bridgeimprovtheater

Zach joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to talk about his long journey through improv, his ideal performance style, and how he's creating a streaming platform for improvised specials!

Zach Atherton is a 20-year improv comedy veteran who started his performing career with the ComedySportz High School League in Los Angeles. His professional improv comedy journey began with ComedySportz Utah which led to him to create the world’s first musical improv theater in 2014 called ImprovBroadway. 

drybarunscripted.com

tiktok.com/@theimprovguy

Jeffrey joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to talk about his journey, hecklers and video games in relation to improv.

Jeffrey Thompson, MA, MBA, EA, is a writer, actor, magician, psychology professor, and tax professional from Los Angeles and currently serves as one of the four artistic directors of Impro Theatre.  He has a roster of over 300 tax and accounting clients in the entertainment industry including actors, dancers, writers, and cinematographers. Jeffrey also teaches improv at the Westside Comedy Theater, teaches psychology at Citrus College, and has given tax talks for CalArts and the California Lawyers for the Arts.  He also acts as a board member for The Ruby LA (a non-profit theatre in LA) and The Improv Network (an international non-profit organization), and produces short films with his production company, Great Hair Productions.

Stacey joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to talk about her first improv experience in NYC, the source of her creativity, and how improv has greatly affected her life.

She has performed in improv festivals in New York, Austin, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Albuquerque & Phoenix.  Stacey can currently be seen performing with improv troupes Light Rail Pirates and JaxN Reed.

Her local theatre credits include Jenna in Tangelico, ensemble performance in the world premiere of Greg Kotis’ The Unhappiness Plays and Mabel in A Bloody Mary Christmas, a role that she created through improvisation along with co-creators Jacqueline Arend, Shawna Franks and Denny Guge.

Stacey is a founding member of The Torch Theatre and the co-founder of Conducted Stories Improv, a Phoenix-based organization that uses improvisational theatre to foster communication and social skills with neurodivergent populations, including youth on the Autism spectrum and people with Dementia and their caregivers.  

Stacey is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and studied abroad with the Institute for American Universities in Avignon, France.

https://secondbeatimprov.com/

https://www.bridgeimprovtheater.com/

Ally joins Jen and David on a bridge to discuss their improv journey, improv in Tucson, and who exactly Uncle Roger is.

Ally Tanzillo ( She/They) is the Creative Director of Etcetera, the Late Night Series of Live Theatre Workshop in Tucson. She is an actor, director, and improvisor, formerly of the improv duo Ex-Boyfriend, who performed in festivals across the country.

instagram.com/armazillo

Shaun joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to talk about her journey through improv, performing with her husband, and what starting a new theatre was like.

Shaun Landry is the Founder of Los Angeles’ new theatre The Ledge Theatre.  She also co-created the first African American Improv Ensemble in the country OBN, and co-created The San Francisco Improv Festival.  She performs with her husband Hans Summers as Landry & Summers since 1986, teaches at The Pack Theatre and has done a large amount of acting and improv things.

Lavender joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss her mom tricking her into an improv audition, what she likes about long form improv, and the rich history of the Flaming Hot Cheetos brand.

Lavender has been doing improv for about 7 years. She started when she was 13 in middle school. Since then she has done many shows, featuring various different styles of improv. She currently does improv at Improvmania and occasionally teaches kids and teens.

improvmania.net

bridgeimprovtheater.com

Carla joins Jen and David on a bridge to discuss how she got started doing improv, her duo with her husband Craig, and how much the pandemic has affected improv in general.

www.instagram.com/carlacackowski/

twitter.com/carlacackowski

Dave joins David and Jennifer on a Bridge to discuss ImprovMANIA's new location, wrestling, and what he loves teaching about improv.

Gabe and Ryder join Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss the move from Denver to LA, what's important for their duo, and how insanely strong Gabe is.

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Charlie joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss improv during the pandemic, where they got their start, and why large improv teams are not their favorite.

Charlie James is a comedian from Los Angeles. They're known for their TikTok sketches (@nonbinarycowboy) and comedy tweets for Chicago's Field Museum. charliejamescomedy.com

David joins Jen on a bridge to discuss his start in improv, doing improv at an art show, and now what it means to own and operate a theater.

