Jeffery Straker live on CBC.ca
April 27, 2010
RAMP collaborator (and subject) Jeffery Straker is not only the featured artist on CBC.ca today but you can hear one of his amazing concerts live on CBC Radio 2 today. Get the full details on Jeff’s site or check out some of his previous work at the CBC on-demand.
Of course RAMP die-hards will remember Jeff from his role as “Evan” in Dead End Days (in fact, proto-evan “Man #1″ was one of the first four actors Rocket Ace EVER worked with) - but his music has also graced tonnes of RAMP productions (and in exchange RAMP produced and directed his music videos for “Walk Away” and “I Quit”). So check out Jeff’s music (or even better go see if he’s playing near you, as his live shows are amazing)! Congrats Jeff!
Oh What a Lovely War
March 17, 2010
Remember when we told you that RAMP screenwriter (and world-class Playwright) Jason Patrick Rothery was selected to be part of ’s “Soulpepper Academy” residency? And then we accidentally posted about it when we shouldn’t have, and then spent two weeks trying to get the post out of Google’s cache? Good times.
The point is you can go see Jason’s brilliance as part of the 2010 Soulpepper staging of “Oh What a Lovely War” playing through April 10!
We got to see the show last night, and it’s completely excellent - so all of you who missed out on the Academy’s amazing performances in last winters Canwest Cabaret Festival - don’t miss this one!
Happy Holidays from RAMP!
December 6, 2009
It’s going to be pretty quiet this holidays around the RocketAce.ca homestead so we just wanted to take a quick moment to you - our faithful fans (and haters) for making 2009 such a great year for all of us. Hopefully we can continue to bring you some smiles (or fodder to hater on) in the new decade!
Anyone who (like us) does a little charitable giving come the end of the year could do a lot worse than to check out one of our favourite local charities: Operation Sock Monkey. Lindsey and the OSM crew run a tight, tight, ship and even a little holiday cheer goes a long way there to making a lot of kids lives better.
A safe, happy, holidays to you and yours!
Come join RAMP at the World Championship of RPS November 10!
November 1, 2009
RAMP fans in Toronto, come on out and join us for the 2010 Rock Paper Scissors World Championships. We’re long time friends of the folks at the World Rock Paper Scissors Society and the “Dance of Hands” is one of our favourite nights of the year. (And if you doubt our sincerity go pick up a copy of Rock, Paper, Scissors: A Geek Tragedy
“>Rock, Paper, Scissors: A Geek Tragedy the amazing documentary on the WRPS by Calgary filmmaker Mike McKeown - it’s not only a great doc, but features some of your favourite RAMP-ers (presuming Brad is one of your favorite RAMP-ers). Find us at the floor and challenge us to a match, we’ll have some bonus “street bucks” to wager, as well as Rocket Ace swag for anyone who asks - we guarantee it will be a one of a kind evening you’ll be telling others about for years to come!
Canadian Comedy Awards 2009 - THREE Nominations!
July 17, 2009
Canadian Comedy Award (may not be exactly as pictured)
[EDIT - We've updated our FAQ on Voting - Click here for more info!]
We were pretty thrilled last year to receive a record two nominations for funniest web video in the 2008 Canadian Comedy Awards - so we’re blown away to have recieved three nominations (for The Violator, Mushmouth, and Basement Accident) in 2009! As far as we know that’s a record for any Canadian Comedy Award category which we’ll be extremely shameless in awkwardly bringing up in uncomfortable social situations!
Of course this an honour that wouldn’t have been possible without our long-standing collaborative work with The Imponderables - whose “unique” brand of “genius” makes the whole thing possible.
…
I don’t think I was supposed to type the air-quotes.
Seriously, the Imponderables were nominated (for about the tenth year in a row) for funniest sketch group as well… and given the year they’ve had - they would sure be my favourites to pick up another block of lucite for their shelves.
The CCA’s always have a very special place in our heart - not only as they have long recognized some of Canada’s legendary comic talent (Cathy Jones, Rick Mercer, Rick Farrell, Mary Walsh, Mike Myers, Colin Mochrie, Eugine Levy, Seth Rogen - to name-drop but a few) but they are one of the few creative arts awards that recognize the work being done in short-form video on the web.
Even better the “Web Video” field is one of only three awards which include public voting (Pretty Funny Web Video, Pretty Funny Radio Clip, and Canadian Comedy Person of the Year). So if you want to help us out you can head over to the Canadian Comedy Awards Voting Website and Register for a free account to vote!.
[Edit - Yes, as with last year, feel free to link to our nomination badges from your own sites or blogs if you wish, I've included sample code below]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Also there’s been some question if we have a preference which RAMP show people vote for. So as to not split our vote, we’re encouraging fans of RAMP to vote for “The Violator” this year. While we love all three of our nominees equally - how can you not want to see the improbable run of this plucky underdog continue?
Jason Patrick Rothery selected for 2009 SoulPepper Academy!
January 13, 2009
Rocket Ace is extremely excited to congratulate RAMP co-founder, head of development, and our resident screenwriter Jason Rothery on his selection to the 2009 Soulpepper Academy!
An initiative of Toronto’s Soulpepper Theatre, the Academy is a unique full-time two-year residency comprised of ten multi-disciplinary theatre artists from across the country with the goal to create “the next generation of cultural leaders” through a mix of full-time skills development, involvement with Soulpepper productions, collaborative new-works creation, and youth and community artistic outreach initiatives.
