CO-FOUNDER / INSTRUCTOR

Laura Berger has been improvising since 2012. As a life long lover of comedy and theater, Laura has always dreamed of making spaces for art and creativity. Laura has performed in a multitude of shows and at many venues in the Twin Cities. Some of these shows include Foul Play, Manners & Misconduct, The Life Robotic, and Creature Feature. Laura is also a founding member of Babe Train, part of ComedySportz, and is a co-director of Star Trek: the Next Improvisation.

Laura believes improv is all about discovery! The possibilities are limitless.

CO-FOUNDER / INSTRUCTOR

Steph Callaghan has been improvising for almost 15 years. Originally based in Chicago, she completed training at iO, The Second City, CiC, and The Den. She performed and produced improv, stand-up, and sketch shows with house and independent teams on these stages, as well as at The Annoyance and LSI. After the pandemic, Steph moved back to Minneapolis where she continues to perform, produce, and teach improv across the Twin Cities. She is the creator of Improv Zodiac!, a monthly show at Bryant Lake Bowl, and a member of an alleged Theatre Company.

Steph believes everyone can and SHOULD learn long-form improvisation. Follow the fun, and find your magic!

CO-FOUNDER / INSTRUCTOR

Chris Rodriguez begin improvising in 2017, starting his journey when he moved to the Twin Cities. He specializes in genre narrative shows and has performed at improv festivals nationwide and on awesome Twin Cities stages, including HUGE Theater, Strike Theater, and Bryant Lake Bowl. Chris has taught improv to individuals, corporations and organizations for much of his improv career. He believe improv is the perfect tool to explore difficult topics as well explore ones own comedic potential.

Currently, he is a member of ComedySportz and The Theater of Public Policy.

Chris believes improv is magic and everyone should try it!

CO-FOUNDER / INSTRUCTOR

Bradley Machov took his first improv class in 2003. Since 2012, he has been performing, directing, and teaching improv throughout the Twin Cities with companies and shows such as the Brave New Workshop, ComedySportz, and Star Trek: The Next Improvisation. His improv journey has taken him through noteworthy stops like classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade and performing in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He is also proud to serve on the board of MNProv, a non-profit dedicated to bringing improv to neurodivergent individuals.

Bradley believes improv truly holds the key to living a fulfilling, compassionate life, but if nothing else is just a lot of silly fun.

INSTRUCTOR

Jill Bernard (she/her) has been performing with ComedySportz-Twin Cities since 1993, and was a founding member of HUGE Theater in Minneapolis. Her one-woman improv piece, Drum Machine, has been featured in over forty improv festivals. She has taught and performed improv in Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and in over forty of the United States; and also on an episode of MTV “Made.” Check out more at jillbernard.com

INSTRUCTOR

Ross Flores (he/him) is a comedian, actor, and dancer originally from New York but now located in Minnesota, specifically the great city of Saint Paul. Ross has been performing for about three decades, with his start in dance.

He started doing improv in Chicago at iO and, since then, has performed improv, stand up, and sketch comedy throughout the world. This includes, but is not limited to, the Twin Cities, Chicago, New York City, Berlin, and Oslo. His solo improv show, The Manny Rodriguez Show, has been performed in New York, Maine, Rhode Island, Germany, Norway, and Minnesota. Ross has taught improv in Minnesota, Maine, and Rhode Island.

Find him on Instagram: @rofloflo

ACCOMPANIST

Sophie (they/she) is an improviser, and improv accompanist. They run a monthly music jam that brings the joy of music to improvisers in a safe space with accessible techniques; even for those with no musical or improv experience. She’s a cast member of Good Camel Comedy and Soaprov Show of 10,000 Secrets, the Musical Director of the troupe Charm Charter, and a guest accompanist for many groups over the years.

Sophie believes that music could be as second nature to humans as any other language if we allowed it to be.

ACCOMPANIST

Justin Nellis is a teacher, performer, and musical improviser here in the Twin Cities. He also runs his own independent home remodeling business and specializes in basement remodels and music studios. When Justin is taking a break from either building something or playing music, he can be found spending quality time with his incredible wife, two kids, and dog. Justin also enjoys going boating, water skiing, camping, and watching outdoor movies. (He/Him)


INSTRUCTOR

Butch has been teaching, performing and producing improv in the Twin Cities for almost 30 years

He has a love of teaching and also teching, you'll probably find him behind a light board at the Improv A Go Go or on stage with Adorable, MAYHEM or Never Again! 

He's really a geek about this stuff.

INSTRUCTOR

For over 25 years, Jen Scott has worked as a teacher, actor, improviser, performer, director, playwright, storyteller, producer, and musician in the Twin Cities. She’s a COMPAS teaching artist, has been an artist-in-residence at Pillsbury House + Theater, and also has taught for HUGE Theater, The Guthrie Theater, Circus Juventas, Children’s Theatre Company, Park Square Theatre, the Brave New Workshop, and others.

Jen currently performs with Nudge, Adorable, produces the ridiculous Bring Your Kids! and is thrilled to be a part of VGI!

INSTRUCTOR

Anna has been improvising for more than 20 years, having first discovered the art form in college as a member of Dartmouth College's improv group, The Dog Day Players. She has been active in the Minneapolis improv community since 2013, where she has taught, coached, and directed numerous shows, including the long-running horror favorite Creature Feature. Anna is a proud member The Bearded Company and has performed in many of the Twin Cities' most beloved shows, including Star Trek: The Next Improvisation and Manners and Misconduct. As an instructor, Anna is especially passionate about helping improvisers transition from students to confident, stage-ready performers. 

INSTRUCTOR

Karyn (she/her) started doing improv in 2016. She started her improv training at Washington Improv Theater in DC, where she is from, and performed on a variety of teams there for 4 years. In 2021 Karyn moved to the Twin Cities and has since performed with a number of improv teams, including Creature Feature, Star Trek: The next improvisation, Blackout Improv, Vortex Improv, The Local Music Scene and the Good Camel House team. Karyn produces her own improv show called Unmatched which is inspired by her experience on the dating apps. Karyn has been teaching improv since 2020 and runs a monthly musical improv jam with Sophie.

INSTRUCTOR

Hannah Wydeven is the owner of Solcana Fitness in Minneapolis. She has been improvising in the Twin Cities since 2007, and teaching musical improv since 2017. She regularly performs musical improv with The Shrieking Harpies and her own solo show Sad Songs for Happy People. When she is not performing, She can be found lifting weights, playing pickleball, reading horror books or spending time with her family.