Improv Playhouse Staff

Improv Playhouse Staff

The Improv Playhouse® staff is an accomplished ensemble of professional artists, educators, directors, and creative leaders committed to excellence in the performing arts. Drawing upon extensive experience across theatre, film, comedy, music, and arts education, our team brings professional insight and thoughtful instruction to students and performers at every level—from first-time participants to seasoned artists.  Our instructors meet each individual where they are, encouraging artistic growth, confidence, discipline, and creative discovery. Together, they reflect the high standards, collaborative spirit, and personal attention that have distinguished Improv Playhouse® for more than 25 years.

SENIOR STAFF

David Brian Stuart
Founder, Executive Producer and Executive Director

David Brian Stuart is the founder, executive producer, and executive director of Improv Playhouse®, a multifaceted performing arts and entertainment organization he established in 2000. Serving Libertyville, Chicago’s North and Northwest suburbs, and southern Wisconsin, Improv Playhouse presents professional improv comedy, stand-up, theatrical productions, live radio dramas, corporate entertainment, and special events. Its acclaimed training center complements these offerings with programs in improvisation, acting, musical theatre, filmmaking, and media arts for youth and adults at every stage of their creative journey.  A professional actor, director, producer, playwright, acting and team-building facilitator, David brings decades of experience across theatre, film, television, voiceover and arts education. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing from Southern Illinois University Carbondale Media Arts and is a graduate of The Second City Conservatory. His professional training includes mentorship under Josephine Forsberg, founder of Players Workshop of The Second City, whose influence helped shape generations of celebrated comedy and improvisational talent.  David also studied with distinguished improvisation instructors Keith Johnstone, Del Close, Martin de Maat, Mike Gellman and Norm Holly; pursued movement training with Dexter Bullard (DePaul University); and studied musical improvisation with Nancy Howland Walker. During his years with Players Workshop, he co-taught adult improvisation workshops with David Murphy, formerly of O’Connor Casting and The Green Room.  As a playwright, director and producer, David created The Last Supper Chronicles©, adapted from Josephine Forsberg’s The Gathering, and Voices of Liberty: A Celebration of America©, an original production commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary. He has directed hundreds of staged radio dramas, including It’s a Wonderful Life, Dracula and The Maltese Falcon, while performing such iconic roles as George Bailey and Sam Spade. His additional directing credits include The Gathering. Over the years, David has coached Improv Playhouse house ensembles and continues to lead master workshops in applied improvisation while developing curriculum for the IP Training Center. As a sought-after workshop facilitator in the B2B and corporate training sector, David leads his signature Beyond Yes/And workshops, helping teams achieve stronger collaboration, greater cohesion, creative problem-solving, and measurable results.  His film experience includes serving as associate producer and casting director of the award-winning independent feature Killing Poe, featuring Matt Bush, Julianna Guill, Cyrina Fiallo and Sunkrish Bala. Commercial voiceover and on-camera credits include campaigns for Empire, Sears, American Homes, AFSCME, Oscar Mayer and SC Johnson.  An accomplished voice actor, David portrayed David Hassid in the radio dramatization of the bestselling Left Behind series and has performed as a regular ensemble member of Unshackled!, the long-running radio drama produced by Chicago’s Pacific Garden Mission. Beyond the stage and studio, David and the Improv Playhouse team have designed and facilitated leadership development, communication and team-building programs for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations. His professional development also includes training through the Disney Institute and Harvard MBA Online in Business Strategy.  David is a member of SAG-AFTRA, the union representing professionals across film, television and radio, and has maintained affiliations with the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the Independent Feature Project. Through Improv Playhouse, he continues to champion artistic excellence, meaningful mentorship and the power of performance to inspire confidence, creativity and community.

