is the Artistic Director of ComedySportz Philadelphia, where she has taught and performed improv for 14 years. In addition, Bobbi has taught improv at The University of the Arts, Villanova University, The Wharton School, Bucks County Community College, the Wilma Theatre, and the Walnut Street Theatre.

She has performed for nine years with the longform improv group LunchLady Doris, and performs with the interdisciplinary improv company Playback Philadelphia.

Bobbi has a Masters Degree in Theatre and has trained in Chicago at the i.O. Theater (formerly ImprovOlympic) and the Annoyance Theatre. She has taken classes and workshops with Joe Bill, Keith Johnstone, the Second City’s Michael Gellman, Mick Napier, Burn Manhattan, Susan Messing, and countless others.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT BOBBI:
"Bobbi was great at side coaching" - "helps you push yourself" - "the best instructor i've ever had"

Mark Bringhurst has been acting since elementary school. In addition to playing leading roles in high school, college, and community theatre productions, he has placed in the top three in two New Jersey state acting competitions. As a founding member of Philadelphia longform group MakeOut Clinic, Mark has performed in the Philadelphia Improv Festival, the Dirty South Improv Festival, the Baltimore Improv Festival, Delaware’s Improv Mini-Fest, the Del Close Marathon in New York City, and in Washington, D.C. with D.C. ComedySportz.

After several years of shortform improv classes through ComedySportz in Philly, Mark began improvising with Delaware Comedy Theatre (the home of Delaware TheatreSports). He now one of the coaches for DCT North, a chapter of DCT based around Wilmington, Delaware. Mark has studied longform improv through PHIT and around the country with instructors including: Joe Bill, Mark Sutton, Zach Ward, Justin Tyler, Jonathan Gabrus, Jay Olson, Melissa Cathcart, and Asaf Ronen. In addition, he has has studied musical improv with a variety of instructors, including the lovely ladies of I Eat Pandas.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT MARK:
"Mark is patient, smart and fun."

is a co-founder of the long-form improv group the Rare Bird Show and an original co-founder of the Philadelphia Improv Festival. Nathan studied acting at Oberlin College with Paul Moser, Tracey Fields and Jane Armitage.

Since moving to Philadelphia, he has worked with EgoPo productions, appearing in both mainstage productions of their 2007/2008 Tennessee Williams season. He appeared in the Spark Festival with Frashpoint Theater Company, and he appeared in the 2007 Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in the movie "Butch Jamie." He can be seen next in the Arden's production of "Our Town." If you find yourself in Olde City this summer, you may find Nathan portraying Thomas Jefferson for Once Upon a Nation's Independence After Hours tour.

Nathan recently accepted the position as first Theatrical Director at "Terror Behind the Walls," a haunted house fundraiser supporting Eastern State Penitentiary. He is in charge of an acting staff of over a hundred zombies. Yes, zombies.

Nathan likes to make people laugh, cry and scream.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT NATHAN:
"Nate is Great" - "really energetic and lively" - "I was really impressed at his ease and professionalism" - "He really makes you want to become more open in your improv, and gives great direction."

has been teaching improv for just over 18 years. She began her training with The Groundlings and Theatresports in Los Angeles, before going on to study at The Second City in New York. In addition, Karen has learned from a delightful mix of long form gurus, including Joe Bill and Jeff Worth.

She has been a member of ComedySportz Philadelphia, the longform group Lunchlady Doris, and the all-girl ensemble 13 Skirts. In addition Karen is one-half of the longform improv attack known as Killer Pussy. Along with Killer Pussy's Kelly Jennings she serves as co-artistic director of the Tapestry Theatre.

Karen started life as a dancer and you can catch her in your favorite music videos and dance movies of the late '80s and early '90s. Yup. Really.

started improvising at Cabrini College, where he ran On the Spot, a weekly short-form show that appeared at Skidmore College's National College Comedy Festival. He has taught improv to kids and adults, in classes and workshops for the past five years.

Matt learned improv from The Kids in the Hall's Kevin McDonald, Chris Gethard, Jed Resnik, Brett Christensen, Erik Tanouye, Lennon Parham, Kevin Patrick Robbins, Porter Mason, Kelly Jennings, Katina Corrao, and Topping Haggerty.

