OUR INSTRUCTORS
Bill 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.
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.
 BJ 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. |
Grace Blakeman is an actor, teacher, and writer from Louisiana. She's been performing improv and sketch comedy since 2006. She trained at La Nuit Comedy Theater in New Orleans, Second City Conservatory in Chicago, and UCB LA. She's been featured in Chicago Sketchfest, Fringe Festivals in New Orleans, New York City, and Los Angeles, as well as other comedy festivals around the country. She currently performs on the Main Company of Comedysportz LA and house team, Snacks, at Second City Hollywood.
 Steven 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.
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