Keith Johns
House Team Coach, Improvisation Instructor and Comedy Writer

Keith Johns is an accomplished improviser, actor, comedy writer, musician and performance coach whose artistic versatility and leadership have made him an integral part of Improv Playhouse®.  His journey into the performing arts began unexpectedly while working as a business and software analyst in Chicago. When a scheduled yoga class was unavailable, Keith discovered Kay Martinovich’s Actors Center just down the hall. What started as a spontaneous introduction to acting became a serious commitment to developing his craft. Under Martinovich’s mentorship, he completed advanced training in the Meisner technique, scene study, character development, and script analysis.  After moving to Libertyville, Keith continued his development at the IP Training Center, studying with founder David Brian Stuart and accomplished instructors Annie Calhoun, Tim Stoltenberg and Courtney Shaughnessy. His additional training includes work with Jeff Michalski, Tony Alcantar and Diane Christiansen, further expanding his experience in improvisation, commercial acting and film performance.  Keith emerged as a creative and organizational leader within IP’s house ensembles, helping develop and sustain performances featuring short-form and long-form improvisation, sketch comedy and musical improv. His experience as both a performer and coach continues to shape IP’s adult training programs and professional comedy ensembles.  A dedicated writer, Keith completed all six levels of Chicago’s Writers’ Loft program multiple times and developed his sketch-writing skills through performances and collaborations at Improv Playhouse, Under the Gun Theater, and other Chicago-area venues and festivals. He has also written material for stand-up comedians whose work has been performed at Gotham Comedy Club and Broadway Comedy Club in New York City.  A lifelong musician and accomplished jazz bassist, Keith brings a distinctive musical sensibility to his teaching and performance, with a particular passion for genre-based musical improvisation. He lives in Libertyville and is the proud father of two daughters.

Mansie O’Leary
Youth Programs Director and Musical Theatre Teaching Artist

Mansie O’Leary is an accomplished musical theatre educator, director, choreographer, and designer who brings extensive experience and creative versatility to Improv Playhouse®. Since 2009, she has worked on approximately 12 to 14 musical theatre productions annually, guiding young performers through every stage of the creative process.  As Youth Programs Director, Mansie develops and oversees programming that builds performance skills, confidence, and ensemble collaboration. Her instruction integrates acting, vocal technique and choreography, with an emphasis on diction, musicality, rhythm and the foundational movement vocabulary of musical theatre. She has led IP’s Triple Threat workshops and directed and choreographed numerous youth productions, including Broadway Bound performances and summer musical theatre programs.  Mansie holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Set and Costume Design from the University of Illinois and has studied classical voice and piano. She is also a sought-after costume designer whose custom work has supported theatrical productions, competitive figure skaters, rhythmic gymnasts, and dance and pom teams.  As the mother of a professionally trained senior-level figure skater, Mansie brings a valuable understanding of the commitment, scheduling demands, and personal balance involved in developing young talent. Her professional accomplishments also include recognition for excellence in team building. In addition to her leadership and teaching responsibilities, she offers individual vocal instruction.

Amy Cole
Operations & Administrative Coordinator | Daytime Lead | Systems

Amy Cole brings an exceptional combination of analytical expertise, organizational leadership, and theatrical experience to her role at Improv Playhouse®. With a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan, she offers a systems-oriented approach to operations while maintaining a deep appreciation for the creative energy that drives a performing arts organization.  As IP’s Operations & Administrative Coordinator and daytime lead, Amy supports daily operations, organizational systems, scheduling, internal communications, and coordination across the company’s entertainment, production, and training programs. Her ability to streamline processes and manage multiple priorities makes her a valuable resource for staff, performers, students and families alike.  Amy’s involvement in theatre began as a parent volunteer supporting her children’s performances and grew into an extensive career behind the scenes. Her costume design credits include Boeing Boeing for Three Brothers Theatre, Seussical for Standing Ovation Theatre Academy, and Die Fledermaus for Northwestern University Opera, along with numerous productions for Chicago-area schools, park districts, and theatre organizations.  Her production experience also encompasses choreography for Nunsense, stage management for Proof, and additional work in technical theatre, wardrobe, and performance support. Amy has also served as company manager for Red Clay Dance Company, further strengthening her experience in arts administration and organizational coordination.  Combining technical precision with practical theatre knowledge, Amy helps keep the many moving parts of Improv Playhouse running smoothly—supporting both the people onstage and the systems behind the scenes.

Jillian Nagory
Administrative Support

Jillian Nagory brings a strong combination of theatrical experience, organizational skills, and firsthand knowledge of Improv Playhouse programming to her role in Administrative Support. She holds a B.A. in Theatre and has been an active member of the IP community for several years, including serving as Director of the Broadway Bound program, where she worked closely with young performers and their families.  Her years directing and coordinating youth programming developed a keen attention to detail, communication, scheduling, and the many moving pieces required to keep programs running smoothly. In her current administrative role, Jillian supports the day-to-day operations of IP, assists staff and families, and helps maintain the organization and follow-through essential to a busy performing arts organization.  Her familiarity with IP from both the artistic and operational sides makes her a valuable part of the administrative team.

