7 HABITS

Aurora Browne

Aurora Browne is proud to be one of the co-creators, writers, executive producers and stars of CBC’s award-winning Baroness Von Sketch Show. Aurora has been honing her sketch chops since 2000 when she was hired by Toronto’s Second City Troupe. Since then she has appeared on The Writer’s Block, Man Seeking Woman, Orphan Black, The Gavin Crawford Show, InSecurity, and Corner Gas among others. She was also a co-creator, co-writer, executive producer and co-star of the hit web series Newborn Moms, which appeared both on CBC’s and ABC’s digital channels. Aurora has been nominated for many Canadian Comedy Awards for her work in Toronto’s red hot live sketch and improv scene, and in 2008 won the CCA for Best Female Improviser. She was a nominee for the 2000 Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award. Her son thinks she is hilarious.

Carly Heffernan

Carly Heffernan is an award winning director, writer, actor, showrunner and Capricorn. She is currently the Artistic & Executive Director of CB Pro Comedy School and Comedy Bar Danforth Productions. Prior to joining the amazing team at Comedy Bar she was the Head of Creative for The Second City and Artistic Director for The Second City Toronto. Carly recently directed Season 3 of the sketch comedy TV series, ABROAD (OMNI) and was Showrunner and Director for the third season of the CSA nominated comedy series, Second Jen (OMNI). She also directed the smash-hit, all-female sketch revue, SHE THE PEOPLE which played for three years in Chicago’s UP Theatre as well as extended runs in Boston, Montreal, Washington D.C. and Toronto.

Chris Gibbs

British-born comedian Chris Gibbs has toured extensively as a stand-up comedian and improviser. He’s written and performed five (5) hit award-winning one-man shows, played at Just For Laughs in Montreal, appeared in two (2) CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival Galas, starred in the indie Canadian feature film, ‘Run Robot Run’ and is even a published author. In 2015 he played “Gizzardgulper”, one of the evil giants in the Disney feature The BFG, directed by Steven Spielberg.

Kate Ashby

Kate Ashby has taught in many academic, corporate, creative and therapeutic environments across Canada, the U.S and Europe. During her 15-year tenure at Second City, Kate developed one of the Training Centre’s most successful programs; it still runs today. Kate has taught at the Shaw Festival, Soul Pepper and the Blyth Festival. For over 15 years she taught at Ryerson University and is a Guest Director at the Theatre School. Kate currently teaches improv to students at Ivey, Humber College, Havergal, and the Canadian Film Center founded by Norman Jewison. For over 22 years at Workman Arts (CAMH), her program has been transformational for individuals suffering from mental illness. Kate is a double Gemini nominated actor. However, her passion has been teaching Improv to diverse groups of students of all ages and occupations. The Kate Ashby Academy, successfully launched in 2010 in Toronto, and has full enrollment with five unique classes where all are welcome.

Darryl Hinds

Darryl Hinds is an alum of the Second City where as a Toronto Main Stage cast member he wrote and performed five revues for the theatre. Since his days at the Second City, Darryl has worked in TV as a series regular on shows like CBC's Little Mosque on the Prairie and The Ninth (CBC Gem). He was a cast member of the legendary TV sketch troupe The Royal Canadian Air Farce (CBC) and was one of the stars of CBC Gem and Hulu's original series Overlord and the Underwoods for which he received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for "Best Lead Actor, Comedy". Darryl's also had brief writing stints for CBC's This Hour Has 22 Minutes and CityTV's Sunnyside. He continues work as an actor and writer throughout the industry.

Hannah Spear

Hannah Spear is a Dora and Canadian Comedy Award nominated actor and comedian. She recently wrapped a two year run with The Second City Mainstage, with whom Hannah co-created several revues. Select television credits include Tallboys, Star Trek Discovery, Strange New Worlds, Law & Order: Toronto, and Murdoch Mysteries.

Ron Pederson

Ron Pederson is an actor, improviser, director, and writer who has worked across Canada with many theatres, including; The Stratford Festival, Soulpepper Theatre, The Tarragon Theatre, CanStage, Coal Mine Theatre, RMTC, Alberta Theatre Projects, Arts Club Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse, Theatre Passè Murielle, The Belfry, and The Citadel Theatre.

As an improviser, Ron has collaborated with companies in Berlin, Oslo, Vienna, Amsterdam, Chicago and NYC and he is an alumni of The Second City MainStage.

Ron’s television credits include 3 seasons on MADtv (Fox) The Late Late Show (CBS) Murdoch Mysteries,(CBC), Degrassi (CTV), SideKick (YTV), New Eden (Crave), Private Eyes (Global), When Hope Calls (Hallmark), The Next Step (NBC Kids).

Ron is the recipient of multiple Canadian Comedy Awards, the Dora Mavor Moore Award, The SummerWorks Performance Award and The RBC Arts Professional Award. He is a proud citizen of The Métis Nation of Alberta. Instagram: @ron_pederson