Kirsten Van Ritzen

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Welcome!

Welcome to the Official website for Kirsten Van Ritzen, a professional actor and comedienne. Kirsten has performed across Canada and the US. She is also a writer, director, teacher and producer.  

These pages list a whole lot of stuff about her career, mostly written in the third person - updated monthly.   

RECENT NEWS

SIN CITY:CARNIES was held over by popular demand!  Weekly shows continue through May, with the season finale on May 29.   The troupe was honoured with a 2011 M Award Nomination for Favourite New Production.  CBC Radio interview, Times Colonist photo spread and much more are at www.sincityimprov.com. 

BROAD COMEDY has been green lit by APTN-TV in association with Drama Camp Productions. Kirsten is exec producer on this series which will spotlight funny female performers, to be broadcast in 2013/2014. Casting is underway. www.broadtheatrics.com

Other April events: Kirsten performed in four hilarious episodes of Sin City: Carnies; attended the M Awards,  was interviewed by Gordie Tupper for CHEK-TV (the video is on the Workshops page), and was a costume designer for Intrepid Theatre's fundraising Event 4 Play.  

 

Kirsten Van Ritzen as "Ava the Snake Lady"

SIN CITY: CARNIES

MAY PERFORMANCES

8pm Tuesdays May 1, 8,15, 22, 29: SIN CITY:CARNIES - the final five performances of this hilarious M-Award nominated show! Improvised theatre with a continuing narrative, Sin City:Carnies follows the loves, lives and foibles of a troupe of travelling side show performers in the Dust Bowl of 1931. Kirsten produces and stars alongside Victoria's funniest improvisors Victoria Event Centre  1415 Broad St. $15/12. http://www.sincityimprov.com/

8pm Sunday, May 6  "High Calorie Comedy" Kirsten hosts this standup showcase featuring her level 2 comics. Moka House Hillside 1633 Hillside $5 

8pm Sunday, May 13 PHILLIPS COMEDY NIGHT - Kirsten is a regular performer at this very popular comedy variety show hosted by Wes Borg. Victoria Event Centre $10 

8pm Monday, May 21 Gotta Getta Gimmick: the music of Jules Styne - Kirsten sings the role of Ella in Bells are Ringing and several chorus numbers in this tuneful cabaret series. Belfry Theatre $15  www.gggarts.org

 

Praise

 "Van Ritzen conjures up comparisons to such female comic icons as Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett... with a dash of Gilda Radner tossed in."

"totally hilarious!”

"think Carol Burnett with sex appeal.”

“an outstanding performance”

“dances and sings up a storm”

“a voice that would have sent Ethel Merman considering a career change”

“vamps with the best of them”

“as though Marlene Dietrich had come back to life”

“Van Ritzen can improvise a compelling scene with nothing but a broomstick”

“an effervescent performance”

“extraordinary comic repartee”

"impeccable timing"

"wealth of talent"

"dazzling to watch"

“Kirsten Van Ritzen is superb”

 

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