Introducing Peterborough’s newest improv comedy duo

You’re reading the July 19, 2024 edition of the Peterborough Currents email newsletter. To receive our email newsletters straight to your inbox, sign up here.

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Good morning and welcome to the second Peterborough Currents newsletter of the week. I’m Alex, the arts and community reporter for Currents.

I’m back with your third edition of Currents’ events-focused newsletter! This week we have even more events to share with you.

In this week’s newsletter:

• An Improv comedy breakout show at Bar 379 this Sunday
• Triple-threat performers to showcase their talents with a musical cabaret
• Five rock bands will fight for glory at Erben’s battle of the bands
• The Peterborough Field Naturalists and B!KE invite cyclists to experience nature by bike

Let’s get started!

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There’s a new improv comedy duo in town

There’s a new improv comedy duo in town and they will perform their first show, Rico and Rostrup, at Bar 379 this Sunday night.

Experienced comedians Mark Rostrup and Marc Rico Ludwig met just last year during an improv event at The Theatre on King, and discovered that they had many things in common other than their names.

“It helped that we’re both named Mark,” said Ludwig. “But ultimately we discovered that we both have years of experience performing.” 

While Ludwig has acted in screen, stage, and audio productions across Canada, his counterpart, Rostrup, has performed at the Montreal Improv Festival, Big City Improv in Toronto, the Vancouver Improv Festival, and more.

After talking for some time, they realized they could fill a gap in the local comedy scene in Peterborough.

“We really want to just put ourselves out there and say, hey there’s more comedy in this town than what you see. Let’s get more comedy out there,” Rostrup said. “And we aren’t the only ones, we’re just the beginning. There is an outstanding amount of interest and improvisers and other people here who want to pursue comedy as well.”

The Rico and Rostrup show on July 21 will feature comedy inspired and informed by audience members. “When we’re on stage, it could go anywhere, and that’s kind of the fun of it,” said Ludwig. “The audience is getting a show that will never be repeated again, and they’re also on the journey of figuring it out with us.”

“The feeling we want people to get when we perform is like you’re in a room of friends and a couple of your friends just start going off and riffing,” said Rostrup. “They’re a little unhinged, and you’re just sitting back and watching. That’s the vibe we’re aiming for.”

Rico and Rostrup’s first performance is almost sold out, but tickets are still available for $15 online or $20 at the door of Bar 379. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. on July 21, and for those who can’t make it out this time they will follow it up with another night of improv on August 18.

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Young performers to strut their stuff at musical theatre talent showcase

Twenty aspiring triple-threat performers attended a two-week intensive training program by the Theatre Arts Training Academy (TATA) this month. Now, they are set to show the community what they have learned with a fully staged cabaret show on July 20.

Broadway and Beyond will highlight the artists’ skills with a set of costumed and live band-accompanied Broadway and pop song performances, according to TATA artistic director Shannon McCracken.

TATA’s first ever summer intensive program brought together acting, vocal, and dance professionals to share their expertise with students aged twelve to 35 at the Peterborough Theatre Guild.

“All of the artists auditioned back in the spring, with a promise from us to deliver professional training. We don’t really have anything else like that in the area,” said program coordinator Kim Curry.

She explained that participants worked with McCracken, who is a working artist, singer, and actress. “They also spent time with improv artists, and a dance instructor who’s living and dancing in New York City, and they’re doing audition prep workshops as well,” Curry added.

“I’ve been out of practice doing anything music theatre related for the last four years, because of the pandemic, so I saw this as an opportunity to get back on the horse,” said performer Joseph Roper. “It’s been a great experience to regain some confidence working alongside other people again. It’s been just magical.”

Broadway and Beyond will have two shows on July 20, one at 2 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. Buy tickets here.

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Local rock bands to battle it out

In the spirit of high school rock battles of the 90s, Erben has teamed up with music industry professionals to host a Battle of the Bands in Peterborough.

Five emerging rock bands will compete for a chance to perform at the 2024 Gussapalooza Music Festival in Cookstown, Ont., later this summer. The winner will also receive an opportunity to create a professionally produced single with Treblecock Studio.

The band war takes place tonight (July 19) at Erben on George Street. Five finalists have been chosen for the event: Burning Bridges, Meez, Nitetime Drive, No Small Affair, and Lock 21. Guest judges include Three Days Grace lead singer Matt Walst, David Bowie tribute artist Michael Bell, and Juno award-winning music producer Everett Ravestein.

“This is going to be a night of great music showcasing the local talent that we have,” said Erben co-owner Belinda Scollick. “The bands are hyping each other up, they’re hyping themselves up, their local fan base are hyping each other up, so it’s been a real community. Even though they’re competing against each other, they are still very supportive and the camaraderie between the bands is great.”

The Battle of the Bands is free to attend. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the music will continue late into the night.

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Experience Nature by Bike with the Peterborough Field Naturalists

Starting at 10 a.m. on July 20, cyclists can ride along with B!KE and the Peterborough Field Naturalists (PFN) for a free lesson about the area’s natural landscape.

The group will depart from Auburn Street at Parkhill Road, and ride north along the Rotary Greenway Trail up to Trent University. Members of PFN will guide riders to notice various flora and fauna along the way and identify the species they come across.

“On Saturday, we’ll be visiting a couple of lovely nature spots along Rotary Trail, learning about many of the species that call Peterborough home, including some of my favourite birds, plants, and (if we’re lucky) turtles,” said PFN board member Tamara Brown. 

“The ride is really about appreciating and getting to know our local green spaces,” they added. “I hope riders leave being able to recognize a few new bird calls and plants in their neighbourhood.” 

B!KE’s Ness Pringle said that the planning committee designs their routes to be as safe and accessible as possible, utilizing bike lanes, trails, and quiet streets. The group is able to take up entire lanes of the street when necessary, such as when making left-hand turns. If anyone is unable to make it to the official meet-up spot, they are also welcome to join the group part-way along the ride.

“We love riding in large groups because it offers both social benefits and a feeling of safety to those who may not usually feel safe riding on the streets of Peterborough,” said Pringle. “When riding in a large group with support like this, many people say they had no worries or fear about their safety like they would as individual cyclists. They can focus on enjoying themselves instead.”

B!KE and the Peterborough Field Naturalists are both hosting several events this summer:

Cyclists can enjoy a picnic at Nicholl’s Oval with live music, and cool off at the splash pad before beginning an evening ride with B!KE on August 9. Meanwhile, PFN’s next offering is an after-dark exploration of Jackson Park on August 10, during which participants can use ultra-sonic detectors to find and listen to bats.

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Photo of the Week: Indigenous drumming circle downtown

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