The Greatest Team

THE IMPROVISERS 


Derek Czaplewski is pleased as punch to share this never-told story with you! A graduate of the School as Steppenwolf, Derek has worked with Lifeline Theater, Mercury Theater Chicago, Stage Left Theatre, Piven Workshop, Circle Theatre, Northlight Theatre, TimeLine Theatre, Pegasus Players, Emerald City and Handbag Productions, among many others.

 

 

 

Nathan Ebenroth is a graduate of Second City Training Center's conservatory, music improv, and sketch writing programs and iO Chicago's improv and music improv programs. He has played improv teams: Cold Feet, Is Your Husband Home?, Cat Lady, 12 Angry MINts, Single Like a Cat/Foxy Like a Mom, The Click, and with music duo, Blathan. Past musical theater roles include Judas in "Jesus Christ Superstar" at Pheasant Run Dinner Theater, Narrator/Tommy in "The Who's Tommy" with Des Plaines Theater Guild, and in several tribes performing "HAIR: An American-Tribal Love Rock Musical". Nathan loves the band Phish.

 

 

Lisa Farver came to Chicago for comedy. And a boy. She’s still pursuing her true love (comedy) after completing Second City’s Conservatory, Writing Program, and Music Improv Conservatory. On the weekends, you can catch her performing with Clown Car to Sicily or Sun’s Out Guns Out, writing in a crowded Thai restaurant for her two-woman sketch team, The Maries, or garnering standup material at a party, or 24-hour Jewel-Osco.

 

 

 

Bri Fitzpatrick is a performer, writer, and teacher based in Chicago. Originally from Seattle, WA, Bri spent 6 years in Dublin, Ireland earning a Theatre degree from Trinity College, and later working as an actor and teacher. Since moving to Chicago, she has graduated from The Second City's Conservatory and Musical Conservatory, and trained at The iO Theater and The Annoyance Theater. You can also catch her performing with the likes of ComedySportz, Baby Wants Candy, Anarchy: An Improvised Rock Opera, Thirsty, Storytown, and more. When she grows up, she'd like to be a mermaid.

 

 

Ashley Geron called the Suburb of Crystal Lake home but has since moved to Chicago where she writes and performs comedy almost everyday of the week. She's a graduate of both Conservatory and Music Conservatory at Second City and can be seen performing at MCL, Stage 773, and Under The Gun Theater, with many wonderful lads and ladies who she would love to share a juice box with. She's super excited about joining The Greatest Story Never Told and hopes to share several more juice boxes with all of these wonderful folks!

 

 

Erin Island is very excited to combine two of her favorite interests: working with children and improvising stories! She spends her days nannying two cute little boys and spends her free time performing improv and sketch comedy! Erin is a graduate of the Second City Music Improv Conservatory as well as the internship program at the B Street Theatre in Sacramento, California. During her 4 years at B Street, she worked on over 15 children’s shows as an actor, director, producer and stage manager.

 

 

 

 

Ethan Krupp cannot wait to tell this story with you. He is a graduate of the Second City Improv and Music Conservatories and its House Ensemble, Infinite Sundae. He also writes plays and musicals, most recently the rock musical The Church of Modern Love. The best summers of his life included being a camp counselor by day and coaching little league baseball by night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zephian Michaels hails from Florida and has been in a variety of sketch and improv shows around Chicago including a few of The Second City Training Center’s House Ensembles: Twisty, Moxie and Infinite Sundaes. You might have seen him perform somewhere with a group like Mansical, Formal Apology, Bo Problems, Dark Triad, or FDR. He also created and performed in the Have You Ever Had A Dream?! You Could Do Anything Hour. He is thankful to be part of such a wonderfully talented and giving community. Also thank you to the many loved ones in his life who inspire and support.

 

 

Hanna Pristave is so happy to be joining The Greatest Story Never Told! She is a graduate of iO Chicago's Improv program and is a student of Second City's Musical Conservatory. Hanna performs in MINT at the Annoyance theatre and is a member of Chicago music improv team Oh Celine. Hanna will soon be starring in an educational children’s program with Emmy award-winning Threaded Films LLC, slated for launch later this year. She received her degree in Music - Opera from Illinois Wesleyan University. During the day, she is a Data Analyst at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Other Chicago Credits include: A Popsicle Now (Second City) It Can’t be Worse (Second City), The Christmas that Almost Wasn’t (Child’s Play), and The Vagina Melodies (Corn Productions) along with sketch videos Christ Cometh to my House (The Onion - Clickhole) and Cubs Fans (Grady Rains Productions/ Buzzfeed). 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bryce Read is thrilled to be a part of The Greatest Story Never Told! Bryce has a degree in theater performance from Salem State University, and has been directing, teaching and performing for children for years. Some of Bryce's past credits include performing and directing with ImprovBoston's Family Show and Anti-Bullying workshops, as well as directing a number of productions at Artbarn Community Theater. Bryce teaches in the Kid and Teen Program at Second City.

