Topher Bellavia (Level 1A, 2, 3,) happily stumbled upon the love, truth and beauty that is improv with Wesleyan University's Gag Reflex and has now been performing, directing and teaching improv for over a decade. He founded WIT's Improv Training Program, leading it from 2 to 5 to 10 to 20 to 40 classes a year. He graduated with honors in American Government and Directing for the Theater with a thesis on AIDS and Politics. His college graduation speech as president of the senior class was excerpted in the New York Times and on NBC Nightly News (where his clip made Mr. Brokaw laugh). Improv has saved his life-no joke. It can save yours too, just ask how.

"Topher is exceptionally personable and funny. He offered valuable criticism and took a genuine interest in the class."

"I find Topher totally endearing and learned there's a lot more to improv than meets the eye."

"I'm definitely coming back for more."

Mark Carroll didn't find improv so much as improv found him. Having earned his BA in Theatre and Dance from James Madison University, he stumbled around doing an odd acting gig here to doing stand up comedy there. It wasn't until fate, and necessity, finally tripped him up that he stumbled into WIT. Since 2003, he has studied with WIT, starting with Foundations, level 1A, and working his way through the entire curriculum to Performance Prep, level 5. He is also a founding member of The Lodge, an improvised secret society.

“Mark was approachable and knowledgable. I found he was willing to speak from his experience, and offer perspectives on improv that I had not considered.”

“very supportive and very enthusiastic”

“always helpful and supportive”

Mark Chalfant (Level 1A, 3, 4) a lead instructor in WIT's training program since 1999, has taught every level in the company's regular curriculum. WIT's Artistic Director, Mark has directed Jackie and onesixtyone in past runs. Other past teaching includes summer classes for kids with Imagination Stage, the ComedySportz National Tournament (2003), and instruction at national improv festivals. He has studied improv nationwide (in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Portland) and has pursued theater training all over DC (Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Shakespeare Theatre, Theatre Lab).

"Mark's ability to tailor coaching to a performance and a player is stunning; you know he's been there, he's made the same choices you did and is coaching from experience."

"I grew a lot as an improviser. Some nights, I would leave class and find that I'd been doing almost automatically something that had seemed impossible the week before."

"Out of every acting class I have ever taken I think I learned the most from Mark."

Annie Drinkard is an improv maven who started with the all-female college troupe the Unusual Suspects. They performed around Western Massachusetts and Boston. With diploma in hand she made her way down south to DC, landing in the giant improv nest known as WIT. After taking every class possible, Annie became a teaching assistant for many levels of the WIT curriculum and now teaches Foundations of Scenework. She has performed in WIT's film projects and represents the awesome power of female improvisers with her team INSIDER. She has also strayed into the backstage arena of lighting and stage managing shows for WIT and other area troupes.

"Annie is really observant and strong at identifying areas of weakness and guiding you to improvement."

"She knows her craft well and is very knowledgeable."

Karin Louise Hammerberg was first introduced to improv in high school as an acting tool, rather than a place to make hilarious jokes. In college, she was a four year member of GW's receSs, where all that theater stuff was thrown out, and replaced with hilarious jokes. Now she has happily fallen in with WIT, and everything it has to offer. Plus she's super fun.

Ken Hays (Level 1A, 2) has been teaching, performing, and directing improv with WIT for over three years. Instrumental in the recent curriculum revision, he has either taught or TA'd all of WIT's class levels. His teaching style is one of confidence, support, and real-world perspective. Being the son of a teacher, some say that teaching is unavoidable for Ken. However, it's the joy of sharing the wonderful world of improv that makes him do it here.

"Very funny, positive, and charismatic"

"Had the class well-organized and clearly outlined"

"A playful instructor that conveys sincerity and fun"

Jordan Hirsch (Level 1B) is not only a player in WIT's first house team JINX and WIT's critically acclaimed iMusical, he's also a product of the WIT training program. Jordan has TA'd and co-taught several WIT classes, and he loves teaching improv almost as much as performing improv. By day, Jordan is the Director of Technology for a web agency, where his duties include training his staff in a variety of disciplines. Jordan believes that the skills you learn in an improv class are applicable on- and off-stage, and he credits his improv training with his ability to speak in front of a crowd, manage unruly web programmers, and handle those days where nothing goes according to the script.

