Explore our Performers!
Abel Arias is a Gemini and enjoys the idea of unlimited fresh produce. Abel has improvised for many years and at various events, which your mother may or may not have attended. He has studied with The Groundlings, UCB, is a member of the ComedySportz Main Company and is proud to be a crew-member aboard the mighty Spaceboat. You can find many links to his musings at www.abelarias.com Talk to him. He’s a good guy.
Corey Blake is a comedic performer/actor/writer/internet person. Before arriving at TiS, he was a longtime member of the improv comedy ensemble The Magic Meathands, receiving training by Bill Johnson, David Razowsky, Mindy Sterling, Chris Ellis, and other experts in spontaneous funny. A pundit for comic books and graphic novels Corey blogs for blog Smash Pages. If this rambling block of text doesn't satisfy your curiosity, visit CoreyBlake.com for more.
Greg Boytos is a writer/actor/comedian originally from New York's Upper East Side by way of New Jersey, by way of Claremont by way of UC Riverside by way of UCLA's screenwriting program. He auditioned for his high school improv team every year and never made it. He heard that acting would help his writing and never believed it. Then he wanted an excuse to stay out of trouble two nights a week, so he signed up, and the rest is history.
Rising up from humble beginnings as a Central Valley goat breeder, Dewey found his calling at the Improv Space, where he forced his way into the hearts and minds of his fellow performers by attending nearly every open jam. At UCLA, Dewey is heavily involved in the Shenanigans comedy club, performing improv and stand up and writing sketches. When not performing, Dewey can be found bombing at Open Mics across LA, playing Super Smash Bros, or back in Atwater, hanging out with his nephew, Colin.
Sarah Cho is a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and performer. After graduating from University of Iowa’s Playwrights Workshop, Cho studied improv comedy at iO West as well as improvisational theater with Aretha Sills at Sills/Spolin Theater Works. She has performed at Green Gravel Comedy Festival, Laugh Riot Grrrl Festival, and written sketch comedy for LA Scripted Comedy Festival and Sunday Sketch Show at iO West. Twitter: @whatupcho
Andrew began his acting career at the University of Hawaii at Manoa with 8 plays and a BA in Theater. After college he shifted to improvisational acting. Following an intensive at Chicago's iO Theater, he became a member of TIS house team Distant Relatives from 2011-2104. He then began what would be a 2 year hiatus from improv and acting to travel across South America. Upon his return in April of 2016, Andrew called his coach and amigo Dan Oster, who connected him with My Favorite Customer.
Ben has been formally improvising since 2008, beginning at IO West, and studying under Scott Robinson, Irene White, Dave Hill, Craig Cackowski and Derek Miller. He stumbled upon The Improv Space shortly after to participate in J.D. Walsh's Xecution, where he was humbled with a runner up award. Ben will be celebrating his five year anniversary as host of The Improv Sessions - a long form improv jam that he helped establish. You can find him online at heckbender.com.
Born and raised in Santa Cruz, CA, John Davies first discovered his love for performance when he decided to take an improv comedy class at Cabrillo Community College. From there he never looked back. John attended UCLA where he began studying Theater while working toward his B.A. in Psychology. While enrolled he continued to study and perform improv weekly at The Improv Space and in other venues all over LA which is when he met the other co-founding members of The Wait List.
Michael Dearie is not a bum. He's a jerk. He once had wealth, power, and the love of a beautiful woman. Now he only has two things: friends, and... uh... his thermos. It was never easy for him. He was born a poor black child, sittin' on the porch with his family, singin' and dancin' down in Michigan…
Nikhil would like to end by apologizing for his picture as he realized only after being asked for one, that he doesn't have a presentable picture of his face.
Jordan Dunn is an improviser, actor, writer, and a son of a therapist. Unlike other actors, Jordan has no insecurities. This being said, don't ever mention his underdeveloped chin. A UCLA graduate with a degree in English Literature, his self proclaimed motto for performance success is Emotions are the barrier between you and acting good. Jordan plans to redefine the entertainment industry and refer to himself in the third person the whole time.
Nick Eliafan is a native Angeleno! He attended Windward High School and studied communication and film at USC. Nick has studied improvisational comedy for over twelve years with improvisers at UCB, iOWest, Second City (Chicago), and Westside Comedy. He has performed with ComedySportz and with the award-winning Second Nature Improv. Nick currently performs with Sweet Dalai Lama at The Clubhouse and coaches long-form improv at New West High School. He is excited to be a member of Rascal.
Elisa Espinoza is a human being. She likes to perform improv, read books, and eat bananas. She was born and raised in Modesto, California, then moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of living in a dorm room. Now a graduate of UCLA, she has yet to find her purpose in life, but is hopeful.
Anne grew up in Los Angeles, and despite this was recently declared “smart” by a Park Service employee in New York City. She fell in love with improv in college but was too scared to try it until several years later when she gave a funny speech at her friend’s wedding and afterward several family members said she should be on TV. Anne is delighted to be both a member of Spaceboat and a certified public accountant.
