JOIN OUR TEAM
Want to be our next Administrative Assistant?
We’re looking for a part-time, hybrid Administrative Assistant to join the Mockingbird team!
If you're organized, communicative, and love supporting creative work, apply now.
💼 $16.50/hr | ⏰ 13–15 hrs/week | 🎭 Perks include FREE shows, class DISCOUNTS & nonprofit experience!
Our People
Every member of our team brings a unique and inspired quality to our theater.
From performers to staff to board members, everyone at Mockingbird Improv is experienced in their fields and committed to quality. Often friends outside of “work” they are very supportive of each other (just like an improv team?) Not only are they talented, but they are all having so much fun, it’s impossible not to enjoy watching them do their thing.
Instructors
Jackie (she/her) first fell in love with improv in 2006 when she realized she would never have to leave play behind her. She started performing and organizing events in San Diego in 2014, going on to start the youth program at Old Town Improv Co. where she then become a teacher and Program Manager. With the theater's permanent close in 2020, Jackie refused to let the joy peter out and pulled the community back together to form Mockingbird Improv. Spurred by her passion for helping people flourish through their own their creativity, she is now pursuing an MA in Expressive Arts Therapy.
Jackie Bookstein
Chris has been studying improv since 2001. He’s been blessed to have learned the art form from teachers at San Diego TheatreSports(SDTS), National Comedy Theater, Finest City Improv, Sidestage Improv, BATs, and Mockingbird Improv. After many years performing with SDTS, he was the founding member of Husky Improv, the sexiest improv team in San Diego, Up Yours!, puppet improv, and a collection of other indie groups. Chris has also enjoyed teaching improv classes at SDTS, The La Jolla Comedy Store and The Comedy Palace in San Diego. Chris admires the work of Peter Gabriel, Marina Abramovic, and Fred Rogers. He and his amazing wife Unison have two amazing kids Zion and Zachary.
Chris “Jazz” Colthurst
Sean has performed with and coached a number of improv teams in New York City theaters including Broadway Comedy Club, PIT, Magnet, and UCB. His directing credits include the feature film ACT SOCIAL starring Colin Mochrie (Winner-Film Heals Award-Manhattan Film Festival) and VELO, a solo clown show. Sean relocated to San Diego in early 2023 and is excited to bring his honest and encouraging teaching style to the local improv community.
Sean Mulvihill
Whitney has been performing and actively learning improv since 2016. She studied at Finest City Improv and completed there conservatory program in 2018. Since then she’s taken loads of workshops with talented improvisers from all over the world. Shes performed in All Hands On Deck (2017-2023) and Point of Passion (2017-2019, 2022) a long form improvised soap opera). Presently you can also catch her in her Australian improv Duo, Hacky Sacks and Khaki Slacks, and soon in the new show Mockingbird show Adrift! She firmly believes the world would be a better place if everyone in the world took at least one improv class! Whitney loves that improv allows her to be who or whatever she wants on stage and allows her to feel supported in those choices!
Whitney Seymour
Jenn is an enthusiastic improviser who thrives on the magic of the stage. Having a flair for the dramatic she found her skills well suited in sales and marketing. With over ten years of experience she used her talents to bring innovative marketing strategies to life. Working with a plethora of different types of companies and clients has given her the life experiences to diversify her tactics. Thinking outside of the box, while maintaining a high level of communication builds a great scene and a great team!
Jenn Wessels
Michael is an improv performer and instructor with nearly a decade of experience. He performs on All Hands on Deck, Improv vs Stand-Up, and Lyrics and Laughs—the house teams at Mockingbird, where he’s been since the venue opened. He’s trained with teacher/directors from Chicago’s legendary Second City and has had the pleasure of performing alongside improv greats like Ryan Gaul and Dave Razowsky. Outside of improv, Michael plays keys and sings in his band, and he brings that same energy, rhythm, and deep sense of play to every class he teaches.
