so nervous, and so dang delighted, all at once, it felt like the flu, but better.
WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF RFT?
I go to school, I sleep at parties, I teach boxing and kickboxing to the loveliest of people, and I watch “too much TV”.
HOW DOES IMPROV COME IN HANDY IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE?
Whenever I hear a ‘Ding’ I turn right, whenever I hear a ‘Buzz’ I turn left, I don’t know how handy that is, but I do meet a lot of interesting people with this reflex.
DESCRIBE WORKING FOR RAPID FIRE IN A SINGLE SENTENCE:
A joyous collaboration with some of the most inspiring people I know.