Rachel Kwiecinski
Administrative and Creative Consultant 

Rachel Kwiecinski is an accomplished arts administrator, educator, designer, and performing artist whose experience spans theatre, education, and creative production across the United States and abroad. As an administrative consultant to Improv Playhouse®, she provides organizational insight and continuity informed by her extensive history with IP and her background in performing arts administration.  Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Art from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and a Master of Arts in Shakespeare from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England, where she specialized in British theatre censorship. In 2018, she presented her graduate research, No Sex Please, We’re British: The Lord Chamberlain’s Policing of Immorality in West Side Story and a Post-War Generation, at BroadwayCon.  Her theatrical production credits include the world premiere of Hazel at Drury Lane Theatre, Shrek at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and work as a properties intern on Punchdrunk’s immersive production Sleep No More in New York City.  Rachel’s administrative and educational experience includes positions with Adventure Stage Chicago, the WIP Training Center, and Live & In Color in Connecticut. She also served as administrative manager of Improv Playhouse, where she played an integral role in supporting daily operations, educational programming, and organizational development.  She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Themed Experiences at the University of Central Florida. Outside of her professional work, Rachel enjoys drawing and painting, advocates for cat rescue, and is an enthusiastic admirer of Disney Parks.  Among her more memorable theatrical experiences: singing “Happy Birthday” to Stephen Sondheim in London.

TRAINING CENTER DIRECTORS-EDUCATORS

Tony Alcantar
Visiting Instructor, Actor and Dialect Coach

Tony Alcantar

Tony Alcantar is an accomplished actor, improviser, educator, and highly regarded dialect coach whose career spans film, television, theatre, animation, and professional actor training. Known for helping performers develop authentic accents, vocal precision, and fully realized characters, he has worked with prominent actors and productions throughout the entertainment industry.  Born and raised in Chicago, Tony discovered acting somewhat unexpectedly. After graduating from Lane Technical High School—where he played goaltender on the school’s 1978 championship hockey team—he enrolled in classes at Wright College. An introductory theatre course led him to a performance by The Second City, igniting a lifelong passion for improvisation and the performing arts.  Tony subsequently trained at the renowned Players Workshop of The Second City, where he later became an instructor and director. He continued developing his craft through Chicago’s vibrant theatre and improvisation community, including Victory Gardens Theater and ImprovOlympic, before earning a place with The Second City. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Roosevelt University.  His performance career has encompassed stage productions, screen acting, animation, and voiceover, earning praise for his exceptional comedic instincts and physical performance. The Edmonton Journal recognized him as a standout comic for his physical humor, while the Meaford Express described him as “the funniest man in summer theatre.”  As an acting and improvisation instructor, Tony has taught in Chicago, Toronto, and Vancouver, mentoring performers who have gone on to distinguished careers in entertainment. His former students include Stephanie Weir of MADtv, Sean Hayes of Will & Grace, and Improv Playhouse® founder David Brian Stuart.  In Vancouver, Tony established ImprovChicago workshops and developed the Windy City Women improvisation troupe, extending Chicago’s celebrated improvisational traditions to new generations of performers. His professional work as a dialect coach has further established him as a trusted resource for actors seeking to strengthen character authenticity and command a wide range of accents and speech patterns.  Tony brings an extraordinary combination of technical expertise, professional experience, humor, and mentorship to his work as a visiting instructor at Improv Playhouse. He credits his life and career to the grace of God.

Caryn Brieschke
Musical Theatre Director, Teaching Artist and Workshop Instructor

Caryn Brieschke is an accomplished theatre director, educator, and teaching artist with more than three decades of experience working with students from kindergarten through college. Her background in youth theatre, higher education, community arts, and accessible performance brings exceptional depth and creativity to Improv Playhouse®.  Caryn’s passion for the stage began in fifth grade at the Children’s Theatre of Western Springs, where she continued performing throughout high school. She earned her undergraduate degree in theatre, with an emphasis on youth theatre, from Illinois State University and went on to complete a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre for Youth at Arizona State University.  She later returned to Illinois State University, where she taught theatre for youth to education majors and theatre students for more than a decade. During that time, she also served as creative arts coordinator for the Center on Deafness, directing productions performed in American Sign Language with voice interpretation. In 2008, Caryn co-founded CHAOS, the Community House of Arts in Ottawa, Illinois, where she developed community arts programming, taught classes, and directed theatrical productions. After relocating to Lake County, she continued supporting area arts programs through high school costuming, summer theatre instruction, and other creative initiatives.  Since joining Improv Playhouse in 2017, Caryn has directed students across multiple age groups and experience levels, including a recent Teen Summer Stock production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Her teaching and artistic interests also include puppetry, storytelling, costume design, and mixed-media art.  Outside the rehearsal room, Caryn works as a professional sign language interpreter, with a particular passion for interpreting live theatrical performances. She also volunteers with the Bristol Renaissance Faire, reflecting her enthusiasm for immersive storytelling, craftsmanship, and creative community.