Michael Yiu
Amber is an improviser, teacher, coach, and bona fide improv nerd. She earned her BA in Theatre with a minor in Dance from UCSD, where she performed short-form and is now a licensed massage therapist and acupuncturist. Amber rediscovered her love of improv in 2016 and has since performed with over 20 teams in theaters around the globe from California to Ireland. Her strengths in improv include Narrative/Genre work, physicality, improvised clown, and slow, grounded, emotionally rich scenes. She performs regularly at Finest City Improv with Genre House, Belle Reve (improvised Tennessee Williams), and musical team Ditty Heights. As a teacher and coach, Amber is dedicated to helping fellow improvisers discover their unique voice and artistic joy.
Amber Largent
Adam has been improvising since before the turn of the century, when his days performing in musicals and plays were supplanted by his love of getting on stage without a net (and helping hundreds of others do the same). He has studied with, taught at, and/or performed with many troupes in New York, Chicago, and of course, San Diego. He spent 7 years on the faculty of Chicago’s Second City Training Center teaching both comedy writing and improv before coming to San Diego.
Adam Raichel
Keith has been performing improv and comedy since 2007. In that time he has studied and performed with some of the best improvisers all across the country, taking nuggets of wisdom wherever he can and dipping them into the BBQ sauce of knowledge. He won a comedy award once (it was a long time ago) and he has even written for TV (local TV still counts!). Keith is also very uncomfortable referring to himself in the third person.
Keith Foster
Olivia has been practicing and living improv for over a decade. She has performed on teams at the National Comedy Theatre, Finest City, and an embarassing amount of college and high school improv. The freedom to explore and the ability to connect with others is what draws Olivia to this artform. Using comedy as a way to build confidence and improve teamwork skills, she brings a unique teaching style to Mockingbird Improv. Olivia performs weekly at Mockingbird with Rat City, All Hands on Deck, and Friday Night Flix!
Olivia Heifetz
Josh (he/him) is a graduate of the training programs at Finest City Improv, National Comedy Theatre and the Magnet Theater (NYC). He is known for his energetic and supportive play. His classes are focused on creating a fun, and safe space where all of his students get the repetitions and support they need.
Josh Rowland
Trevor has been in a relationship with improv and sketch since 2008. He has trained and performed in Los Angeles at the Westside Comedy Theater, Groundlings, Second City, UCB, iO West, and The Improv Space. Trevor also completed the sketch programs at Groundlings and UCB, which gave him the tools to develop pilots for A&E and Comedy Central. Trevor has toured the country performing improv and sketch for colleges and corporations with the award-winning short form troupe – Mission Improvable. He has also taught and coached at The Improv Space, iO West, Westside Comedy Theater, RISE Comedy (Denver), and Finest City Improv where he performs with Deep Dish while also producing Spiked Punch.
Trevor Tevel
Irene started doing improv in High School and fell back in love with it in 2018. She is on several house teams and indie teams in San Diego, and she was in the 2024 Fringe Festival with her sketch team Okay Sketch. She is a full time artist, part time bookseller, and would love to chat with you about any kind of art anytime. Need a book recommendation? Please ask her. Please. She has an English Literature degree and haunts bookstores like a nerdy ghost.
Irene Deniston
Erica is originally from British Columbia, Canada where she has a BA in theater and film from the University of British Columbia. Erica has been involved in theater and improv since a very young age and is passionate about improv and the wonderful art form that it is. Erica also has an MA in Organizational Leadership, where she used improv as a way to improve culture and increase trust within organizations. She has studied improv for the last 10 years and has taught in San Diego for the last seven. Erica has taken improv classes from instructors from around the world, including particularly influential instructors such as Carla Cackowski, Jill Bernard, Jaime Moyer, Craig Cackowski, Nick Armstrong, Ithamar Enriquez, Jason Pardo, Brian O’Connell, Amey Goerlich, and Ptolemy Slocum. You can catch her performing most weeks and has a cat and a dog she loves very much, is obsessed about all things miniature, and is an avid knitter.
Erica Clermon
Peter has been practicing and performing improv for 25 years in the San Francisco Bay Area and San Diego. He helped co-found Mockingbird Improv in 2021. He has made films, been a visual artist, performed in improv and traditional theater and is, of course, working on a podcast. He performs in Lyrics & Laughs and Adrift, at Mockingbird.
