Introducing our new senior management team

Meet the senior managers: Broni Lisle (Education Director), Laura Buskes (Theatre Operations Manager), Adam Kangas (Artistic Director)

I've learned a lot in my ten years of improvising, and the most important lesson for a control freak like me is that improv isn't an art form that allows for solo success: your only hope to succeed is by working with a team of people you trust and respect, honouring their contributions and generally trying to make them look like geniuses along the way. Trying to dominate a scene or a Harold by yourself is almost certainly a recipe for disaster. We've all seen (or even been) different shades of that guy on stage... and it's never good.

As we've ramped up our efforts in corporate improv education, it's really sunk in that some of the basic tenets of improv have obvious implications in the business world too. I can see now that one of the biggest things preventing this company and community from reaching their full potential is my need to hold on tightly to every aspect of how things are run around here. Solo micromanagement in all areas helped get this beautiful experiment off the ground, but now it's time to graciously ask for help.

Luckily, I'm surrounded by some seriously lovely and talented people who believe in this place, and have accepted permanent senior positions with The Improv Conspiracy Theatre. Let's meet them!

Laura Buskes is our newest hire, taking on the split role of Theatre Operations Manager / Assistant Artistic Director. She will be overseeing most of the day-to-day tasks around the theatre, and will assist me with the planning and actioning of the company's long-term artistic goals.

Regarding the position, she writes:

I can't wait to sink my teeth into this new role! The Improv Conspiracy has become such an important part of my life, and to be in a position where I can give back to the community is such an honour. The people in this company are what makes this theatre such an exciting place to be, and I want nothing more than to foster an enthusiastic and welcoming environment for all who set foot in our door.

My top priority will be to cater to the happiness and wellbeing of all the ensemble and patrons of this theatre. Over the next few months I will be working on some projects that reinvigorate the energy of our hard working and dedicated cast.

I want to keep all lines of communication open, so if you have any suggestions or concerns, please don't hesitate to make them known.

Welcome aboard Laura!

Our good friend Broni Lisle is being promoted to our new role of Education Director. He'll work hard to ensure that our public and corporate workshops are safe, fun environments with high-quality instructors and relevant comedy curriculums.

He writes:

I’m really excited to be the new Education Director at The Improv Conspiracy. I have been a music educator for over 10 years and an Improv teacher for 5 years and I have a huge passion for both education and improvisation, so one could easily assume I'd feel pretty good about this role. I look forward to continuing to uphold the high standards already set in our public and corporate workshops program and work towards growth and an even better streamlining and scaffolding of our core curriculums. I endeavour to foster a fun, inclusive and safe learning environment for all students and teachers.

Some current goals I have in my mind are:

• Extra format-specific or specialist elective workshops throughout the year

• Adding a brand new level to our core program

• Offering more support and avenues for growth to our excellent teachers

Let’s do great things.

Congrats Broni!

As for me, it's time to embrace delegation and trust completely in these wonderful people. They both entered our doors years ago as Level 1 improv students, and quickly rose through the ranks as students, performers, teachers, coaches, leadership panel members and most importantly friends and teammates. I'm absolutely thrilled to work with them every day.

Once they're up and running most of the day-to-day tasks of the company, I can't wait to get back to my favourite activity: working on the next big thing.