Improv Experience

CURRENT

BROWNIES DON’T LIE with Minneapolis improviser Jill Bernard, PERFORMER, INSTRUCTOR
2008 – present

HAM KITTY, all-female comedy quintet, PERFORMER
The Pitch Best Improv Troupe 2017 and 2019.
Underground Throwdown Champions, Nov. 2015 – Jun. 2016, Mar. 2017 – Oct. 2018.
2015 – present

TWEETY TODD, musical improv at The Bird Comedy Theater, PERFORMER,
2023 – present

EXPLOSIVE GROUP CHAT, COACH, PERFORMER
2024 – present

IMPROV SPRINGBOARD, PERFORMER, DIRECTOR, INSTRUCTOR
2023 – present

PAST

TANTRUM/SPITE, PERFORMER
2007 –present, kind of? (We still perform every summer for Gilda’s Club and an occasional fundraiser.)

EXIT I-6, Liberty High School improv troupe, COACH
2000 – 2016

THE BOARD, PERFORMER
Underground Throwdown Champions, Jun. – Sep. 2019 
2019

OPERATION: SHOW!/SERIOUSLY PLAYFUL, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COACH
2014 – 2019

Grabbed the reins when the original president had to step away.

• Led revision of bylaws, including BOD role clarification and terms.
• Developed programming, training materials, and curriculum.
• Created and managed website and Instagram account

DOWN IN FRONT, COACH, PERFORMER
2013 – 2018

COMEDYCITY: PERFORMER, INSTRUCTOR
1999 – 2016 (involvement level varied)

KC IMPROV FESTIVAL, PRODUCER, MARKETING DIRECTOR, PROJECT MANAGER, PERFORMER, EMCEE
2008-2011

FUNNY OUTFIT: PERFORMER
1998 – 2000

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION | US IMPROV FESTIVAL, FOUNDER, PRODUCER, PERFORMER
1994 – 2000

Founded the first annual, independent improv festival in the US.

LIGHTEN UP IMPROV CO. PLAYHOUSE: OWNER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
1992 – 1998
Co-owned and managed independent improv troupe and dedicated theater.

• Responsible for marketing initiatives, including public relations, community and media outreach, event planning, promotions, email campaigns, group and corporate sales, and online content.
• Managed and directed staffing and casting for weekly performances.
• Designed corporate team-building workshops and developed customized entertainment experiences.
• Created curriculum for improv workshops and a high school improv program.

COMEDYSPORTZ, PERFORMER, PR DIRECTOR
1990 – 1991

FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES

Twin Cities Improv Festival (Minneapolis) with Brownies Don’t Lie

Flyover Festival (St. Louis) with Ham Kitty

Compass Improv Festival (St. Louis) with Ham Kitty (2x)

KC Improv Festival with Spite, Tantrum, Down In Front, Ham Kitty, Exit 1-6

Chicago Improv Festival with Spite (2x), Awkward

Impfest (Bonner Springs, KS) with Brownies Don’t Lie, Spite, Awkward

Out of Bounds Comedy Festival (Austin) with The Trip Fives

US Improv Festival with Funny Outfit (3x)

Big Stinkin’ International Improv Festival (Austin) with Lighten Up

Spontaneous Combustion (Kansas City) with Lighten Up (4x), KC Theatresports (2x)

Improv training

INSTRUCTORS

Del Close (festival workshops, private coaching)

Mick Napier (Annoyance Intensive, Second City Corporate, festival workshops)

Susan Messing (Annoyance Intensive, festival workshops)

Mark Sutton (private coaching, corporate training, Annoyance Intensive, festival workshops)

David Razowsky (Artistic New Directions Improv Retreat, Improv Intensive, private coaching, festival workshops)

Michael Gellman (Second City boot camp, Artistic New Directions Improv Retreat)

Jill Bernard (festival workshops, private coaching, Improv Retreat)

Rob Reese (private coaching, festival performance, festival workshops)

Dan Izzo (week-long intensive, private coaching, festival workshops)

Shaun Landry (festival workshops)

Joe Bill (Annoyance Intensive, festival workshops)

Craig Cackowski (Second City TourCo workshop, festival workshops)

Rebecca Sohn (Annoyance Intensive, festival performance)

Andel Sudik (Improv Retreat, festival workshops)

Nnamdi Ngwe (private coaching, Improv Retreat)

Craig Uhlir (private coaching, Improv Retreat)

Nathan Jensen (Improv Retreat)

Tara DeFrancisco (Improv Retreat)

Jamie Campbell (private coaching)

INTENSIVE WORKSHOPS

Second City Improv & Sketch Bootcamp

Annoyance Theater Weekend Intensive

Dan Izzo/Improv Inferno intensive and private coaching in Kansas City

David Razowsky Improv Intensive in Kansas City

Artistic New Directions Improv Retreat

The Improv Retreat (annual event)