Yvonne's background includes a performance degree from Columbia College, Chicago; 2nd City conservatory graduate; Improv Olympic graduate and performer; Annoyance Theatre graduate and performer; 5 years experience working in casting for O'Connor Casting- the biggest commercial casting agent in Chicago; and loads of work in film and TV. Yvonne owns the La N.u.i.t. theatre and Comedy Conservatory.
Rachel Ball, Artistic Director and Managing Director
Rachel Ball began her improv career at the tender age of fourteen performing with her high school troupe, Standard Deviation. After spending three years performing with ComedySportz Richmond, she took her skills across the Atlantic to join the English improv troupe, The Oxford Imps. In 2005, Rachel, working as both producer and performer, and the Imps enjoyed an extremely successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts festival in the world. Currently, Rachel divides her time between her studies at Tulane University, her long-form improv troupe, Let’s Settle for Mediocrity, and her biggest love, ComedySportz.
Ryan Hamilton Blackledge
Ryan Blackledge began performing improvisational comedy at Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was a founding member and performed for four years with The Whethermen at the University of Virginia. Ryan is currently enrolled at the Tulane Law and Business Schools, pursuing both a JD and an MBA. He is pleased to spend his free time performing with Comedy Sportz New Orleans. Ryan is a Libra and loves long walks in the park.
Alejandra Cejudo
No bio yet.
Ian Hoch
Ian Hoch stands as musical director and Mr. Voice for ComedySportz NOLA, in addition to improvising with God's Been Drinking at La Nuit. He studies Drama and Broadcast Production at Loyola University, and keeps otherwise busy with a History minor and a penchant for graphic design. Of course his best acting moments come to fruition when he has
to justify to his girlfriend why he spends day and night with another woman: The lovely Samus Aran of Metroid:Prime keeps him glued to the GameCube in a dynamic, ever-evolving love-hate relationship. He has a didgeridoo, and knows how to play "More Than A Feeling."
Michael Jastroch
Michael Jastroch began his acting career at age 6 and quit shortly thereafter when he messed up his only line: “I’m a second. There are 60 of me in an hour.” He began acting again while at NYU, starring in such forgettable freshman film fare as The Inhuman Condition, I Want a Can of Beer and The immortal Erotic Teachings of Zeo. While editor ‘n’ chief of NYU’s only intentionally funny publication, The Plague, Michael was sued for human rights violations and, later, hoisted upon the shoulders of a hundred people who were chanting his name. Michael has been working in print media as a writer, editor and art director for the last five years, as well as writing and performing sketch comedy, improvising and being hilarious for most of his life in some form or another.
Nick Lopez
Nick Lopez is an actor, improviser and filmmaker. He is a member of God’s Been Drinking long-form improv team, Production Manager for EgoPo Productions (theatre) and a founding member of GOA Productions (film). He has acting and production training from Loyola University of New Orleans. He is heralded as a movement based improviser, having trained in many techniques including LeCoque, