Chicago Improv Festival Productions

The 3rd Annual Teen Comedy Fest
May 2, 2009

TEAMS - 2008

All-State Improv Team

This is their first appearance at the TCF. The All-State Improv Team was formed this past Janaury by CIF Productions and ComedySportz Chicago at the Illinois High School Theatre Fest. Over 200 teens auditioned for the team and 14 teens were selected. After a three hour rehearsal under the guidance of CIF's Emily Dugan and CSZ' Matt Ewell, they performed their first show that night in front of 300 festival attendees. This was the first time there has been an All-State Improv Team in Illinois (the home state and birthplace of modern improvisation theatre). The 14 students came from 12 different high schools around the state. They are coached by Emily Dugan and Matt Elwell.

To see photos from that process, please click: All-State Improv Team 2007

The Beverly Big Mouths (Chicago, IL)

This is their second appearance at the TCF. The Beverly Bigmouths formed together as a team a year ago this past July and they have been cracking themselves up ever since. The Bigmouths are housed by the Beverly Arts Center. They perform there often with a couple other guest groups. Please come check them out and laugh at their jokes. Check out the BAC website at www.beverlyartcenter.org for information on their next open audition. They are directed by Elise Lammers.

The Crystal Lake Central Freeze (Crystal Lake, IL)

This is their first appearance at TCF. They are from Crystal Lake Central High and they are coached by Craig Kingston.

The Graduates (Chicago, IL)

This is their first appearance at the TCF. They are a four person improv team and are directed by Jessica Rogers.

Harold and Maude (New Trier HS, IL)

This is their second appearance at the TCF. They are long-form improv team from New Trier High School and they are directed by Adam Wolf.

Improv Playhouse Teen Ensemble (Libertyville, IL)

This is their second appearance at the TCF. The Improv Playhouse has been teaching and sponsoring their teen team for several years out of their own theatre in Libertyville. The players include Sydney Achler, Max Armstrong, Kori Cottleleer, Nate Daab, Kevin Kahover, Oliver Kal, Jessye Mueller, Keighty Noreen, Jason Raymer, and Matthew Terry. They are directed by David Stuart. www.improvplayhouse.com

Impulse Improv

This is their first appearance at the TCF. They are from Waubonsie Valley High School and are coached by Joe Bolz.

The Laughing Aardvarks (Oak Lawn, IL)

This is their second appearance at the TCF. The Laughing Aardvarks are in the middle of their 10th year of existence. Originally formed by Charles Palia in 1998, the group has been maintained for the last four years by Mike Badger. The group formed out of a love for Improv and is a valuable piece of the Drama Club at Richards high school. Each year, the Aardvarks audition new members and take as many new members as they lose to graduation. The number of Aardvarks varies, but usually hovers around 40. The new members are trained throughout the year and all members participate in about 2-4 shows per year. The Laughing Aardvarks focus mainly on improv games, but also get into some long forms with the 3 and 4 year members. The general concept is to learn through improv; therefore, the Aardvark's thought process is directed towards "what improv can do for you as a person." The group is proud to be included in the Teen Comedy Festival and hopes everyone enjoys the show. They have appeared at the Chicago Improv Festival.

The Laughing Aardvarks team players are Skylar Allen, Dan Bailey, Kendra Berna, Elizabeth Betsanes, Becca Calvillo, Andrew Chavez, Monica Delacruz, Steve Denison, Steve Duenas, Lauren Dyer, Caitlin Flood, Emily Forberg, Luke Gallagher, Rosa Gallagher, Andre Gallion, Carly Heiser, Zac Hendrix, Alex Hurley, Martasia Jones, Julie Kaiser, Katherine Katsivalis, Mike Keeney, Eileen Kennedy, Cody Kistenger, Jarett Kistinger, Sally Little, Eric Madera, Taylor Marler, Dorian Maskweij, Nick Maynard, Jana Mazan, Sam Murphy, Jason Roepke, Molly Ruthenberg, Brianna Segura, Greg Short, Roza Tawil, Jimbo Wallace, and Lizz Wallace.

Piven Theatre's Young People's Company (Evanston, IL)

This is their second appearance at TCF. The Young People's Company was founded over 30 years ago and still thrives as the most advanced class of high school students studying at the Piven Theatre Workshop. The Young People's Company specializes in improvisation and the Story Theatre form, a process of working as an ensemble to adapt literature, myths and folk tales to the stage. Every March, this group culminates their class experience by presenting a showcase of improvisation and stories that they have adapted as an ensemble. Alumni of the Young People's Company include John, Joan & Ann Cusack, Jeremy Piven, Chicago directors Jessica Thebus and Robin Chaplik, playwrights Sarah Ruhl and Michael Stock, and many members of the teaching faculty at the Piven Theatre Workshop. The Young People's Company has previously appeared at CIF.

This year's Ensemble is Allison Cochrane, Hannah Cooney, Chelsea Farmer, Lindsey Gray, Loren Greenblatt, Kaleigh Jerkatis, Allison Kistenbroker, Nik Mitseff, Jessye Mueller, Kelsey Murphy-Miles, Nina Pesavento, Jason Raymer, Shizue Roche-Adachi, Ellen Ruddick-Sunstein, Jessica Paige Schonberg, Emma Thatcher, Gerald Tuman, Sierra Vaughan-Gabor, and Emelia Zuckerman. The Young People's Company Director is Sarah Bendix.

For over 30 years, the Piven Theatre Workshop has not only continued to grow as a nationally respected acting school but has consistently generated acclaimed professional productions. Co-Founders Byrne & Joyce Piven have been awarded the Evanston Arts Council Youth and Education Award, the Evanston Mayors Award for the Arts, and the University of Chicago's Glorious Gargoyle Award for lifetime contribution to the theatre. They were named 1996 Artists of the Year by the Chicago Tribune and were recipients of the Chicago Drama League's 1998 Crystal Award. In 2000, they were awarded a Joseph Jefferson Lifetime Achievement Award. The Chicago Improv Festival has also awarded both Byrne Piven and Joyce Piven their own CIF Lifetime Achievement Awards. Their website is www.piventheatre.org

TCF Teacher's Team

This is their first appearance at TCF. This show is brought about by popular demand among the teens who really want to see their teachers play onstage, so they TCF teachers are banding together for this one time only show.

TEAMS - 2007

Beverly Big Mouths (Chicago, IL)

The Beverly Bigmouths recently came together this past July and have been cracking themselves up ever since. The group is still forming and once they're fully cohesivized, they're going to come up with a much cooler name. The Bigmouths are housed by the Beverly Arts Center. They will be performing there on November 3rd and November 15th with a couple other guest groups. Please come check them out and laugh at their jokes. The Bigmouths a.k.a. Cooler Name Pending are holding ongoing auditions. Check out the BAC website at www.beverlyartcenter.org for information on our next open audition. They are directed by Elise Lammers.

Clarke High School (Chicago, IL)

Clarke High School are an After School Matters program sponsored by the Chicago Improv Festival Productions. This program has been ongoing for the past year. They are co-directed by Sean Ellis and Lindsay Hailey. www.afterschoolmatters.org

Harold and Maude (Chicago, IL)

This long-form improv team is directed by Rachel Klein.

Improv Playhouse Teen Ensemble (Libertyville, IL)

The Improv Playhouse has been teaching and sponsoring their teen team for several years out of their own theatre in Libertyville. The players include Sydney Achler, Max Armstrong, Kori Cottleleer, Nate Daab, Kevin Kahover, Oliver Kal, Jessye Mueller, Keighty Noreen, Jason Raymer, and Matthew Terry. They are directed by David Stuart. www.improvplayhouse.com

The Laughing Aardvarks (Oak Lawn, IL)

The Laughing Aardvarks are in the middle of their 9th year of existence. Originally formed by Charles Palia in 1998, the group has been maintained for the last three years by Mike Badger. The group formed out of a love for Improv and is a valuable piece of the Drama Club at Richards high school. Each year, the Aardvarks audition new members and take as many new members as they lose to graduation. The number of Aardvarks varies, but usually hovers around 40. The new members are trained throughout the year and all members participate in about 2-4 shows per year. The Laughing Aardvarks focus mainly on improv games, but also get into some long forms with the 3 and 4 year members. The general concept is to learn through improv; therefore, the Aardvark's thought process is directed towards "what improv can do for you as a person." The group is proud to be included in the Teen Comedy Festival and hopes everyone enjoys the show. They have appeared at the Chicago Improve Festival.

PIE Improv presents Minor Infraction (Bellingham, WA)

Brough to life in 2006, PIE Improv's Minor Infraction intends to sweep the nation with its fresh, cunning and hilarious improv, musical and sketch comedy. Having performed at Mount Baker Theatre, The Upfront Theatreand many more venues, this group of advanced teenagers relate to their audience, providing top of the line comedy. As an ensemble, we find it important that we give 70% of our time back to our community. 70% of our shows are given free to the community. Minor Inraction has worked with victims of domestic violence, severely abused children, children's cancer wards and conventions on saving our environment, to name a few. Come see Minor Infraction in action and prepare to be blown away with comedic genius.

Minor Infraction writes and performs sketch, comedy , music and improv as well as interact with their audiences. They work hard and are extremely talented. This is a group of teens from 8 different schools in Whatcom County from 14-19. They love working with audiences and mixing up shows with lots of genres. Their website is www.pieimprov.com

Susan Snider is Owner and Artistic Director of PIE Improv. Their players are Caitlin Beebe, Quin Chadwick, Wade Collins, Elise Cooper, Jesse Eby, Kaeli Earle, Michael Hoffer, Andrew Ibach, Jessie Kimber, Emma Rood, Cody Russell, Duncan Stift, Cory Watters, Brittany Williams, Diana Wu, and Taia Wu.

Piven Theatre's Young People's Company (Evanston, IL)

The Young People's Company was founded over 30 years ago and still thrives as the most advanced class of high school students studying at the Piven Theatre Workshop. The Young People's Company specializes in improvisation and the Story Theatre form, a process of working as an ensemble to adapt literature, myths and folk tales to the stage. Every March, this group culminates their class experience by presenting a showcase of improvisation and stories that they have adapted as an ensemble. Alumni of the Young People's Company include John, Joan & Ann Cusack, Jeremy Piven, Chicago directors Jessica Thebus and Robin Chaplik, playwrights Sarah Ruhl and Michael Stock, and many members of the teaching faculty at the Piven Theatre Workshop. The Young People's Company has previously appeared at CIF.

The Ridge Park Players (Chicago, IL)

The Ridge Park Players are a Chicago Park District program done in partnership with the Chicago Improv Festival Productions. This program has been ongoing for the past two years. Their director is Robert Hines. www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

The Ridge Park Players include Hal Baum, Hassan Childs, Mike Cullen, Colin Fagan, Mike Frazel, Paul Frazel, Dominic Giafagleone, Connor Golden, Cornelius Graves, Mariana Jablonsky, Mike Landis, and Madeleine Senko.

The Second City Teen Ensemble (Chicago, IL)

The Second City Teen Ensemble has appeared at CIF previously. The ensemble players are The Second City Teen Ensemble: Elizabeth Abello, Colin Delany, Daniel Donohue, Gretchen Eng, Joe Engleman, Paul Hinkes, Ethan Peldo, Jack Shaked, Elise Sonnenberg, Connor Spitzig, Roxane West, and Maria Zdunek. The ensemble is directed by Jessica Rogers. www.secondcity.com

What Are They Saying (Chicago, IL)

What Are They Saying, is Chicago's most explosive youth improvisation group. They are also an ensemble of African-American Chicago teens who've been performing together for over two years. They tour year round and has entertained audiences from Chicago to New York. They have performed at such reknowned places at The Improv Kitchen, New York Improv Comedy Club, Education Station, Chicago Gospel Showcase, Middle Collegiate Church and Operation Push. They are directed by Roderick Lewis. http://www.fcbcdrama.com/WhatAreTheySaying.pdf

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