David found his love for improv, like many, in high school.  Pursuing it after graduating he ran a few troupes, most notably Names From a Hat in Tempe. He grew and learned performing at Torch Theatre, JesterZ, Mesa Arts Center, just a to name a few.  After years of dreaming of having his own theater to run, it came true, albeit during the pandemic.  The Bridge Improv Theater has now been running for the majority of 2021, and truly has been everything and more for David.  His dream of building a strong and welcoming community for all, is just getting started.

www.bridgeimprovtheater.com/

Brandi joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss their first ever experience doing improv, their new adventure in stand up comedy, and what doing better comedy means to them.

Brandi (they/them/she/her) started doing musicals when they were 14 and became addicted to theatre. Improv has helped them become a kinder and more well rounded performer. They've always wanted to do stand up and now they’re doing that too. They recently co-founded Do Better Comedy to produce anti-racist, anti-misogynist, LGBTQIA+ friendly, respectful comedy with a vision to create safe spaces for all genders to try stand-up. Follow them on social media!

Anthony joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss the sounds of animals dying, his improv start, and his beautiful singing voice.

Justin joins David and Jennifer on a Bridge to discuss The Tucson Improv Movement, his improv journey, and what is important to him on stage.

Justin has loved comedy since seeing Ghostbusters for the first time in the late 80s. In college Justin produced Misericordia University’s first live comedy show CougarLive. After moving to North Carolina he began an in-depth study of improv comedy. While there, Justin became an instructor, performed on several house teams, and coached the high school team. After moving to Tucson in 2012 he founded the Tucson Improv Movement, which has grown to 60+ performing company members and 500+ comedy school graduates.

Zahra joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss the state of comedy, her improv background, and how we can work towards a better overall comedy community.

Zahra Noorbakhsh is a writer, director, and comedian. Her podcast #GoodMuslimBadMuslim was deemed a “must listen” by O, The Oprah Magazine and was invited to the Obama Whitehouse to record an episode. Her solo show, “All Atheists Are Muslim” was directed by W. Kamau Bell and dubbed a highlight of the International New York City Fringe Theater Festival by the New Yorker Magazine. She’s writes for the NY Times and NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross and is a contributor to the groundbreaking anthology, Love Inshallah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women. Her viral essay, “Coming Out as Bisexual When You’re Muslim and Married,” reached 80-million people worldwide. Find out more at ZahraComedy.com.

Jason joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss storytelling in improv, the parallels between acting and improv, and how they got started in the world of improv.

Dr. Jason Davids Scott (they/them) is an associate professor and currently associate director at the Sidney Poitier New American Film School at Arizona State University, Dr. Scott earned an MA and PhD from UCSB, focusing on the relationship between performance, improvisation, and media.  A one-time stage manager and producer for veterans of the troupe ED, Dr. Scott learned longform technique from director Jim Dennen, and later studied at workshops with Paul Sills, Sparky Johnson, Max Schaefer, Gary Schwartz, and the late Richard Schaal, specializing in the games and play technique of Viola Spolin.  UCSB saw the birth of Dr. Scott's first troupe, Whole Cloth, later known in San Francisco as Revolving Madness.  Dr. Scott has started and advised student improvisation clubs at Arizona State University and Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, and also created marketing materials for the Fort Worth-based company Four Day Weekend.

bridgeimprovtheater.com

Jose joins Jennifer on a bridge to discuss his early improv career at ASU, his involvement with the Torch Theatre, and what his future holds.

Jose Gonzalez [he/him] is a Phoenix native who teaches and performs improv comedy at The Torch Theatre, a nonprofit theatre that he helped co-found in 2007. For nearly two decades, Jose has taught all across North America and parts of Europe. He’s performed in numerous festivals and events around the world with various groups and ensembles (Galapagos, VerizonQwest, Mariachi Kittens, Umlautilde, and more). A long-time producer of the Phoenix Improv Festival since its inception, Jose is also the founder and executive producer of Ghostfest, an annual improv marathon. Jose think his mom and her sisters are very funny and he performs monthly as a cast member of the Victrola improvised sketch podcast. [Ghostfest 2021 submissions are open through Wednesday, September 29th at ghostfest.net]

Brian joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss the art of improv, Pack Theater in L.A., and what BOC has been up to during the pandemic.

