The Bad Dog has trained, nurtured or hosted some of the best of Canadian comedy. We'll put the spotlight
on some of our members and find out more about why they make the Bad Dog such a special place.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT : RICA ECKERSLEY
Interview by Angèle MorganRica is part of the Bad Dog Players – a core group of top improvisers that bring you classics like Weirdos, Midnight, Hot Doctors in Love and Hot Oil Barons in Love. Or maybe you might have checked her out in improv hits like ManMen or Sass in the City or the Canadian Comedy Award-winning Show Stopping Number. Her quick wit and improv chops have made her a funny force to be reckoned with.
Fun Rica Facts!!
- Rica attended twelve different schools before she graduated high school!
- She is “the Queen of Improv parodies,” having done almost every conceivable improv parody over the last six years including Sass In the City, Man Men, Lord Of the Things, Twisted Christmas Carol & more.
- Rica’s middle name is May because she was supposed to be born in May
I’ve been improvising for seven years, which is crazy, it doesn’t seem that long at all. I studied English and Drama at Queen’s and then moved to Toronto and started working in advertising but still wanted to have a creative outlet. I was doing a playwriting unit at Nightwood Theatre and one of the workshops we did was improv. Kate Ashby from Second City taught it and I just fell in love. I signed up for Level A the next week!
How long have you been involved with The Bad Dog?
I started at Second City and Theatresports (the Bad Dog predecessor) was this other improv thing going in town. Marcel St. Pierre (Bad Dog Artistic Director) one of my Second City teachers said “Go to the Sunday night drop-in.” So I went & got involved in the whole Theatresports thing back in 2003. I was old-skool before this theatre (on the Danforth) was a thought in anyone’s head.
What do you like best about improv?
I think what I love best about improv is the adrenaline. You never know if it’s going to go well. (laughs) Every time before I step on stage I have that fear – no matter how many times I’ve done it, or how prepared I am, or how many great teachers I’ve had – that this could suck. I think that’s what I love about it, that whole “in the moment” thing.
What is your favourite scene location suggestion?
You know what? I like slice-of-life scenes, so I think ordinary things would be my favourites, like a kitchen, or a parlour, or a bedroom. I know, it’s nothing too exotic.
What is your favourite object suggestion?
I would have to say sentimental things, like a locket or a diary. I always have lots of diary material being an avid diary-writer myself. I like things that are emotional in nature.
If you could improvise with anybody on Earth, who would it be?
I guess the obvious answer is Tina Fey – everybody loves Tina Fey. You know what, actually if this was the last improv scene I could do before I die...I would probably pick people whom I have had a great time improvising with, like Jan Caruana or Lauren Ash. The world is ending and you have fifteen minutes to do a scene, it’s in a parlour with this diary, it would be with Jan or Lauren. (laughs)
Do you have any specific improv scene that stands out? That you still remember years later?
The scene I remember most is from six or seven years ago. I was just starting out and I got bumped up to do a scene with the “senior boys.” At the time they were Doug Bullard, Kerry Griffin, and I think Sean Browning. And Kerry and I kissed in that scene and we ended up dating for years after that. But I vividly remember that kiss. An improv kiss in a scene that changed my life, for sure!
What are you up to right now?
I do lots of shows at The Bad Dog. Right now I’ve just finished co-producing and performing in "Hot Oil Barons in Love", an improvised soap opera. And I'm doing Theatresports. I'm on a team with Tom MacKay. We're called "Toxic" and we were also going to be taking part in the Toronto Improv Festival, trying out a brand new format. Macro Neato is also one of my favourite shows. Lately, I've gotten to host a few of them, which is a lot of fun, and a brand new challenge for me.
Catch Rica Eckersley and other great people at The Bad Dog Theatre. Spotlight off!