 

 

 


 

Andrew McCammon loves to play for a living! He moved to Chicago from Asheville, NC in 2011 after earning a BA in Literature and Creative Writing from UNC Asheville. Andrew is the creator of award winning sketch troupe, DGAF Comedy. He has written and directed nine original revues for the company and you can see their tenth at the iO Theater in Spring 2019. He is an understudy for the 42nd Second City e.t.c. revue, Gaslight District and has been featured in the SNL and NBC showcases at iO. Andrew is a member of the writing and improv faculties at the Second City Training Center and facilitates corporate improv workshops around the Chicago area. Andrew loves the Jurassic Park franchise more than most children.

 


 

Justin Swinson is overjoyed to be joining the cast of The Greatest Story Never Told. Recent credits include Bye Lines and Show Hole as a part of The Artist's Lab at Stage 773. A native of District Heights, Maryland, Justin is currently enrolled in the conservatory program at The Second City. Keep an eye out for his sketch group, Last of A Dying Breed, in 2017. Justin would like to thank Andrew for the opportunity, Tammy, Gina and all the Owls as well as his Mom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kelly Tietjen, a Long Island, NY native is an actor, improviser and writer in Chicago. You may have seen her last year on the Second City Training Center musical improv house team “Infinite Sundaes.” She's played in three seasons of MINT at MCL and is also one half of a duo team called “Unpronouncable.” Most recent theatre credits include "Natchez" at Mercy Street theatre and "The Vagina Monologues" at Fleetwood Jourdain Theatre. She graduated with her BFA from Adelphi University. Other training includes the London Dramatic Academy, Black Box, The Vagabond School, Green Room, Stella Adler Conservatory, Circle in the Square, Carlson & Hart Shakespeare, iO training program, The Annoyance, Upright Citizens Brigade and the Second City Musical Improv Conservatory.  She's so excited to join the cast of The Greatest Story Never Told!

 

 

 


 

MUSIC DIRECTOR

 

Brad Kemp is really excited to be a part of The Greatest Story Never Told!  Brad has been the Head Music Director at The pH Comedy Theatre for 4 years and also works with The Improvised Sondheim Project, Anarchy: an improvised rock opera, ComedySportz, Baby Wants Candy. He teaches classes and workshops with The Second City, pH, Baby Wants Candy and gives private lessons (contact him if you want to get better at music!). Brad has been a member of the American Composers Forum since 2009 and ASCAP since 2010.  He has been a music director for The Second City aboard the Norwegian Gem and also is a member of the comedy rap group Handsome Naked.  Brad has had the pleasure of working on other great shows like: Christmas in Chicago(Original Songs/Arrangements), Don’t Pass Go (Original Music), The Room: The Musical (Original Music).  Yeah musicals! www.BradKempMusic.com"

 

Matthew Pollack is a musician living in Chicago. He is very excited to be a part of The Greatest Story Never Told

 

 

 

THE WRITERS

 

Robert Cass has written rock-band bios for Rhino Records, fiction for the Chicago Reader, articles and humor pieces for Popdose.com, and some e-mails he probably should've slept on before clicking "send," but what's done is done. From the mouths of babes comes wisdom, as the saying goes, but if you ask Robert, laugh-out-loud dialogue and exciting plot twists are appreciated even more in The Greatest Story Never Told.

 

Lisa Farver (see bio above)

 

 

 

 

 

 Dan Lowry grew up in Green Bay, WI before moving to Chicago to pursue a degree in Creative Writing at DePaul University. Since then, he has graduated with a BA in English and a Masters of Education. His days are now filled with working on a collection of humorous essays, making coffee, and concocting stories in his head. He is thrilled to help bring this show from the imagination of the audience to the page.