Sam Barbaro
Improv On-Camera, Instructor, House Team Performer, Traveling Team

Sam Barbaro is a Chicago-area actor, improviser, instructor, and first-generation American, raised and, as he tells it, lovingly tormented, by Sicilian immigrants in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.  He earned his B.S. in Media Studies and Film from Northern Illinois University and completed training programs at The Second City Conservatory, iO Chicago, and The Annoyance Theatre. Along the way, Sam had the privilege of studying improvisation with Steve Carell and the legendary Del Close.  After an extraordinary 15-year run as an ensemble member with GreenRoom Improv, Sam recently stepped away from the company to devote greater attention to his professional acting career. Represented by TN Talent, he continues to work in commercials, film, industrial productions, and other on-camera projects. His screen credits include the 2026 production, Gaia.  Sam has performed with ComedySportz, GreenRoom Improv, BABS Comedy Club, and Improv Playhouse, where he remains an integral member of IP’s house and corporate-performance teams. His theatrical work with IP has included portraying the Vampire in its staged radio-drama production of Dracula.  An experienced teacher and coach, Sam has taught improvisation through Harper College, CYT camps, youth programs, corporate workshops, and Improv Playhouse. He brings to his teaching the instincts of a seasoned performer, the discipline of a working actor, and improv muscles that remain considerably more developed than his actual physical muscles.

Emily Barbaro
Improv Instructor, House Team Performer, B2B Facilitator

Emily Barbaro is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author whose nine novels have reached more than two million readers worldwide and have been translated into more than twenty languages.  Emily has been part of the Improv Playhouse community since 2017, when she began her training as an adult improv student. She completed IP’s foundational Improv 101–106 curriculum before continuing through its advanced training program. Following her graduation, Emily was invited to join an Improv Playhouse House Team and went on to become both a performer and instructor with the organization.  Improv Playhouse also became an important part of Emily’s life beyond the classroom and stage: it was there that she met fellow improviser and performer Sam Barbaro, whom she later married. Their story is a particularly meaningful example of the friendships, creative partnerships, and lasting relationships that can grow from the IP community.  In addition to improvisation, Emily has trained in stand-up comedy and teaches comedic storytelling and performance. Drawing upon her success as a novelist and her experience as a live performer, she helps students discover their individual voices, shape compelling stories, create memorable characters, and develop the confidence to connect honestly with an audience. Her teaching combines a writer’s understanding of structure with an improviser’s willingness to listen, respond, and embrace the unexpected.  Whether she is writing a novel, performing with an ensemble, or working with students, Emily brings intelligence, warmth, humor, and a keen understanding of what makes a story resonate. She lives in the Chicago area with Sam and their family.

Nicole Frier
Adult Improv Instructor, Traveling Team, B2B Workshop Facilitator

Nicole Frier is a professional actor, improviser, singer, voiceover artist, and teaching artist who has been an integral member of the Improv Playhouse faculty and performance community since 2015. A versatile performer with extensive training in Chicago improvisation, musical theatre, on-camera acting, and voiceover, Nicole brings a rare combination of professional experience, creative instinct, and thoughtful instruction to her work at IP.  Her film and television credits include a recurring role on NBC’s Chicago P.D., along with leading and supporting roles in numerous independent films and digital productions. Nicole has also appeared in commercial and industrial campaigns for Meijer, United Airlines, Potawatomi Casino & Hotel, Creative QT, and BoardShare.  As an improviser, Nicole has performed with Improv Playhouse touring ensembles, ComedySportz Chicago, BattleProv, Smashed! The Improvised Bachelorette Party, Happy Karaoke Fun Time, and several independent improv and musical-improv groups. Her stage credits include Morticia Addams in The Addams Family, Fraülein Schneider in Cabaret, Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls, Brenda Freelander in Smile, and ensemble and understudy work in Evita. She is also an accomplished vocalist who has performed as a soloist, a cappella singer, and lead vocalist with the Chicago-based cover band Vaulted.  Nicole has trained at iO Chicago, ComedySportz Theatre, Vagabond School of the Arts, Acting Studio Chicago, One on One NYC, Arvold Warner Studio, and Shari Shaw Studios in Los Angeles. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in Psychology and Computer Applications from the University of Notre Dame and holds a Master of Arts in Social Science, with an emphasis in Cultural Anthropology, from the University of Chicago.  After stepping away from professional performance for several years to raise her family, Nicole returned to the industry with renewed purpose and momentum. She is professionally represented in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles for film, television, commercial, theatre, voiceover, print, modeling, and hosting work.