In 2003, he co-founded the Rare Bird Show, a longform improv group in Philadelphia that has appeared at: the Philadelphia Improv Festival, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Philadelphia's F. Harold Improv Festival, the Dirty South Improv Festival in Chapel Hill, The PIT in New York City, and the Del Close Marathon at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT MATT:
"Matt is the perfect low-key teacher" - "he did not make anyone feel awkward or wrong in their choices" - "very focused" - "focused, well-organized, fun, relaxed"

has worked as a professional actor, improviser, director and teacher for over 15 years and is a member of Actors Equity. She studied acting at Syracuse University and has improv training including classes and workshops with Jill Bernard, Joe Bill, Jeff Wirth, Mick Napier, Miles Stroth, Paul Grondy (to name a few).

A member of ComedySportz Philadelphia for over 14 years, Kelly also served as Co-Artistic Director for two years. She has taught at every level in their Comedy College (from high school thru adult post-advanced) and has also taught improv and acting workshops at The University of The Arts, C.W. Post Long Island University, Tapestry Theatre, and thru numerous award winning arts education organizations.

Kelly is a founding member of the long form group LunchLady Doris, the all women’s improv-sketch group 13 Skirts, and half of Tapestry Theatre’s improvised action adventure duo “Killer Pussy.” Local theater credits include Pig Iron Theater Company, Brat Productions, The Lantern Theater Company, 1812 Productions, and Tapestry Theatre. Kelly is the co-founder/co-artistic director of Tapestry Theatre.

is the founder of PHIT. In Philadelphia he performs longform with Industrial Improv. Prior to moving to Philadelphia in 2001 he lived outside Detroit, where he ran the sketch/improv group Second Suburb and appeared in the alternate production "Improv Survivor" at the Second City Detroit. He has also appeared at the UCB Theater and Magnet Theater in New York, and the Washington Improv Theater.

Greg has studied improv with over 20 teachers, including: Keith Johnstone, Ian Roberts and Matt Besser of the Upright Citizens Brigade, Armando Diaz, Joe Bill, members of the Chicago and Detroit Second City mainstage casts, Ari Voukydis, Owen Burke, Billy Merritt and numerous other teachers at the UCB Theatre.

When he isn't busy running PHIT, Greg teaches middle-school language arts in Camden, NJ as a Teach for America teacher.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT GREG:
"gives feedback right away that is fair and encouraging" - "obviously very experienced and talented" - "His interjections in scenes were well timed and right on the money and helped us understand what the overall goal of a scene" - "I don't mean to be extreme but how i feel about Greg is more than words can explain"

is the Co-Artistic Director of The Philly N Crowd, which performs weekly shows at The Actor's Center. Before coming to PHIT she taught improv for Delaware Theater Company and The Actor's Center.

She has a B.F.A. in Theater Arts from the University of the Arts and has been working in Philly as a professional actor, improvisor and teacher for several years. As a core ensemble member of Vagabond Acting Troupe she has appeared in many productions including the originally created Art of War, which received a Barrymore Nomination for Outstanding Ensemble.

Kristen has taken workshops with such improv notables as Jill Bernard and many members of the UCB Theatre in New York City. When she is not on stage, Kristen is incredibly absent minded and susceptible to fraud.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT KRISTEN:
"Great enthusiasm, very funny, and never rude, condescending or inattentive to those in class" - "makes a strong effort to address the individual needs of each student, and gives very specific feedback" - "I was able to shake my crush on her at the end of each class, but then of course it began again at the start of the next"

hails from Rochester, New York, where she graduated from the State University of New York College at Brockport with a Bachelor’s degree in Directing & Acting. Since 2001 Joanna has worked professionally at theatres in New York, Atlanta, Orlando, Philadelphia, Tampa, and Sydney, Australia. Her primary focus as both a teacher and a performer has been Johnstonian narrative improvisational theatre.

Joanna trained in narrative improv with Dad’s Garage Theatre Company in Atlanta and her improv credits include: Geva Comedy Improv (ensemble), The Apothecary (one half of the two-person group), Bombardier (ensemble), Asskite (one half of the two-person group), La Bon de Rue (one half of the two-person group), the University of Florida’s Business Leadership Improv Troupe (ensemble), Sydney University’s Improv Troupe (ensemble), the Hedgerow Theatre Improv Group (director/coach), Malarkey Jargon (director/coach), Dad’s Garage Theatre Company (ensemble), the Tumbling Daughter (one half of the two-woman group), and the ZuM SPieL Traveling Improv School (founder/manager).

