Tara DeFrancisco
Tara DeFrancisco (founder - current) is a world-renowned performer and producer, and co-founder of The Nest Theatre. You may know her from her work on the stages of iO Chicago, Second City, and ComedySportz, and her ongoing global touring work in "HERE the (improvised) Musical" in 24 countries/80+ cities. Currently, Tara works hard to instill codes of ethics and conduct in worldwide spaces and serves as Artistic Director at The Nest, in addition to television and commercial work (LOGOtv, ABC Family), voiceovers and more. She believes in the power of this work on a cellular level.
John Sturk
John Sturk is a music director in Chicago, IL. Active on the scene since 2010, his clients have included Comedysportz Chicago, Malarkey Comedy, iO Chicago, Laugh Out Loud, Second City Training Center - Chicago, The Annoyance Theater, and Baby Wants Candy. John is on the faculty of The Second City Training Center - Chicago. He has composed original music for a number of sketch revues, and one 1919 silent film. He is active in Chicago‘s jazz scene with his own trio, and is an official artist for Hammond Organs USA. John is currently serving as the National President of the Society of American Magicians, the world’s oldest magic society.
Rance Rizzutto
Rance Rizzutto (2014-current) has performed, coached, and taught improv for years at iO Chicago, ComedySportz, Second City Theatricals, Baby Wants Candy, and now The Nest Theatre. He is most known from the globally touring "HERE the (Improvised) Musical". Rance is Training Center Director at The Nest Theatre in Columbus, OH, and Coordinator of TIR.
Nathan Jansen
Nathan Jansen has been improvising professionally since 2003 and has been good at it since 2008. He’s taught at iO and CSz Chicago, toured with MissionImprvable, Baby Wants Candy and Shamilton, and led countless jams (his first love). By day, Nathan is a Creative Director and writer for a creative consultant company; by night, he has undiagnosed sleep apnea.
Anděl Sudik
Anděl Sudik is a director and improviser based in L.A. and Chicago known for her explosive energy onstage as well as her experiential teaching style. She is a faculty member of the Second City where she teaches sketch writing and improvisation. She is an alum of Boom Chicago in Amsterdam, the Second City Touring and resident ETC Company and has directed Sketch, Improvisation and Solo shows. Before 2020 she could be found traveling, teaching and performing all over the states as well as across Europe in festivals and privately. Now she can be found doing… the same but sometimes over zoom sometimes. Full bio at YesAndel.com
Patrick Rowland
Patrick is a writer, comedian, and actor from Chicago, now residing in Los Angeles. He’s studied and taught at The Second City and iO Theater. He has taught to sold out classes all over the country and internationally. He is the creator of The Patrick Rowland Sketch Show, a web series he writes produces, directs, and films himself on an iPhone. He is a founding member of 3Peat, a critically acclaimed, award-winning sketch/improv troupe, who has several sketches with Comedy Central’s Digital platform, their most successful, The Blackening, garnered over 15 million views, and is currently being made into a feature. Patrick hosted a late-night talk show as former President Barack Obama called Barack All Night.. Patrick was a writer for The Amber Ruffin Show.
Jill Bernard
Jill Bernard (she/her) has been performing with ComedySportz-Twin Cities since 1993, and is 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, 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.” She is the author of “Jill Bernard’s Small Cute Book of Improv”.