Peter Jacques
Mae has been teaching improv for 8 years since developing Virginia’s Operation Improv curriculum for the nonprofit Armed Services Arts Partnership. Mae has studied improv performance at both the Second City Conservatory and Groundlings Core Track. She has been on at least a dozen house teams and indie teams at theaters spanning the country, including genre, premise-based, Harold, JTS Brown, movie, musical, puppet, and short form. Her teaching philosophy has been shaped by Teaching Artist training from PsychArmor and psychodrama methods at Duke University and other some of which informed her work in her Masters in Cognitive Neuroscience and her M.Ed. in Instructional Design. Some of her specialized skills include film production, film and theater acting, Shakespeare, vocal performance, sketch, clown, stage combat, and standup. Her standup was featured in a PBS documentary in 2016. Her mission is to unblock shame & fear to tap into every player’s inner genius.
Mae Brayton
Lennie (she/her) discovered improv in 2012 and can’t imagine life without it. She has a background in theatre and music, and has studied improv with Cornerstone, Ruby LA, UCB, and NCT. Her favorite thing about improv is its unapologetic celebration of weird. As a Latina, she is determined to create safe, inclusive spaces that celebrate diversity in the local theatre community. Lennie also enjoys museums, exploring the outdoors, and vibing with her friends, her partner, and their furry buddies, Albie and Roxy. She can be spotted in the wild doing improv with Mockingbird’s “Adrift” house team and her duo, “Jeepers Peepers.” She also wants you to know that your outfit looks great today - neat shoe choice!
Lennie Macias
Andrew has been performing and teaching improv for 13 years. He has a degree in theater and uses his theatrical expertise to bring magic to some of San Diego’s best storytelling improv shows like Book Club, Point of Passion, and so many more. Plus he’s just so dang funny. His depth of experience and supportive teaching style is guaranteed to reignite your Improv mojo!
Andrew Katseanes
Ellen (she/her) grew up with The Second City in Chicago, which was more Home to her than any apartment her family rented. For its first ground-breaking 25 years, her father was the club's iconic Music Director; her mother was Operations Manager for 40 years. Improv is in the marrow of Ellen's bones; it's in her DNA, which takes suggestions, adores collaboration and does not need a mic. Ellen trained at Second City primarily with Don DePollo and Martin De Maat, who called her very first improv showing on the Second City E.T.C. stage "So good it was scary." Ellen's work in performance (both improv and dance) has been seen in the US from coast to coast, in Europe and in South Africa.
Ellen Kaz
Al (they/them) got their start in improv in Chicago almost a decade ago. They are a graduate of Chicago’s Second City Conservatory, IO, and the Annoyance Theater. Al has performed on many teams over the years and is currently on the house team Push Play at Finest City Improv as well as multiple indie teams. Al loves getting to share their love for improv with others through teaching and works to create a safe, supportive, and fun environment in the classes they teach.
Al Anthis
John has a great appreciation for improv as an art form due to its collaborative nature. John has had over 10 years learning, teaching and performing improv, and has had a great joy doing so. There is no question that John credits his experience with improv as a major improvement to life in general. At the risk of sounding a little cultish, John would like to encourage anyone and everyone to learn and apply the fundamental lessons of improv at as much as possible and wherever applicable. He promises you will not regret it.
John Lopez
Jeff is a San Diego native and has been an actor and performer from an early age, studying Theatre at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Television, Film and New Media from San Diego State University with Emphasis in Critical Studies. For years, he had played the beloved SeaWorld character Biff, among many others, where he also produced and directed award-winning shows and events and created the story treatment for a new children’s playland, Ocean Explorer. He thrives on creating fun experiences for people of all ages to enjoy and laugh about.
Jeff Hillman
Cory fell in love with improv and comedy while studying it at California State Long Beach and has pursued comedy since then through one form after the other. Cory has performed improv and musical improv in Los Angeles, New York, and San Diego, but also has experience in stand up, freestyling, and video production. You can see Cory perform on All Hands On Deck, On That Note or on the indie team the Downton Daddies. Despite his many facial tattoos and muscular figure, Cory is a real softy, so feel free to chat with him about anything you like.