She currently travels and teaches regular workshops including An Introduction to Narrative Improv & Storytelling, Spontaneity, Synchronicity, and Advanced Improv Technique (also known as How to Be Five Again), Theories of Improv, A Gentleman’s Game: The Importance of Charm and Graciousness in Improvisational Theatre, and How to Give Up: The Social Status of Status in the United States.

has been improvising for 6 years. While in college she founded Haverford's The Throng, which appeared at the Del Close Marathon in New York City. Since then she has performed with Rare Bird Show, Hypnotoad, and ComedySportz Philadelphia. In 2007 she was part of a three-woman improvisational clowning group Pony Coat, along with Kristen Schier and Alli Soowal, that won the innagural season of Troika - Philly's 3-Person competitive improv tournament.

In addition to performing Alexis is a member of the Village Idiutz (the organizers of the Philadelphia Improv Festival). She has taught at PHIT since it's inception, as well offered her experience as an improv instructor to other varied groups. When Alexis isn't improvising, she keeps a messy home in West Philadelphia and devotes most of her time to maintaining a pulse.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT ALEXIS:
"I enjoyed her class teaching style alot." - "a terrific instructor. She's animated, smart, and funny, but most importantly, she knows a ton about improv and always gives insightful feedback." - "always super enthusiastic"

has worked as a professional actor, improviser, teacher and writer for over fifteen years. He is a member of SAG, Actors Equity, the Writer’s Guild and the Motion Picture Screen Cartoonists Guild.

After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts he trained and performed with The Groundlings, The Second City LA, and Los Angeles Theatresports for over ten years At Los Angeles Theatresports he regularly performed in the groundbreaking long-form show, TRIPLE PLAY. He later wrote for Paramount, Fox and Walt Disney Television and was a story analyst for Artisan Entertainment, IFC, Avenue Pictures and director Michael Mann.

David has taught improv to adults, teens and kids on both Coasts. In Los Angeles, he developed the popular teen improv stage show LAUGH OUT.

In July 2005, David founded the Delaware Comedy Theatre. In addition to teaching workshops and classes for DCT, he has also served as director for the sold-out shows “A Chili Sumo Christmas” and “Cupid Shoots Self In Foot.”

WHAT STUDENTS SAY ABOUT DAVID:
"He is a God." - "He really expanded my knowledge and beliefs about what good improv could be." - "WONDERFUL energy and a terrific personality" - "Dave was awesome."

Ali Reza Farahnakian (SAG, AEA, WGA, AFTRA) studied extensively with Charna Halpern and Del Close in the 1990s at the ImprovOlympic. He was also a founding member of the UCB. At the Improvolympic he was on the famed house team "The Family" for over four years, directed by Del Close. At The Second City he was part of the Jeff-nominated show "The Revelation Will Not Be Televised" (dir. Jeff Richmond) for which he received a Jeff nomination for Best Actor in a Revue. His one-man show "Word of Mouth" was an official selection to the US Comedy Arts Festival 2001 in Aspen.

He was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its 25th anniversary season and received a Writers Guild Award nomination. Television credits include Law and Order, Criminal Intent, Special Victims Unit, All My Children, Third Watch, 30 Rock and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. In 2002 he founded The Peoples Improv Theater, aka THE PIT in New York City, where he teaches and performs.

Joe Bill is one half of the Nationally Touring, Real Time Improv show, BASSPROV (along with Mark Sutton) and is one of the co-founders of Annoyance Theater, where he performed in and/or directed over 50 productions from 1987-2000.  Credits include the smash hits " Co-ed Prison Sluts", "The Screw Puppies", "The Real Live Brady Bunch", "Manson: The Musical", "That Darned Antichrist" and "Donkey Improv".  He taught improvisation from 1993-2001 for Annoyance.  Joe also tours "SCRAM!", his 2 person show with Minneapolis’ Improv Lady Genious, Jill Bernard. 

Joe has coached and performed with numerous ensembles at IO (formerly Improv Olympic) from 1985-1987 and 1995-present.  Highlights include Inside Vladimir, The Lottery & Georgia Pacific with whom he developed the innovative, lights out longform “The Bat”.  Currently Joe performs with Improv Supergroup, Weasiliscious.  He teaches in the IO Training Center, and he plays in "The Armondo Diaz Theatrical Experience and Hootenanny" when he’s in town.  Joe teaches as a Guest Artist in The Second City Conservatory. 