While we selfishly hate to share Jason with anyone, I suppose we couldn’t have hoped to keep his brilliance hidden forever, so we’re extremely happy to have him join us in Toronto and can’t wait to see what amazing creations the Soulpepper Academy brings to the city in the coming months!
(Aw man, I set this to publish on January <em>2008</em>… so much for making ‘09 the <em>year of less typos</em>!)
Brand New Sketch at the Rivoli on Tuesday!
January 11, 2009
What better way to get the new year off to a proper start than joining us for the first Imponderables & Acquaintances of the year at the Rivoli in Toronto - 334 Queen Street West, Toronto - starting at 9pm on Tuesday January 13th!
Trevor Boris, mainstay of “Video on Trial“, midnight lothario of The Couchathon 2008, and that sexy fellow over to the left there will be hosting with all his considerable comedic skill.
Along with the titular Imponderables (getting all ready for The Chicago Sketchfest) the show will also feature a little number called “Deadpan Powerpoint Presents: The Keys to Invincibility in Verbal Argumentation” … details of which I have none - but, frankly, it sounds freaking awesome.
Oh, and there’s a world-premiere of a brand-new RocketAce / Imponderables video. The first of 2009.
If that’s your thing.
As always at live shows, if you see any of the usual suspects - come say hello and get some free buttons and stickers and stuff!
The Violator Goes to London!
January 8, 2009
Much like reigning beauty-pageant champions have duties and requirements throughout the year, so is it for those whose head hangs heavy with the duties of the Fez D’Or. Except instead of “duties and requirements” we mean “The Violator” is being played in London, England on January 10th. Part of a forward-thinking collaboration between Daryl’s Hard Liquor and Porn Film Festival and the London Short Film Festival, we’re not sure if the Roxy Bar and Screen can handle that much sexy-awesomeness - but you can find out this Saturday night at 8pm. Daryl’s got all the information on location and tickets, and “tube stops” and whatnot. Check it out if you’re in the area. The HLAP shows are a legendary good time, and (if we may toot our own horn) “Violator” looks great on the big-screen.
Not enough wanton hyperbole?
Normally to ship a film to England one has to fill out a lengthy declaration that one’s film “contains no pornography, treasonous content, nor advocates harm against the persons of the royal family”*… but since Daryl is hand-delivering all the films we had to promise no such thing!**
* We may have embellished the terms of the declaration, but only slightly.
**Those looking for actual pornography or treasonous, royal-harming, doctrine may be signifcantly disappointed.
It’s the most wonderful Tuesday of the year…
December 2, 2008
Man, is it already time for the last Imponderables and Acquaintances of the year, already?
Well the boys will do it up in style no doubt, celebrating the end of an era by resurrecting one of only two U.S. Presidents to ever be impeached to rock the MC duties… or a completely different Andrew Johnson which would be cool too… whatever.
Most importantly that top-secret brand new video that we debuted at The Toronto Sketchfest will probably show up for those of you who couldn’t get into the ridiculously sold-out Sketchfest show (which, according to reports, was most of you).
But hey even if you don’t want to see new RAMP and Imponderables hilarity (a little birdie told me the boys are going to test a whole bucket of brand-new material this month) there’s lots of reasons to come out to the Rivoli tonight: The Riv’s tasty food selection! The Chapuda Brothers! The kick-ass new Tea bar that opened next door! Ron Sparks and his Amazing Desk of News! Pay What You Can!
Kick your holiday season off on the right foot - The Last “Imps & Acks” of the year starts at 9pm at the Rivoli - 334 Queen Street West, Toronto.
Usual RAMP live show goodies are in effect - find anyone from RAMP at the show and demand holiday goodies - we’ll be loaded down Santa-style with stickers and buttons and junk like that. You won’t even have to sit on our lap!
(Kind of) new RAMP video at Toronto SketchFest
November 21, 2008
Our old buddies/chums/couchathon lab-rats - The Imponderables are performing as part of the Toronto Sketch Fest, on Saturday November 22nd.
According to the event calendar they’re performing at the brand-spanking-new Comedy Bar at 9pm along with Bull Hooey and… waitaminute, Picnicface!? Are those guys stalking us or something? First the Canadian Comedy Awards, now this? Look they’re hilarious and everything, but this is seriously getting creepy.
Provided this isn’t all a clever ruse by Picnicface to shank us and steal our precious kidneys , we’ll also be publicly performing a brand new RAMP/Imp’s video that was only seen (in a different edit) during a “super secret” part of the Couchathon… soo…. brand new! Essentially brand new! Mostly brand new! “Gently used” brand new!
Yeah… it’ll be on the web soon enough… but you could see it FIRST, HUGE, and… FUNNIER… (plus some top-top-top shelf live comedy) all for a measly $12 (or $36 for a four-show pass).
More ticket info here or reserve your tickets by calling the Comedy Bar directly at 647-898-532.
Usual RAMP swag rules in effect - find anyone from RAMP at the show and demand free shit and we’ll give you stickers and buttons and other cool crap. Or we’ll tell you the secret of Matt’s *first* fiancé. The one we claim never exists when grilled by the press. Your call.
Heads Up - The Comedy Bar is so brand new that their box office is Cash Only! Don’t be “that guy” who expects his plastic to bail him out at the last minute, capice?