Dave Johnson (Level 1A, Naked Improv) has been performing with various improv groups since 1998, holds a BA in Drama from Washington College, an MFA in Acting from Ohio University and has performed as a company member of WIT's Mainstage troupe (now onesixtyone) since April 2003. He taught both Acting and Voice and Speech to undergraduate students at Ohio University in 2000, and with WIT has taught levels 1 & 2, workshops with WIT University, and assistant taught several classes. He has also been working as a professional actor since 1996 and has performed at local venues such as The Kennedy Center, The H Street Playhouse, The Source Theater, Theater J, and Center Stage in Baltimore.

“Dave has all the qualities that I look for in an excellent teacher. He is patient, kind, sets expectations, pushes students to challenge themselves, loves his work and craft, is well prepared, takes the class seriously (despites the comedic nature), and is very supportive to first time participants and non-actors (like me!). I learned a ton about teaching from dave.”

“Great at making everyone feel included and pushing each of us to do our best.”

“supportive in and out of class, he cares about his students; I’m glad he was my first improv teacher.”

Mikael Johnson (Level 4). Mikael's love for comedy threw him into studying writing, acting and most of all improvisation. As a member of the Maryland Ensemble Theater Company and also a proud new member of WIT's Jackie, Johnson believes that you can not be a good actor without core improvisational skills and you can not be a good improviser without solid acting skills. He has used them both in his work with the long form group "Season Six" and the WIT productions: "Best Friends", "Neighborhood Town" and "Full Count". Johnson, who takes great pride in his character work in the theater, has studied comedic acting extensively through Woolly Mammoth Theater Company, MET and at various improv festival workshops across the country.

Karen Lange (Level 1A) started improvising after her friends staged an intervention and sent her to classes. She has been active in the DC improv scene for several years, performing with WIT's iMusical and DC ComedySportz. Karen is also an enthusiastic member of the DC acting community. Recent stage roles include Janie in Wonder of the World, Sorel in Hay Fever and Claire in Proof. She trained at WIT, ComedySportz, several national festivals, and Studio Theatre. She has taught people of all ages in a wide variety of topics including computer software, creative problem solving, and improv.

"Karen is wonderfully bubbly and enthusiastic."

"A great teacher; always well prepared, supportive, and fun."

John Lee has happily been sucked into the WIT universe, having been a student, operative, TA and now teacher. Before stumbling on WIT during a drunken night on U street, Jon taught the basics of improv to children and adults in Florida, the Dominican Republic and inside his heart. Also an accomplished writer and director, Jon was a founding member of the Loose Change Players, a guerilla theater in Columbia, Missouri. Jon thinks improv is an incredible creative tool for everyone. He wants you to be happy. Indulge him.

“high energy, totally supportive.”

“Confident and enthusiastic.”

“high energy and enthusiasm . . . supportive and encouraging.”

Mark Pagán has been in the improv world since 2001. Coming from a background in film and education, Mark jumped into improv as a bit of experimentation, which he's since found a love for. Initially trained at Upright Citizens Brigade in New York, he began performing with various improv troupes before joining Street Meat. He performed with Street Meat for two years throughout the five boroughs, while taking workshops and classes at People's Improv Theater, Gotham City Improv, and other locales. After a two year hiatus from improv (and the country), Mark returned to it via the ensemble troupe, The Lodge, here in D.C. He's since studied at WIT, and now performs with Caveat and Season Six. Mark has been an educator all over the world and loves sharing the funny in the classroom. Take this class and be funny with him.

“He’s smart, funny, articulate, down to earth, well-prepared and laid back.”

“Mark was very good about giving feedback and guidance- he really pushed me, in a good way.”

“Mark rules!”

Travis Ploeger (Music 1, Music 2) most recently directed and performed in the popular and critically-acclaimed WIT production of iMusical: The Improvised Musical (coming back to WIT in March 2007!), and has also written and performed music for other WIT projects, including their 48-Hour Film Festival entry for 2006, and their most recent Seasonal Disorder show. A recent transplant from NYC, he was the music director and pianist for Chicago City Limits (both resident and national touring companies) from 1998 until 2006. He also still sometimes performs with I Eat Pandas, a group that improvises musicals using only two female actors and himself on the keys, which he helped create in 2004. He is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music, and is a season ticket holder of the Minnesota Vikings. For more information about Travis, please visit his website, www.travisploeger.com.

“His enthusiasm and energy are very contagious!”