Nicole Gabrione
Adult/Youth Improv Instructor, IP House Team Member, Murder Mystery Performer & Script Editor

Nicole Gabrione is a playwright, performer, improviser, director, and developing professional editor whose work combines a keen literary sensibility with an unabashed love of comedy. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Iowa and later completed an MFA in Playwriting and Screenwriting at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She is currently continuing her professional development through the University of Chicago’s Editing Certificate program. Nicole’s original plays include The Shell, Toilet World, Magic! The Play, Schemes & Shit, and Follies & F*ckups. Her writing is distinguished by sharp dialogue, richly comic characters, and a willingness to turn familiar theatrical and literary conventions delightfully inside out. Her graduate work at St Andrews explored comedy, Regency romance, female agency, and the wonderfully durable influence of Jane Austen. At Improv Playhouse, Nicole teaches numerous levels of adult improvisation through the IP Training Center and performs as a current member of the IP House Team. Her background as a playwright gives her an especially strong understanding of character, story structure, relationships, and the dramatic possibilities hidden inside an improvised scene. Nicole also performs in and helps edit IP’s interactive murder mysteries, bringing together her talents as a writer, actor, and improviser. Her ability to maintain a character, guide an unfolding story, and respond instantly to audience discoveries makes her particularly well suited to this wonderfully unpredictable form. Intelligent, imaginative, and exceptionally funny, Nicole encourages students to make bold choices while remaining attentive to character and story. She brings both a writer’s precision and an improviser’s fearlessness to the IP community—which means she knows when every word matters and when the wisest artistic choice is simply to leap and discover what happens next.

Eric Hallberg
Adult Improv Instructor, Traveling Team, B2B Workshop Facilitator, Murder Mystery Facilitator

Eric Hallberg brings an unusually broad range of life experience—and a wonderfully grounded sense of humor—to the Improv Playhouse faculty. A longtime member of the IP community, Eric has taught multiple levels of adult improvisation, performed with the IP House Team, facilitated special events, and appeared regularly as a stand-up comedian.  A graduate of DePaul University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, Eric’s path has never exactly followed a straight line. After college, he traveled through Africa and worked in refugee camps near Rwanda. Back in the United States, he became a Master Gardener, founded a green-building construction business, and eventually established a successful career as a real estate broker with Baird & Warner in Libertyville. He is also an experienced educator whose work in the Libertyville-area schools ultimately led him to teaching middle-school science.  Whether he is guiding students through an improv scene, helping a client navigate the housing market, facilitating a team-building and murder mystery event, or stepping behind a microphone to perform stand-up, Eric brings patience, curiosity, wit, and a genuine interest in people. His teaching combines a reassuring presence with the instincts of a seasoned performer—encouraging students to take risks, trust their scene partners, and discover that some of the best moments arrive when the original plan goes cheerfully off the rails.

Delaney Katz
Youth Drama/Theater Faculty

Delaney Katz is a director, music director, musical theatre performer, and teaching artist who serves as a Youth Director with Improv Playhouse. Drawing upon experience both onstage and behind the production table, Delaney brings musical skill, theatrical imagination, and a strong understanding of young performers to her work throughout IP’s Youth Theatre program.  Delaney studied Communication and Media at DePaul University, with an additional interest in filmmaking and visual storytelling. In 2018, she was selected as a Billy Misik Foundation scholarship recipient for film production. Her broader artistic background gives her a valuable understanding of how performance, music, movement, and visual composition work together to tell a complete story.  As a youth theatre educator, Delaney has worked with Improv Playhouse and Skyline Children’s Theater, directing and instructing young actors throughout the Chicago area. At IP, she supports productions as a director, music director, and instructor, helping students strengthen their vocal technique, musical interpretation, stage presence, characterization, and ensemble skills. Her IP credits include serving as Music Director for Disney’s Frozen Jr., along with continued directing and instructional responsibilities across the Youth Theatre program.  Delaney is also an active musical theatre performer. Her Chicago-area stage credits include Linda in Evil Dead: The Musical at the College of Lake County, the Kit Kat Ensemble in Cabaret, and a Player in BrightSide Theatre’s full-scale production of Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin. These experiences allow her to bring current, practical knowledge of rehearsal discipline, ensemble collaboration, vocal performance, choreography, and professional production expectations directly into the classroom.  Delaney’s work is grounded in the belief that young performers grow most when they are challenged, encouraged, and given the freedom to make bold creative choices. She combines high expectations with an approachable and supportive teaching style, helping students build confidence while learning the discipline required to create excellent theatre.  Whether she is guiding a rehearsal, teaching a vocal passage, shaping an ensemble number, or stepping onto the stage herself, Delaney brings intelligence, energy, humor, and a genuine love of musical theatre to the process. She is an important and growing member of the Improv Playhouse Youth Theatre leadership team.

