Metis actor returns for Improvaganza

Page 6

The Toronto-based Native improv troupe, Tonto's Nephews, was in Edmonton in June to compete with teams from around the world at the Improvaganza International Improv Festival.

If Tonto's Nephews is not a name that sounds familiar, maybe the actors that make up the group, or some of the more mainstream television shows that they have been involved with, might ring a few bells.

Tonto's Nephews is made up of Herbie Barnes of Tipi Tales, Darrell Dennis of CBC Commentaries, Michaela Washburn, co-host of CBC's Hockeyville, Sid Bobb, co-host of C G Kids, and Craig Lauzon, who is a regular on the Royal Canadian Air Farce.

For the Improvaganza Festival appearance at the Varscona Theatre from June 14 to 24, Washburn said they were competing against other troupes in what is known as improv games, "where you are challenging each other to different types of scenes." They placed fourth in the competition.

Washburn was born in Edmonton and raised in the small town of Leduc. She is a multi-talented Metis artist with a background in counselling, workshop facilitation, theatre, film, stand up, clown and improvisation.

Only after joining the Nephews in 2003, Washburn and Lauzon wrote their first play called, Ever Sick, with the three other Nephews. This two-act play was featured at Native Earth Performing Arts theatre in Toronto at its annual Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival.

Although there are no upcoming performance dates for Tonto's Nephews, they keep busy with individual projects. "We're hoping to get into film and television and have that play produced because it's only been work-shopped and had a stage reading," said Washburn.

The group has performed in festivals in Toronto, New York and Chicago. They placed second two years in a row in Toronto's Globehead Improv Tournament.

To learn more about this all-Native improv group visit www.tontosnephews.com.