 

 

 

THE ILLUSTRATORS

 

Chris Bresky is an artist of many visual mediums and a child at heart. He trained in art through USD in Florence and works in Chicago. Chris is also an actor and playwright and loves to weave the magic of storytelling into all of his work.

 

Manny Dominguez is a web designer, illustrator, graphic artist & occasional handy man. Full blown 80's kid. Married a Romanian. Father of two ninja turtles and a cupcake princess.

 

Rob Patterson is a multimedia artist and designer. After receiving a BFA in digital fine art from the Atlanta College of Art, Rob studied in Cortona, Italy as a graduate through the University of Georgia. He is currently exhibiting fine art, playing music, and working as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer in Chicago, IL. Rob works with Technofisch Design Studio and has previously lent his services to Cramer-Krasselt, Red Moon Theater and Strassel Creative, among others. Please visit www.theratiofarm.com for supplementary information.

 

THE UNDERSTUDIES



 

Jonny Nelson is a proud Alum of the Second City Chicago and iO theater Chicago. He graduated from Grand Valley State University with a double major in Philosophy and German. Here in Chicago, he is overjoyed to be performing improv and sketch comedy though out the city and to be teaching improv to youth as well as coaching adults at Second City. He has performed musical improv with Second City's house team Infinite Sunday's, long form improv with the ensemble of Juneboy & Beserker at the iO theater Chicago, short form improv at Comedy Sportz Chicago, improv/sketch/video with Eisbär a two man show, and a his solo show Social Science at iO. You can see some of his videos and show schedule at jonnynelson.com. He is Thrilled to join The Greatest Story Never Told!

 

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Erin Island produces and performs with Damn, Gina! at the iO Theater. Erin teaches children at Mudlark Theater in Evanston and is a graduate of the Second City Music Improv Conservatory as well as the internship program at the B Street Theatre in Sacramento, California. During her 4 years at B Street, she worked on over 15 children’s shows as an actor, director, producer and stage manager.

 

DESIGN DIRECTOR

 

Bryn McCoy is an Emmy award winning digital product designer. Whether it’s innovative software for the likes of IDEO and BMW, illustration and animation for lovable brand identity, art projects with her young children, or VJ gigs with Chicago's indie bands, there is never a moment when Bryn isn’t working with ideas and artifacts, or found sketching with a notebook in tow.  From working with a Silicon Valley network infrastructure startup through nine years of development in her design studio, she masterfully makes information beautiful from just a spark of imagination.

 

TECH DIRECTOR

 

Dujuan Pritchett has been working as a tech director at The Second City for over 7 years and has likely done over a thousand different improv and sketch shows there. He directs Blood Oath, is a company board member with Corn Productions and has performed with the improv duo Black Dynamite.

 

 

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR


Andrew Ritter is a freelance director, teacher, actor, improviser, writer, producer, facilitator, father, and book-maker who created The Greatest Story Never Told in April of 2013. He currently teaches improv and musical improv at The Second City Training Center and teaches theater, improv, and musical theater with Dream Big Performing Arts. He has taught improv workshops for at-risk youth with Summer In The City and was an inclusion specialist for many years for children with ASD. Some of his favorite Chicago directing credits include: Digital Age Gap (American Blues Theater - RIPPED), Infinite Sundaes (A Second City TC House Ensemble), Improviser! A Musical Sketch Comedy Revue (iO Theater - critics pick TimeOut Chicago), Storytown, and Occupy Mary's Attic. He has directed numerous Second City Training Center shows like Public Displays of Rejection, All Lies On Us, and LACISUM - The Backwards Improvised Musical. Andrew is represented by Big Mouth Talent and has been seen on Chicago Fire (NBC), Proven Innocent (FOX) and in several Jango SMTP commercials. He proudly performs musical improv comedy all over the world with Mansical and The Improvised Sondheim Project. His daughters Grace and Adeline were the inspiration for the creation of this show.

 

PRODUCED BY YAYA PRODUCTIONS

 

THE GREATEST ALUMNI

                        

Sarah Hoffman    Julie Marchiano    Lindy Voeltner     Sean Cusick    Melissa Leonard

 

                        

Alex Smith        Jonathan Schwart    Scott Levy         Greta Bach       Surena Watts

 

                                         

Liz Joynt Sandberg   Bethany Hubbard       Matthew Van Colton    Rachel Page

 

               

Ed Selvey IV        Angie McMahon      Theo Allyn         Michael Palmenderi

 

Wanjiku Kairu