James Gangl is a comedian, writer, storyteller and arborist. James performs and teaches with The Second City in Los Angeles, was nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award as Best Male Improviser, and is a member of the Melrose Poetry Bureau, where he writes poems about socks and love... and socks he loves. His recent TV credits include Dark Matter (Space), Saving Hope (ION), Odd Squad (PBS, TVO), and Annedroids (Amazon). If you need your hedges trimmed, contact James on twitter @jamesgangl.
Michael got his start in comedy at Arizona State University's sketch troupe The Farce Side. He has been a main stage player at ImprovOlympic West with Squadron and Bacon's Pipe. He has appeared in numerous commercials, music videos, and films, including the Jennifer Lopez video "I'm Real" and the award winning short "Hustler's Instinct" featuring Eva Longoria. He is currently a member of The Board at The Improv Space. Michael likes the beach, soup, and Deborah Gibson.
Graduating from UCLA with a degree in Anthropology and a minor in Human Complex Systems, he immediately traded his diploma for magic beans. Falling deep into the world of improv and sketch, Ali carved out a spot on the mainstage at Ultimate Improv and The Improv Space in Los Angeles, performing weekly with "The Board", "The Basketball Team", and as a finalist in the 15-week-long "X-Ecution" improv competition at iO West. Ali also maintains his Westwood ties teaching classes at TiS.
Conroy first got his taste of the stage via UCLA's Lapu the Coyote that Cares Theatre Company, where he was subjected to play brutish roles such as a gorilla, a wrestler turned accountant, and a video game pirate. TiS keeps him sane and prevents him from hulking out.
Ben Goldsmith has been improvising with the Improv Space for over 7 years. Attending UCLA school of Theater, Film, and Television Ben found his home in the UCLA Spring Sing sketch group 'COMPANY' for three consecutive years. Now, he operates two small production companies; "BackHaüs Productions" and is the co-founder of "Dumb Owl Productions". He's a happy kind of a guy. You know he's quirky.
Katie Goldston is a writer, improviser, and reptile. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2015, she has taken classes at UCB and The Improv Space, and is thrilled to be performing with the MainStage team, Gayley Street Friday nights at 8pm. You can catch her around town with her indie team, Nevada Pajamas, or on a sunny rock warming her cold-blooded reptile body.
Melissa is an improviser, writer and actor hailing from Albuquerque, New Mexico. She had a very serious life until she realized a cubicle was sucking the soul out of her. She started doing improv in 2009 and is a founding member and former managing director of the critically acclaimed improv troupe, “The Show,” in New Mexico. A strange series of events led her to LA, and since then she has weaseled her way onto the stages of The Largo, UCB, The Pack Theater and to her delight, The Improv Space.
Megan has been praised as a "good enough player," said to be "okay," by a random passerby, and noted that "we only made-out" by some guy(s). Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Megan moved to LA to pursue her love of wine and paying a bunch of money to do improv. She won the "Best New Improviser" award at the Colorado Improv Awards 2015, but it was given to another player due to her absence...so...everyone wins. "What a beautiful place, to be with friends" - Dobby
Eric has performed ever since the 6th grade musical production of "Tumbleweeds", wherein he portrayed the tragic hero Tumbleweeds. He then moved on to play the pivotal role of Brother Dan in the 12th grade musical production of "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat". Unfortunately, fame, like fate, was a fickle mistress. Today, in his old age, Eric Chad remains a recluse, leaving his flat only to go to Trader Joe’s for groceries and perform improvisational theatre.
Bailey Kai is a Texas native who made Los Angeles her home in 2012. She has been performing with The You Convention since 2014.
Ruman Kazi is from Belleville, Illinois. As a graduate of the Stella Adler Professional Conservatory for Acting, he acts in plays, directs others, makes TV appearances, and produces short films you can watch at his Vimeo page. He’s on house team Fish Grease, and indie teams Knifestab! and Yawkey. You can also catch him playing drums in LA punk band, People’s Militia.
Alex Knight has been performing improv with various groups and theaters in New Mexico and Los Angeles since 2003. An experienced coach and director, he has taught improv in Uganda, Serbia, Poland and Ukraine. A member of the Screen Actors Guild since 2003, Alex has multiple film and television credits including Breaking Bad, Preacher and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. He is happy to have found a home with Hot for the Rent at The Improv Space.
Darren joined Ultimate Improv in 2001 while he was studying chemistry at UCLA. Bored with the lab work, he began pursuing his acting career after graduation. He is honored to be performing at TiS with such talented people. You can catch him Friday nights at 10:00 in My Favorite Customer. Also, Darren loves time travel and Raymond Chandler novels.
Harrison is from Phoenix, Arizona and has been improvising since 2007. He has previously performed with The 56th Street Comedy Club and The Charles Darwin Experience and trained with The National Comedy Theatre and The Upright Citizens Brigade.