Joe has taught and directed his other signature form, “The Scramble” in Chicago, New York, Miami, Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City and Phoenix where it has been performed by diverse Improvisers from different Improvisational Theaters all over the United States.  He has taught Improvisation all over the U.S., Canada, The U.K. and Netherlands.  Joe started doing Improv in 1977, and his teaching is heavily influenced by Del Close, Mick Napier, Mark Sutton and Martin DeMaat.  Joe is an Improv Junkie.

graduated from Marist College where he was a director of the HuMarists (campus sketch and improv troupe).  Gabrus chased the dream and came to NYC to be a PA for VH1.  Unbeknownst to him the real dream was a lot less lucrative.

Jonathan has been studying and performing at the UCB theatre for 2 years.  He has studied under Michael Delaney, Billy Merritt, Bob Dassie, TJ and Dave, Armando DIaz, Amy Poehler and Matt Walsh. He is a current member of UCB harold team Mailer Daemon.  He performs sketch and Improv around NYC and beyond with Justin Tyler as part of Tybrus.

He has been seen on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, as well as in many small commercials and promos, and his name can be seen in the back of Toyfare magazine.

is an instructor-in-residence each year, when he teaches a weekend intensive.

He is a professor emeritus at the University of Calgary, and the founding Artistic Director of the Loose Moose Theatre. For ten years (1956 - 1966) Keith worked at England's Royal Court Theatres; at various times he was their chief play-reader, was responsible for the educational work, directed the Royal Court Theatre studio, and wrote and directed plays - eventually becoming an Associate Director of the Theatre. He then founded The Theatre Machine improvisational group in England which toured in many countries. Keith taught at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art until he left England, and has taught or given workshops at major European Theatre Schools and Universities.

He is the writer of many plays presented in North America and Europe, and has directed in several theatres internationally. Keith is the author of "Impro" (Methuen) one of the key books on improvisation and is now translated into several languages; and also has recently completed "Impro For Storytellers" (Faber and Faber), a guide to teaching improvisation and Theatresports. He also writes a newsletter which is sent to Theatresports centers internationally. Keith is the inventor of many new forms of improvisation, including Theatresports, Micetro Improv, Gorilla Theatre, and The Life Game, which, along with his techniques, are now being used world-wide.

Glennis is a really great writer and performer living in New York. She studied improv at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and has appeared on Conan O'Brien and in numerous commercials and voice overs. But what were those commercials and voice overs, you ask? How about the voice of Playtex Gentle Glide tampons? And an on-camera appearance with the silver fox of all silver foxes; Anderson Cooper? Pretty jazzy, eh? We think so.

Glennis can be seen on stage with her musical improv group I Eat Pandas or with her writing partner Liz performing in one of their many amazing sketch shows.

is an improviser living in New York City, although he learned to love improv in Chicago. He is a resident performer at the Magnet Theater where he appears in more shows than anyone could possibly keep track of, including: Hello Laser, Flea Flurkus, and The Golden Palace Ha! Rollers.

He has appeared at the Philadelphia Improv Festival in 2006 and 2007, and is a Magnet Theater approved Coach. On the internet he was part of the popular internet TV show Project Improviser.

When he isn't improvising Peter enjoys music, eating, and hockey.

is a producer, writer, performer, lover and fighter in New York City. Originally from Richmond, VA, she came to New York to make her dreams come true. Sadly, none of the dreams included becoming rich. Instead they are mostly about doing cool stuff with people she likes, which is also pretty good when you think about it.

Eliza is one half of a tiny musical improv group, I Eat Pandas, — a Time Out NY Critic’s Pick, 2005 ECNY nominee for Best Musical Act. She is also the host and co-producer of The BEATdown, a monthly comedy rap-battle, and a member of Baby Wants Candy. As a voice artist, Eliza plays Kitty Pryde in Marvel.com’s animated “Astonishing X-men”, Chick in a series of Farminals shorts by So! Animation, and a number of characters in a new online cartoon from the creators of Red Vs. Blue called “Breakroom”. She also plays the voice of Roxy Babylon in an upcoming Tek Jansen cartoon on The Colbert Report. Eliza is featured in many Channel102.net shorts, including audience favorite “Sexual Intercourse American Style”.

Eliza’s solo person show, “Eliza Skinner is: SHAMELESS!” ran for 8 months at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. “….SHAMELESS!” was featured by Time Out as a critics pick, and nominated for a 2007 ECNY for “Best One Person Show”. Her performance as Amy in the show can be seen in “Amy At The Club.”

is the founder and Artistic Director of New York's NewFormat Improvisation. He was one of the youngest graduates of The Second City Conservatory in Chicago (in 1999), and has been working in Improvisation for his entire life. Jason admits his teaching style is different. He likes to use phrases like "paint with moments" and "Life is Improv, and improv is an artform therefore life is the art"!