Cory Coogan
Nick is a writer and performer who has been studying and doing improv since he was 11! He has trained and performed at UCB LA, Second City Chicago, iO Chicago, Annoyance, National Comedy Theater, and Finest City Improv (so yeah, he knows a thing or two about improv). Favorite credits include singing in the choir in The Hunchback of Notre Dame at La Jolla Playhouse, and writing a play with puppets called Ozombie bin Laden: in 3D! Nick looks forward to teaching YOU how to treat everyone like poets and geniuses!
Nick Scutti
Aidan has been doing improv since 2011 — and considers it his religion. He trained with Upright Citizens Brigade and ComedySportz in L.A. before returning to San Diego, where he performs with Mockingbird’s Improv vs. Stand Up and Telenovela house teams. In class, Aidan focuses on the mechanics of strong scene work and the power of collaboration to have fun on stage.
Aidan Ghosh
Masha has been involved in Improv since 2008, starting as a student and later transitioning to teaching during the pandemic. She taught online for several months before launching an Improv program in San Diego, where she taught a recurring class for 3 years. She continues teaching this class and also works as a Level 2 instructor at Mockingbird Improv. She’s seen first hand the positive changes Improv brings to people's lives, both in and out of the classroom. She’s passionate about using Improv to foster creativity, build relationships, and support self-development in others. When she’s not doing Improv in class she enjoys doing it during bad dates :)
Masha Ioffe
staff
Jackie first fell in love with improv in 2006 as a creative outlet and an embracing community. She studied improv and theater in college and has immersed herself in a wide range of improv styles from short form to highly experimental two-hour improvised plays. She returned to San Diego in 2014 where she began both performing and organizing in the improv community. She helped innovate a community engagement event called The Lab with Sidestage Improv and later founded a youth program with Old Town Improv Co. (OTIC). She worked as OTIC’s Program Manager for several years before the pandemic saw the permanent close of the theater. Refusing to let the laughter die out she reassembled the team and founded Mockingbird Improv where she continues to pursue her passion for helping people unleash creative flow and build joy and connection in the community.
Jackie Bookstein
Education Director
Peter has been practicing and performing improv for 25 years. He helped co-found Mockingbird Improv in 2021. He earned a BA in Visual Communication with an emphasis in Graphic Design from San Francisco State University. He has made films, been a visual artist, performed in improv and traditional theater and is, of course, working on a podcast. He now brings his knowledge and experience to the theater as Design Director in addition to teaching and performing.
Peter Jacques
Design Director
Jenn is an enthusiastic improviser who thrives on the magic of the stage. Having a flair for the dramatic she found her skills well suited in sales and marketing. With over ten years of experience she used her talents to bring innovative marketing strategies to life. Working with a plethora of different types of companies and clients has given her the life experiences to diversify her tactics. Thinking outside of the box, while maintaining a high level of communication builds a great scene and a great team!
Jenn Wessels
Executive Director
Board of directors
Mae has been in love with improv for well over a decade and began teaching it in 2017 when she developed the original Operation Improv curriculum for the nonprofit Armed Services Arts Partnership for veterans, active duty, and military families. Mae studied improv at the Second City Conservatory and Groundlings Core Track and has performed on house teams across the country in her travels as a military spouse. At Mockingbird she currently directs Broadway Unscripted–the narrative musical house team–and teaches in the Advanced Training Program, where her approach is informed by community care modalities such as psychodrama, Playback Theatre, Theatre of the Oppressed, and special population training from PsychArmor. These modalities were researched in part in pursuit of graduate work—comprising an M.Ed., an M.A. Cognitive Neuroscience, J.D. Law, and LLM International Law (the last three concurrently at Duke). Her clinic work in law was working with startups, and she has been on fundraising, grant writing, and outreach teams in many nonprofits over the years. Her goal for 24-25 is to foster deeper communication and more impactful collaboration with this amazing team so Mockingbird Improv can continue to thrive and find new ways to serve our community.