Brian James O’Connell is a working actor, writer, director, filmmaker and teacher in Los Angeles. After selling his feature film debut as a writer/director, KILLER VIEW (the only film shot on disposable video), he followed it up by directing the 35mm Southern indie comedy ANGRY WHITE MAN starring Matt Berry, Scoot McNairy, Steve Agee and Mary Birdsong. BOC (as his friends call him) is part of the improv powerhouse & comedy collective Dr. God, who delivered their first feature film project BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS in 2015, starring Fran Kranz, Pedro Pascal, Joey Kern, Joel Murray, and Emma Fitzpatrick, which O’Connell directed as well as co-writing the script with Dr. God. The film was the Opening Night Premiere at Slamdance in 2015 and is available now on Amazon Prime after it’s 15 city theatrical run along with a two year run on Showtime. Dr. God's new animated series HELL DEN is currently available on SYFY Channel where they serve as the Creator, Executive Producers, Producers, Directors and Writers. Season 2 premiered in Fall of 2020 as part of TZGZ. With multiple projects in development, BOC is currently pitching his pilot THE ANARCHIST COOKBOOK (based on the IP of the same name) under Executive Producer Emmet McDermott (60 Second Docs).

Please give him more stuff to do. It brings him joy.

Nick joins David and Jennifer on a bridge to discuss chicken suits, his favorite sandwich, and how he's involved in so much improv.

Nick is an Actor, Improvisor, Director and Writer. On TV Nick has been on the Emmy-Award winning shows The Office and Grey’s Anatomy. He has also made appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, New Girl, Stan Against Evil, Young Sheldon, Brooklyn Nine Nine and Parks and Recreation. Nick has trained at world famous Groundlings and iO West. He is an alum of The Sunday Company at the Groundlings and has also performed at the M.I.’s Westside Comedy Theater with LA’s Critically Acclaimed Harold team King Ten. Nick is the co-owner of RISE Comedy in Denver, Colorado and he has also taught improv at iO West, The Groundlings, M.I.’s Westside Comedy Theater where he served as Artistic Director and has done workshops all over the world. He is the Founder and Camp Director of Camp Improv Utopia a a 501(c) (3) Non Profit improv retreat for grown ups. He is also one of the founding members of the The Improv Network.

risecomedy.com

nickarmstrong.com

www.improvutopia.com

www.bridgeimprovtheater.com

Josh joins Jennifer and David on a bridge to discuss Rise Comedy, doing improv in Cali and Denver, and what makes his improv brain tick.

Josh is serving as the Artistic Director of Rise Comedy in Denver. Josh served as the Training Center Director for M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater. He is a founder and former Artistic Director of Spectacles Improv Engine in Fullerton Ca. He is the founder and former director of The Orange County Improv Festival and founder and former director of the The Improv Cup. He has been performing improv for 25 plus years and coaching/teaching for a decade. Josh seeks out opportunities to learn from improv's greatest luminaries. He has studied under instructors from iO West & Chicago, The Annoyance Theater, Groundlings, Second City, UCB & The Pack Theater. Josh is the creator of Spectacles Improv Engine's unique focus based curriculum. He teaches with a concentration on organic, in-the-moment improvisation which can help build confidence on stage and off. He directed the improvised play The Awkward Party which was recognized as the 2017 Best Play in the OC by OC Weekly Magazine. He has proudly taught as a Master Teacher at Camp Improv Utopia, Improv Fest Ireland, Off The Cuff in Cedar City, Westside Comedy Theater, The Torch in Phoenix, Finest City Improv in San Diego, Adlib Theater in Orlando, For The City of Rancho Cucamonga, UC Irvine, The Jewish Federation and Family Services, Crittenton, Agile Project Management and The Coup De Comedy Festival.