Mark Sutton is a founding member of The Annoyance Theater and he has been performing, teaching, writing, and directing comedy in Chicago for the past twenty years. For the past six years he is best known for being part of the hit improv duo BASSPROV with CIF Artistic Associate Joe Bill. BASSPROV has performed nationally and internationally at numerous improv festivals. BASSPROV debuted in 2002 at CIF’s Improv All Night and for the past five years headlined on CIF’s Main Stage with special guests Dan Castellaneta, Mo Collins, Tim Kazursinky, Emo Phillips, Horatio Sanz, and Fred Willard.

He also performed in the critically acclaimed improv duo Sutton and Hallal, and they appeared at numerous improv festivals across North America. He appeared in over 65 shows at The Annoyance Theater including Co-Ed Prison Sluts; Manson: The Musical; and The Real Live Brady Bunch. He has appeared in several independent films including Fatty Drives the Bus; Waiting For The Man; Watch; and Penniless: One Man's Crusade.

Currently, he teaches and performs for The Second City BizCo. He is also a member of the faculty at The Annoyance, The Second City Training Center, and he has taught at almost every North American improv festival. He is a former director of The Second City National Touring Company, and he directed the Canadian premiere of Co-Ed Prison Sluts for Second City Toronto. A former Associate Producer of the Chicago Improv Festival, he became the festival’s Artistic Director in 2006.

is an actor, writer and the founding artistic director of Pig Brooch Theatre. He has been performing improv and sketch for over six years and is currently a performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York. His sketch group, Cubicle, was named 'Funniest sketch group in New York' by the 2005 'The Funny' sketch group competition. He performs improv and two-person sketch with Jonathan Gabrus as Tybrus. As Pig Brooch Improv, he performs and teaches improv at conferences, colleges, and high schools across the country.

Justin is also a published author, staff writer for Jest magazine and a contributing writer for Mad magazine.

has studied with all four original members of the UCB, and has trained with Joe Bill, Mick Napier, Rebecca Sohn and Mark Sutton of the Annoyance Theater, as well as with Second City's Susan Messing. He has also studied theater at Atlantic Theater Company, and has been trained in pro wrestling.

He has appeared on "The Upright Citizens Brigade" on Comedy Central and on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," and can currently be seen on VH-1's "Best Week Ever."

In his seven years with the UCBT he has appeared in countless shows; he is probably proudest of "Wicked F***in' Queeyah," a longform improvised tribute to his hometown (Boston).

Ari has written for "Esquire," "SPY," "Entertainment Weekly," SNL's "Weekend Update," and used to be an ask-the-boy columnist for "YM." His natural enemy is the cobra.

Zach Ward has been performing and directing improv comedy professionally for over a decade. Executive Producer of the DSI Comedy Theater, Founder and Executive Producer of North Carolina's Dirty South Improv Festival, Chapel Hill native and proud Carolina graduate, Zach has also been employed as Associate Producer for the Chicago Improv Festival (2003-2006) and Director of Education for ComedySportz Chicago (2003-2004).

Zach has received critical acclaim from the Chicago Reader and the Chicago Tribune for his performance with DUAL EXHAUST (Critic's Choice, Highly Recommended, Super CageMatch Champion 2003-2004, Top 10 "Most Influential Comedy Duos of the Past Decade") and THE BEATBOX (Critic's Choice, Best Bet, Chicago Improv Festival w/ Mo Collins). Zach can currently be seen performing with MISTER DIPLOMAT, COMEDYSPORTZ NORTH CAROLINA, and surprise 2-person shows during BEST SHOW EVER at the DSI COMEDY THEATER.

Zach has studied the art of improvisation with Todd Stashwick (Burn Mahattan), Mick Napier and Susan Messing (Annoyance), Bob Dassie, Craig Cackowski and TJ Jagodowski (ImprovOlympic), Matt Besser (Upright Citizens Brigade), Amy Poehler (Saturday Night Live), Michael Gelman (Second City), and with every student he teaches.

A coach and mentor for both professional and college improvisers, Zach proudly serves on the Board of Directors for YESAND.COM and IMPLOSION, the College Improv Resource.