Mae Brayton
Mary MacFarlane
Lisa started her journey with Mockingbird Improv as a student, just this year. Yet, as a narrative-therapy trained social worker, widow, cancer survivor, podcast host, and author, she has long been practicing the “yes, and” principles in both her personal and professional lives. In fact, one of the chapters of her book, Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss is called, “Why Improv Skills Help”. Lisa recognizes the healing power of play, being present, staying curious, deep listening, being flexible and adaptable. That’s why she’s delighted to join the board to help bring the benefits of improv to a broader community.
Lisa Keefauver
Dale began his improv journey in January 2024. Originally from eastern Kentucky, Dale moved to San Diego in 2018. He has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and is pursuing a Masters degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Financial Management. For 24-25, he plans to keep Mockingbird great and help it continue to grow by fostering inclusivity, communication and creativity to accurately reflect the spirit of the city which he is proud to call home.
Dale Hopkins
Belle began acting in plays and musicals before delving into nearly 10 years of improv, from ComedySportz in high school , Seoul City Improv in Korea, and finally to Mockingbird Improv in San Diego. She has also acted professionally on camera in Seoul, Korea. She now performs on several house teams as well as coordinates Indie Night, finding joy in giving improv teams a place to perform and connect within the community.
Belle Fulton
Erica’s been doing improv since 2018, performing on different teams, playing at festivals, and even acting in some award-winning sketch comedies. She’s especially into the Slacker form, where she gets to dive into fast-paced scenes, and she absolutely loves throwing out terrible accents on stage just for the fun of it.
Erica Oberbauer Sutton
Lesley brings over two decades of experience as a dedicated mental health clinician, working primarily with high school students—an environment where adaptability, quick thinking, and empathy are essential, not unlike the world of improv. While she’s not a performer herself, she’s a big fan of the art form and was introduced to it by her husband. Lesley quickly became an enthusiastic audience member, finding joy and plenty of laughter in every performance. Laughter and genuine connection have always been central to how Lesley supports others and takes care of her own mental health. She believes strongly in the power of humor to bring people together and create community—something she sees reflected in the mission of Mockingbird. As Secretary of the Board of Directors, Lesley is excited to support the growth of such an amazing organization that brings people together for the purpose of joy and fun.
Lesley Johnson
Lee's first improv show, after six classes in 1989, was in front of 170 people. A lifelong introvert, he was terrified; his knees were literally knocking together in fear. Since then he has performed in thousands of shows across the country doing comedic, dramatic, and musical improv. He continues to be fascinated by the change in people’s lives improv can spark. Facing his fear of being on stage helped Lee find his inner child, taught him to play again, ensured laughter in his life, and even helped him grow from a software developer in a cubicle to a clean energy business leader. You can check out his climate change mitigation podcast at TheClimateChampions.com and listen to him improvise a closing rap to wrap-up each episode.
Lee Krevat
Karallyn Kruse
Josh (he/him) is a graduate of the training programs at Finest City Improv, National Comedy Theatre and the Magnet Theater (NYC). He is known for his energetic and supportive play. His classes are focused on creating a fun, and safe space where all of his students get the repetitions and support they need.
Josh Rowland
John Paul Lopez has a great appreciation for improv as an art form due to its collaborative nature. John has had over 10 years learning, teaching and performing improv, and has had a great joy doing so. There is no question that John credits his experience with improv as a major improvement to life in general. At the risk of sounding a little cultish, John would like to encourage anyone and everyone to learn and apply the fundamental lessons of improv at as much as possible and wherever applicable. He promises you will not regret it.
John Lopez
Chris has been studying improv since 2001. He’s been blessed to have learned the art form from teachers at San Diego TheatreSports(SDTS), National Comedy Theater, Finest City Improv, Sidestage Improv, BATs, and Mockingbird Improv. After many years performing with SDTS, he was the founding member of Husky Improv, the sexiest improv team in San Diego, Up Yours!, puppet improv, and a collection of other indie groups. Chris has also enjoyed teaching improv classes at SDTS, The La Jolla Comedy Store and The Comedy Palace in San Diego. Chris admires the work of Peter Gabriel, Marina Abramovic, and Fred Rogers. He and his amazing wife Unison have two amazing kids Zion and Zachary.
Chris Colthurst
Jenn Park