Maggie Paden
Youth Drama/Theater Faculty

Maggie Paden is an actor, filmmaker, youth theatre co-director, and camp leader whose relationship with Improv Playhouse began long before she joined its instructional team. Growing up in the IP Training Center, Maggie progressed from student and young performer to one of the organization’s most trusted and sought-after emerging youth theatre artists.  A graduate of Libertyville High School, Maggie is currently studying film at DePaul University. Her interests span acting, directing, filmmaking, visual storytelling, and the collaborative process of bringing creative work from its earliest idea to the stage or screen. Her developing film background gives her an especially strong understanding of character, composition, pacing, and how individual performances contribute to a larger story.  Maggie has also trained and competed as an on-camera actor. At the 2019 International Modeling and Talent Association convention in Los Angeles, she earned first-place honors in both the Female Teen Actor and Cold Read categories and was named first runner-up in Monologue. The event brought young performers before professional agents, managers, casting directors, and other entertainment-industry representatives from across the country and internationally.  At Improv Playhouse, Maggie has become a highly valued youth musical theatre co-director, working closely with young performers throughout the rehearsal and production process. She has also served as an assistant director within IP’s teen ACT Summer Stock program and contributes as a counselor and leadership-team member across several of the organization’s summer camps.  Because Maggie grew up within the IP community herself, she understands the Youth Theatre experience from both sides of the rehearsal room. She knows what it feels like to be the young performer finding her confidence, discovering her voice, and learning how to contribute to an ensemble. That perspective allows her to meet students with empathy while still encouraging discipline, preparation, personal responsibility, and artistic growth.  Maggie brings warmth, maturity, imagination, and a calm sense of leadership to every program she serves. Young performers trust her, fellow staff members rely upon her, and production teams value her preparation and collaborative spirit. Her journey from IP student to performer, filmmaker, co-director, and camp leader represents something at the heart of the Improv Playhouse mission: young artists growing within the program and eventually returning to guide the next generation.

Heath Kuykendall
Youth Drama/Theater Faculty

Heath Kuykendall brings a rare blend of scholarly depth, theatrical experience, creative energy, and genuine warmth to the Improv Playhouse Youth Theatre team. Holding a master’s degree in English from the University of Oklahoma, Heath also has a background in dramaturgy, playwriting, directing, and arts journalism. Heath made his way to the Chicago area by way of Dallas, where his work as a writer and director began early. While still a student at Bishop Dunne Catholic School, he co-wrote and co-directed the original play For What It’s Worth. He later returned to Bishop Dunne as its theatre coach and director, helping breathe new life into the school’s drama program. His directing credits there include The Book of Will, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Tragedy of Macbeth, and the Bishop Dunne Revues. After relocating to the Chicago area, Heath joined the faculty of Fusion Academy’s Lake Forest campus, having previously taught at its Dallas campus. At Fusion, he teaches English and a variety of creative electives, earning a Teacher of the Year nomination and a reputation for turning learning into an adventure. Ask his students about the ongoing group chess game outside his classroom—complete with its own gloriously unpredictable house rules. He also helps lead Fusion’s Dungeons & Dragons club, using imaginative play, collaborative storytelling, and creative problem-solving to keep students engaged. At Improv Playhouse, Heath has dived in headfirst. He currently directs IP’s Broadway Bounders in grades one through three and is expanding his instructional work across multiple levels of the Youth Theatre program. A lifelong lover of storytelling, imaginative games, theatre, and the classic novels he is steadily working his way through, Heath draws naturally upon creativity and play to help young performers find their footing, discover their voices, and uncover their individual spark. Heath’s colleagues immediately notice his drive, compassion, and commitment to excellence. Thoughtful, remarkably organized, and endlessly creative, he understands that meaningful theatre education involves far more than producing a polished show. It also helps children develop confidence, discipline, empathy, imagination, and a lasting sense of belonging. Heath is exactly the kind of educator and collaborator who makes an entire team better, and Improv Playhouse is delighted to have him as a growing part of its faculty and artistic community.

