"The fun happening on stage is contagious...
move quickly to catch the hilarity" [ more ]
-NBC4

Patrick Gantz was turned on to improv in the seventh grade. Since then his addiction has spawned The Whethermen of UVA, taken him to Chicago where he performed among IO's house teams, and even brought him abroad to Edinburgh where the Guardian called him, "Somewhat overwrought." But he's in love with WIT, where he's able to be a surly teacher and put up a variety of silly-fun shows. Patrick owes a deep debt of gratitude to Jackie for welcoming him back into the fold with only a minimum of physical and emotional abuse.

Ken Hays. A homegrown product. Without any prior experience in improv or theater, he participated in WIT's training program and began performing as a founding member of Jackie in 2003. Since then, he's gone on to perform, teach classes, and direct shows within the WIT community. He's a living testament to the adage "it's never too late to start". Yes, he's a nice guy. And no, he does not finish last.

Mikael Johnson started his improv training with the Maryland Ensemble Theater, where he is a current company member, and continued to train with Comedy Sportz and other independent workshops throughout the area. He is an experienced sketch writer, director and and stage actor. He is into his second year working with Washington Improv Theater, and as the newest member of Jackie, he could not be happier.

Aparna Nancherla is glad she found the longform improv scene known as WIT while experimenting with a gateway drug called stand up. What started with the training program quickly escalated into a full-blown addiction. She's now a hardcore user. As part of her 3.5 steps of recovery (she cut out the ones she didn't like), she occasionally watches A&E's Intervention, anonymously harasses her fellow Jackies and JINXies, and refers to herself in the self-deprecating third person. She is still waiting to be tagged out, but in the meantime, her characters keep raising the (mi)stakes...

Rich Nyman has been involved with WIT since he moved to DC in 2004. A graduating student of WIT's training program, he helped form WIT's JINX before joining Jackie. Rich cut his improv teeth as an undergraduate as part of the University of Michigan's sketch and improv troupes Comedy Company and Without a Net. He now is only able to eat soft foods.

Michelle Swaney is having trouble writing this bio because, being a lawyer, she generally writes only in the IRAC structure (Issue, Rule of Law, Analysis, Conclusion). Sometime in the past, Michelle performed with Boston College's improv troupe, My Mother's Fleabag, and then with East Bay Improv in California. Then she did very little that was creative for many years. Not long ago, Michelle signed up for WIT's training program and fell in love with improv all over again. It was like "The Bridges of Madison County," except that movie sucked. Michelle is married to a handsome genius.

Joe Uchno left the comfort of Pennsylvania after graduating from Penn State to try his luck in New York City. While in NYC, most of what he tried, failed. On a short list of successes exists: Found UCB Theatre, studied improv! Since moving to DC in 2005, he has taken part in the WIT training program and now performs with WIT's JINX and Jackie. He has found better uses of his time than listing successes and failures, but it's nice to have a hobby.

Molly Woods is from Plano, Texas, and is a product of WIT's training program as well as a founding member of Jackie. She has performed in plays in exotic locales such as London and Waco. You may have also seen her in WIT's award-winning 48 Hour Film Project entries Occupational Hazard and Unfrightening. Her other roles include writer, critic, playwright, and one-time "Jeopardy!" loser. Molly Woods' 2006-07 season performances are sponsored by donor Melissa Williams.