OUR INSTRUCTORS
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PictureBill Chott
Bill Chott was voted "Best Improv Coach 2012" at the Inny Awards. Kids know him as "Mr. Laritate" from his four seasons on Disney's Emmy-winning Wizards of Waverly Place. He  starred  as "Thomas" in the Farrelly Bros. top ten film The Ringer,  and appeared opposite Johnny Depp in The Rum Diary.  He also makes cameo appearances in  the films Galaxy Quest and Dude Where's My Car?

His television credits include performing and writing on The Dana Carvey Show,  and voicing the popular "X-Presidents" and "Ambiguously Gay Duo" on Saturday Night Live. He has appeared on TV in ER, Freaks n Geeks, and It's always Sunny in Philadelphia. He is a performer and director of The Sauce.
 PictureSamantha Chott
Samantha Chott has been an instructor at Improv Trick for over five years and has performed at The Funny Women Improv Festival, Show 'Em Comedy Festival, LA Sketch Comedy Festival, and New Orleans Comedy Arts Festival. She was a member of Walk of Shame, an award-winning improv and sketch group based at iO West. She is currently a member of The Feel Good Not Bad Death Laser which performs at many LA theaters.  She has trained at Improv Trick, iO West, and Doesage Improv. She was also a member of the iO improv group Red Coat Presidents. 

She is originally from Missouri and studied at Central Methodist University. Sam is also on the corporate sales staff at Improv Trick and has co-directed The Stage Match and performs and produces The Sauce. 
PictureJosh Spence
Josh Spence is an improviser,   screenwriter, journalist and native Angeleno.  An alum of iO West, Second City Hollywood, Pack Theater, Writing Machine, and Improv Trick; he has yet to find a stage he does not like.

​Spence is a founding member of The Feel Good Not Bad Death Laser, a troupe specializing in The Deconstruction. They play all around town in addition to their monthly show at iO West. You can also find him playing with ONE: A JTS Brown Team appearing bi-monthly at Pack Theater and just about everywhere else. In January 2017, Spence and Samantha Chott formed F1R5TH0UR, a formidable improv duo looking to take over the world.

His love for the work is deep with an emphasis on long-form improvisation; Specifically, the Deconstruction, Movie, Slacker, JTS Brown, Harold, Close Quarters, Monoscene, and TwoProv formats.

Being a newly-minted instructor at Improv Trick, Josh is looking forward to sharing the art form that has changed his life forever with everyone.

PictureClint Verner
Clint Verner has been with the Improv Trick since 2007, after Bill came to teach a workshop at their mutual alma mater - Central Methodist University in Fayette, MO. After that, Clint caught the Improv Bug and let it spread. He began doing stand-up in Kansas City, St. Louis, Quincy, IL, Columbia, MO, and Chicago.

He also took a six month, 9-5, comedy intensive at the Second City in Chicago. You can see him in Dr. Who LIve at iO West and at sci-fi conventions nationwide, at iO West in The Improv Trick's Stagematch and The Sauce. 
 PictureBJ Lange
BJ Lange (also known by his high school nickname “HONKEY”) claims improv is where he feels “most at home” as an actor and comedian. A St. Louis native, BJ is an alumnus of iO West (formerly improvOlympic West), and a graduate of the Conservatory program at The Second City Training Center in Hollywood. He is currently completing his studies at UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Los Angeles). BJ has been seen on Dr. Phil, Jimmy Kimmel, and MTV in addition to his other film, TV, and commercial credits. He is an instructor at The Improv Trick & guest instructor at 3-2-1 Acting Studios.

BJ uses his improv training in other aspects of his career including hosting national televised events and tours like Maxim’s Spring Break in Panama City Beach, FL. He has studied with some of the greatest minds in improv, having been one of The Improv Trick’s first students in St. Louis completing the program directed by Bill Chott.  Around Los Angeles, you can find BJ playing with Top Shelf – a weekly show at iO West, Gold Improv – an improv and sketch group comprised of his Second City grad group, and a few others.

When BJ’s not “Yes, anding” his passions include beat boxing, motorcycles, aviation and volunteering. BJ proudly serves as a Public Affairs Officer in Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary where he is an accomplished aircrew member.
PictureSteven Benaquist
Steven Benaquist is a writer and comedian living in Los Angeles. He has been studying, practicing and teaching improv since 1999. His studies include the full programs at Acme, The Groundlings and UCB Theaters. Steve has been a member of many groups including The Liquid Radio Players, Musicale! and L. Ron Jeremy, and he has taught for The Improv Trick, Cal State Long Beach, and the Institute of Comedy Institute.  Benaquist has appeared in sketches on Conan, written for Spike, History, BBC, and is a regular writer and performer on NPR's 'American Parlor Songbook'. On the Dreamworks series "Fishstick and Honeybear", he is the voice of Honeybear. He has performed sketch, standup and improv at clubs around the country and in many festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe, RIOT LA, LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, Bass Comedy Festival, New Orleans Comedy Arts Festival and more. At the 2016 Hollywood Fringe Festival his solo show "Tony Danza's Letterz 2 2pac: an evening with Tony Danza" received the Producer's Encore! Award, as did his 9-person play "Too Many Hitlers" in 2017. He is delighted to be back for a third year with a new solo play, "The Last One-Man Show (Literally)", in June of 2018. Steven is a member of SAG-AFTRA and represented by Aperture Talent.