Stacey Moore (Stacey Pea)
Youth Theatre Instructor, Choreographer, Professional Singer and Dancer, IP Teen Program Alumna

Stacey Pea is a professional singer, dancer, choreographer, youth theatre instructor, and proud alumna of the Improv Playhouse Teen Program. A Libertyville native, Stacey first discovered her love of theatre and dance as a young performer and has remained drawn to the stage ever since. Stacey’s history with Improv Playhouse reaches back to the organization’s earlier years. As a member of the IP Teen Program, she developed her skills as a performer while discovering an equally strong interest in choreography and working with younger artists. She later served as the teen choreographer for an IP Teen production of Grease, becoming one of the early examples of an Improv Playhouse student growing into a creative leadership role within the program. In 2009, Stacey began her professional performance career at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. For nearly a decade, she worked as a shows-and-parades performer throughout Disney’s iconic theme parks. Performing within the demanding Disney entertainment environment strengthened her skills in dance, characterization, musical storytelling, audience engagement, precision, consistency, and large-scale live production. After returning home to Lake County, Stacey continued her professional career at Six Flags Great America, performing for several seasons as both a singer and dancer. Her extensive theme-park experience has given her a distinctive understanding of how movement, music, character, and visual storytelling come together to create memorable entertainment for audiences of all ages. Stacey also brings more than a decade of experience working with children in youth arts and educational settings. She is passionate about helping young people become not only stronger performers, but also confident, compassionate, disciplined, and supportive members of an ensemble. Her teaching combines professional expectations with warmth, encouragement, and a genuine understanding of the courage it takes for a young person to step onto a stage. Stacey’s return to Improv Playhouse represents a meaningful full-circle journey—from IP teen performer and emerging choreographer to accomplished professional entertainer and youth theatre artist. Her energy, experience, and longstanding connection to the organization make her a valued member of the Improv Playhouse Youth Theatre community.

Danny Plumhoff
Front of House Coordinator, Youth Improv Instructor, House Team Performer, Murder Mystery Performer, Stage and Radio Drama Actor

Daniel “Danny” Plumhoff is an actor, improviser, instructor, musician, and multidisciplinary artist who serves Improv Playhouse as its Front of House Coordinator. He is also a Youth Improv Instructor, IP House Team performer, Murder Mystery ensemble member, and a familiar presence in Improv Playhouse’s staged productions and live radio dramas.  A 2021 graduate of Carthage College, Danny developed experience across theatre, improvisation, music, photography, writing, public speaking, and the visual arts. While at Carthage, he performed with the college’s Merely Players improv comedy group and was selected to exhibit work in the college’s annual juried student art exhibition. His early performance background also included competitive speech and ensemble acting at Warren Township High School.  Danny has played numerous leading and supporting roles at Improv Playhouse. Among his most notable performances is the title role in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, presented as a staged radio drama adapted from the classic 1938 Orson Welles broadcast. Portraying Count Dracula fulfilled a lifelong theatrical ambition and allowed Danny to explore the character’s intelligence, menace, wit, and psychological complexity. The production also placed him opposite his father, longtime IP performer Stephen Plumhoff, as Dr. Seward—proving that family bonding occasionally works best when one relative is trying to destroy the other.  Danny has also appeared in multiple productions of The Last Supper Chronicles, portraying John with warmth, sincerity, and emotional depth. His additional IP credits include Voices of Liberty: A Celebration of America, along with numerous radio dramas, staged works, improv performances, touring programs, and interactive Murder Mystery events.  As a Youth Improv Instructor, Danny combines his performance experience with patience, playfulness, and an instinctive ability to connect with young actors. He encourages students to listen, collaborate, make confident creative choices, and discover the freedom that comes from fully committing to the moment.  In his role as Front of House Coordinator, Danny helps create a welcoming and well-organized experience for IP audiences while supporting the practical demands of performances and special events. Dependable, versatile, good-humored, and willing to step into nearly any role—onstage or behind the scenes—Danny has become an invaluable member of the Improv Playhouse artistic, instructional, and operations teams.