Phoebe Lim is proud to be an LA-bred actress, comedy writer, and improvisor who loves binging TV shows (who doesn't?), re-reading her favorite middle grade novels, and seeing the world just-a-sparkle differently. She has been studying at UCB LA, the Groundlings, and ImprovLA since 2013 and now performs with Hot for the Rent at The Improv Space every Friday at 8PM. Phoebe got her BA in Creative Writing from UCLA and expertly applies her education when tweeting awkward thoughts @phoe_b_lim.
Lawrence started to perform at the Improv Space towards the tail end of his academic career at UCLA. He began with the famously known "Execution" Improvisational competition. From then on, he started taking classes through the theater and joined a main stage team. After a two year hiatus of being in New York and San Francisco, he returned back like the comedic prodigal son that he was to be placed on the well loved, 400 Cat.Lawrence has done commercials, sketches, stand up, and of course improv.
Hena Naghmi is a writer and improviser who has studied at The Improv Space, UCB, UCLA Extension, and The Writing Pad. Her dog is Simba.
Paige Hoffman Nielsen hails from Van Nuys and was raised amongst pit bulls right off of Victory and Fulton. She pursued theater and comedy at a small college in the Napa Valley and has been performing improv for six years, as well as writing plays and sketch comedy. She has completed the Groundlings Theater core track and performs at the numerous theaters in Los Angeles, where she only uses her Spanish degree for character bits.
Ashley Opstad is a mom, teaching artist, arts administrator, producer and improviser. Ashley served as the founding artistic director at The Improv Space from 2009-2013 and returned as Artistic Director in 2016. Currently, Ashley works as the Experiential Manager at DAQRI, a tech company focused in augmented reality. Ashley has improvised for over 15 years at various theaters including Ultimate Improv, Story Pirates, iO West, UCB, and the LA Improv Comedy Festival. Favorite credit: #arlenegail.
Actor, writer and vegetarian when it’s convenient. Chris has been doing theatrical competitions his entire life. He's won "the search for the best improviser in the city” and received several awards for his acting performance. His short films have been screened at Cannes, Sundance, SLOIFF & Out Of Bounds. 'The Mindy Project' on FOX, Adult Swim's 'You're Whole' and in the credits as a Creative Producer at MTV's Ridiculousness.
Blake Rosier is an actor and improviser originally from the Bay Area. He is thrilled to be a part of the 400 Cat and loves the Improv Space like a second home! Blake is represented by Elev8 Talent agency theatrically and commercially and makes his own content on Instagram and YouTube. Make sure to check him out @BlakeRosier and YouTube.com/BlakeRosier1 for videos and for all booking or deep questions about life contact him by email Rosier001@aol.com Long live the Improv Space. Come see a show!
Claudio first got his taste of the stage via UCLA's Lapu the Coyote that Cares Theatre Company, where he was subjected to play brutish roles such as a gorilla, a wrestler turned accountant, and a video game pirate. The Improv Space keeps him sane and prevents him from hulking out.
Hunter Saling was raised in San Diego, CA and is bound to grow up some time soon. Proud to be a part of The Improv Space's mainstage, he's been an improvisor ever since high school, after an English teacher probably threw on some old set on the projector when they were too hungover to teach Dickens or something.
Annabel is a comedy writer and improviser living in Los Angeles. Born and raised in New York City, she began her comedy education studying at UCB and goofing off on the bus. She is currently a member of several indie improv teams performing regularly in the LA area, including, obviously, Sidewalkers! When she’s not improvising or writing, Annabel can be found arm wrestling as “Massage Paula”, with the Los Angeles Lady Arm Wrestlers and producing "music" under the moniker “DJ Nathan Lane”.
Ricky Staffieri is a writer, actor and producer who has been performing sketch and improv for 7 years. Ricky made the jump to LA in September 2015 after living and studying in Chicago for 9 years. He is one of the founding members of the sketch and improv group BloodOath who performed all over Chicago at different venues as well as a Southwest Tour. His Television work includes Chicago PD on NBC as well as the award-winning show Better Call Saul.
Originally from Texas, Liz made Los Angeles her home in 2017. She graduated with a film degree from the University of Texas at Austin where she performed in the improv troupe Snafu and on the sketch comedy show Longhorn LateNight. She is currently a receptionist with passions for writing, acting, and comedy.
Alex Wolfson has been Space-adjacent for years as a UCLA student and is very excited to now be Space-at. Space-apart? He is very excited to perform here, is what he means. He also performs with other Spacers (?) on the indie team Dalby Spook. He will get the terminology down soon.
G. Maximilian Zarou is a comedian and actor born and raised in Los Angeles. He is funny, even when he doesn't plan to be. He can be seen performing improv regularly with the teams Spaceboat and The Sound and the Furry (an improvised puppet musical). He performs standup all over LA, including The Comedy Store, The Improv, The Ice House, and Flappers. He is the host of IQ: The Impossible Question and has appeared on television on shows as The Mindy Project, Anger Management & Raising Hope.