“Travis gave supportive feedback to every student . . . he made everyone feel confident in their abilities regardless of experience or talent.”

“Travis made what’s rather hard and potentially embarrassing, (singing in public) easy and fun.”

Justin Purvis (Level 1A) got started doing improv at UMD-College Park with Erasable Inc back in 2001. Justin has trained under Mick Napier, Susan Messing, Joe Bill, as well as members of the Upright Citizens Brigade. Justin is a founding member of WIT's longform troupe, Caveat, as well as being in Season Six and WIT's onesixtyone. Justin also moonlights as WIT's class registrar, so you may have received an email from him once or twice. Justin laughs the hardest when he does improv, and he wants you to laugh, too. Go ahead, give him a try, you'll be glad you did.

"An encouraging teacher . . . he made the class a lot of fun for us.”

“Justin is an amazing performer . . . it’s nice that he’s able to take that skill and help others tap into it.”

“Created a fun and safe environment for us to play . . . he’s great at getting people to open up."

BJ Rudell (Level 1A, 1B) absolutely loves teaching. After hundreds of performances with Improvocation and with WIT's Mainstage ensemble (currently known as "onesixtyone"), he is now focused on teaching improv to anyone who wants to learn, or to learn more. A former student of WIT, since 2002 BJ has taught improv to hundreds of people of all skill levels. On the side, he also has taught hundreds of high school students through the Close Up Foundation and started two tutoring programs: one in New York City and another in Southeast Washington.

"BJ is one of the better teachers I've had, just in general. I've described his style to others as a cross between a Zen guru and a baseball coach."

"I've taken a lot in my years, and I've learned more in (BJ's) class than my past 6 years."

"BJ is fantastic. I wish all my teachers were like him."

Stuart Scotten is real happy he does improv. It's a fun thing to do, he has met a lot of great people, made some good friends and seen lots of new places- all from just playing around and satisfying his need for a creative outlet. He's taken all the WIT classes- they were ggrrreat!- is a proud member of the long form group "Season Six"...dot com :-) and thinks you should do improv too. So what are you waiting for? Sign up for a class today!!!

“Stuart is dually relaxed and focused. He is funny, insightful and serious . . . he has command of the class and engenders strengths to shine.”

“Stuart is a very comfortable leader and teacher. His knowledge of improv and approach was very easy and conducive to having fun.”

“I appreciate all the energy Stuart puts into the class because it keeps everyone else jazzed up, too.”

Greg Tindale began his Improv career as a student in the WIT training program. Learning from WIT's fantastic staff he transitioned from a student to a teacher and performer with the house troupe, JINX. Greg's professional background includes training and mentoring small business owners to help them grow their business. He believes lessons in Improv can benefit your life and lessons in life can benefit your Improv. Greg draws equally from Will Ferrell, Jerry Seinfeld, and Dave Chappelle as he does from Tony Robbins, Robert Kiyosaki, and Stephen Covey. Greg is passionate about working with his students on an individual basis to help them realize their personal brand of funny.

Anna Trester (Level 1A) discovered the joy of improv when she moved to DC in 2002. What began as a creative outlet from graduate studies has now turned into the subject of her graduate studies, but hey, that’s what happens when you open yourself up to yes-and. She is a member of the all- female troupe “The Shower” and she loves to teach so much that she wants to be a professor when she grows up. She is especially excited to be a part of WIT’s training program to be able help you discover your own hidden creative genius, and remind you that there are no such things as “mistakes.” With this realization, the possibilities are endless.

“The thing I liked best about her class was how much she cares about improv, how supportive she was and how professionally she ran the class.”

“It was easy to trust her judgment and rely on her. She is impressive and fills you with confidence.”

“Wonderful openness and acceptance of students and all ideas. A great environment to play in.”

Joe Uchno happened upon improv by signing up for a class at the UCB Theatre in New York. While there, he was able to study with and be inspired by some really great teachers. Discovering WIT was the best part of his move to DC in 2005. Through taking classes at WIT, he was able to study with and be inspired by some really great teachers. Joe performs with the house team JINX, and the ensemble Jackie. He has found that when he is not doing something improv-related, he misses it tremendously. Teaching improv, Joe has discovered, is way more fun than he thought it might be.

“He is a committed teacher and gives solid criticisms to scenework and always provides helpful suggestions to demonstrate how the scene could have been better.”

“He never wastes words.”

“Joe is a great improviser.”