Main fundraiser photo

Celebrating the Life of Keith Johnstone

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Keith on "What makes a good improviser."


“Maybe when I’m ninety I’ll be invigorated - emerging fully formed from the head of Zeus, leaping from boulder to boulder, plunging into the foam, paddling to shore with a large fish in my teeth and one in each hand!” - Keith Johnstone 1933-2023

On Saturday, March 11th, we said goodbye to our beloved friend, mentor, father, and grandfather Keith Johnstone. On June 25th, 2023, we would like to gather together to celebrate his life and legacy in a festive wake,* following his wishes. The Pumphouse Theatre in Calgary - the original home of the Loose Moose Theatre Keith co-founded in 1977, has generously offered us their space for the occasion. From our Pumphouse base, we will Livestream the event around the world. So, if you cannot attend in person, you can still celebrate with your community of Johnstonians.

If Keith’s life were an improvised scene, the ending would be a large gathering of family and friends from around the world whose lives are all the better thanks to saying ‘yes’ to Keith and his ideas. We need to work together to create this ending.

We’ve seen it in his books, on placards in the lobbies of theatres, and even tattooed on the arms of sought-after comedians.


Don’t be prepared.


Well, as it turns out, when it came to the wake, Keith wasn’t prepared.

This was an oversight our bumbling genius likely never intended. He probably wouldn’t want anyone to spend too much money on him. However, we feel he deserves to be celebrated far and wide.


We have set up this fundraiser to help cover the costs of the festive wake and other additional costs that come with such a party.

An outdoor tent rental in case of rain, video tributes, equipment rental for the live stream in conjunction with parallel wakes in Brazil and the UK, staff services, live music and some ‘not too light’ entertainment.


Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference in helping his festive wake become a reality, hopefully with as many of his friends, loved ones and disciples in attendance either in person or via Livestream around the world.


Please consider sharing this fundraiser with your impro friends and family.


We thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity. We hope to see you at the wake!

For ongoing updates about the wake and event registration link, please visit https://www.keithjohnstone.com/remembering-keith

*We are using wake in the British sense of “an annual English parish festival formerly held in commemoration of the church's patron saint.” In this case, Keith is our patron saint of impro.


Keith Johnstone Workshops, Loose Moose and the wake planning committee.

Fundraising team (6)

Immanuela Lawrence
Organizer
Raised $770 from 10 donations
Calgary, AB
Douglas Wong
Beneficiary
Frank Totino
Team member
Raised $1,271 from 12 donations
International Theatresports Institute
Team member
Raised $1,000 from 1 donation
Theresa Robbins Dudeck
Team member
Raised $235 from 6 donations
Douglas Wong
Team member

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