Lorena Vazquez
Youth Drama/Theater Faculty, Improviser, Murder Mystery Facilitator

Lorena Vazquez brings professional training as an educator, extensive experience working with young people, and an irrepressible sense of humor to the Improv Playhouse faculty. A certified educator with a bachelor’s degree in education, Lorena currently teaches Special Education Pre-K at the Mary Kay McNeill Early Learning Center in Antioch Community Consolidated School District 34. She previously served as Child Development Assistant Director for the Mundelein Park & Recreation District, following several years as an early-childhood teacher. At Improv Playhouse, Lorena has taught within IP’s youth programs and currently teaches adult improvisation through the IP Training Center. When her schedule permits, she also performs as a member of the IP House Team. A gifted comic performer, Lorena is exceptionally funny—but just as importantly, she understands how to create a supportive environment in which students can take risks, trust their instincts, and discover their own comedic voices. Lorena also leads and performs in IP’s interactive murder mysteries, where her quick thinking, character work, and ability to engage an audience help transform a traditional performance into an experience unfolding all around the guests. Whether she is teaching young children, coaching adult improvisers, building a character, or steering an unsuspecting audience through a comic mystery, Lorena brings warmth, spontaneity, patience, and a genuine delight in making people laugh. Her combined experience as a certified educator and working improviser makes her an especially valuable member of the Improv Playhouse teaching and performing community.

Former Staff, Faculty and Teaching Artists

  • Colby Adams
  • Jayson Acevedo
  • Nancy Alban
  • Matthew “Matty” Arnold
  • Stephani Bakus
  • Lisa Bany
  • Shannon Baucus
  • Nicole Behling
  • Gillian Bellinger
  • Elijah Bennett
  • Kate Bergeron
  • Ishita Bhama
  • David Bianco
  • Joe Borushek
  • Bella Buono
  • Justin Callis
  • Shannon Campe
  • Jessica Carleton
  • Diane Christiansen
  • David Cocks, also known as David Doane
  • Sarah Cushman
  • Anthony Cusumano
  • Austyn Davis
  • Paul Demos
  • Valerie DeGroot
  • Lara Dohner
  • Emily Dugan
  • Jaden Duenas
  • Rachel Erdmann
  • Theresa Egan
  • Jack Thurston Farrell
  • Ed Follman
  • Jessica Fisher
  • Freyja Goldstein
  • Skylar Grieco
  • Brady Hallongren
  • Kelly Haramis
  • Shaya Harris
  • Stefanie Henkel
  • Sheridan Hurtig
  • Evan Jordan
  • Cole Joseph
  • Nina Kern
  • Becky Keeshin
  • Nolan Kennedy
  • Olivia Koukol
  • Courtney Kotloski
  • Abbey Kruse
  • Kayleigh La Grutta
  • Ashley Lanyon
  • Sam Lemme
  • Jacque Leuken 
  • Sheila M. Lin
  • Danielle Lopez
  • Jordan Luebchow
  • Britta Lynn
  • Jonathan Lynch
  • Molly Magill
  • Mackenzie Maples
  • Claudia Martinez
  • Dobie Maxwell
  • Kennedy McCarten
  • Cory McMenomy
  • Sophia Medwar
  • Ezra Miller
  • Justin Miller
  • Adam Mizner
  • Ken A. Mooney Jr.
  • Maddie Moravek
  • Jessye Mueller
  • Jillian Mueller
  • Rebeka Neklova
  • Charlotte Noble
  • Grace Neuberger
  • Matt Nuernberger
  • Kira Nutter
  • Abby Pajakowski
  • Rachel Page
  • Kat Phillips
  • Samantha Pinchard
  • Jonathan Pitts
  • Corliss Preston
  • Cassidy Raasch
  • Natalie Rarick
  • Chris Rivas
  • Angela Roeser
  • Jason Ryan Lovett
  • Devin Sanclemente
  • Sari Sanchez
  • Britta Schlict
  • Jeremy Schaefer
  • Kallista Schneiderman
  • Declan Shannon
  • Johnny Slywka
  • Kenzie Smith
  • Linnea Strack
  • Jonathan Sokolow
  • Wolfgang Stein
  • Susannah Stengel
  • Jacob Swiatek
  • George Taylor
  • Max Tourt
  • Erinn Vincent
  • Paul Whitehouse
  • Aaron Wienstein