To learn about the history of The Bad Dog Theatre Company, you need to travel back to 1982 and Theatresports Toronto. In those days, top actors and comedians would perform improv comedy every week at Harbourfront to enthusiastic crowds. Free drop-in workshops were given to the public, and the best students from these workshops were then invited to take more advanced invitation-only workshops. From this system, the cast was able to create a continual flow of improvisors to fill the burgeoning ranks of talent needed to cast the weekly shows. Teams with names like Dangerous Poultry, The Parts, The Chumps and The Kids in The Hall sometimes broke away from the ranks to achieve near-legendary status on their own.

Some of Toronto's finest comedic and improv talents graced the stage in those early years - Mike Myers, Tim Sims, Bruce Hunter (Puppets Who Kill), Pat McKenna (Red Green), Gary Campbell, (MadTV producer/screenwriter) Lisa Merchant (Train 48), Sandra Shamus (Playwrite), Linda Kash (A Mighty Wind), Colin Mochrie (Who's Line Is It, Anyway), Globe and Mail columnist Andrew Coyne and - believe it or not - even Keanu Reeves did some time on our stage. The cast was regularly raided by agents and Second City scouts all looking for the next big thing. Even Lorne Michaels dropped by to snatch up a young Bruce McCulloch and Mark McKinney and whisked them away to write for Saturday Night Live. It was, and always has been, an incredibly exciting and vibrant place to hang out and be discovered. Most of all, though, Theatresports was a place to hang out, get invited to parties, make friends, start your own comedy troupe... and more than occasionally, find a soulmate.

And while the names and faces had changed - and the audiences had dwindled - the spirit of friendship and community that had kept Theatresports going was still strong. Still, nothing lasts forever... and after getting bumped out of a regular performing venue at The Poor Alex, it seemed like the writing was on the wall for Theatresports Toronto. During the 90’s Theatresports floated from venue to venue. Places like Big City Improv, Solar Stage, Tim Sims Playhouse, and St. Paul's Church basement were temporary resting places for what was becoming Toronto's longest continually running - but long forgotten - improv comedy show. But then, a small and dedicated core of players decided something needed to be done to keep Theatresports alive...

After a 1999 visit to Chicago's famous Annoyance Theatre, improvisors Kerry Griffin and Marcel St. Pierre decided that if Theatresports was going to survive, it needed to stop wandering and settle down. The pair were hired by Theatresports' Board of Directors as Co-Artistic Directors, and the two began hatching plans of reinventing the organization. They joined Ralph MacLeod who had already been revamping and reinvigorating the workshop system. The three formed the Artistic Trio which still lead the organization today. Ralph launched an additional show, That Friday Show at the Village Playhouse. His worked led to a 10 fold increase in the amount of students that were being trained by the improv workshop system. He ensured training was more accessible to those looking to develop their art. Since 2000, the workshops have steadily grown; from a faculty of 3 instructors and less than 20 students to the current level of over a dozen instructors and over 120 students studying at all levels including a youth program for kids ages 12 and up..

In 2003, Theatresports Toronto became The Bad Dog Theatre Company and established a permanent home at 138 Danforth Avenue. With a 60-seat theatre and 2 training studios, Bad Dog has shows most nights of the week, but of course still goes back to its roots with the competitive team-based Theatresports show, re-opening with a new cast and season every year.

The Bad Dog Theatre Company is proud to be part of the world-wide improv community. For 20 years we have provided an affordable, accessible training ground for improvisational comedy for thousands of ordinary people who want to learn the joy of improvisation and be part of Toronto's exciting improv and theatre community. And yes, there are still free drop-in workshops on Saturday nights...seems like the more things change, the more they stay the same.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE BAD DOG HOTLINE (416.491.3115) OR VIA EMAIL at info@baddogtheatre.com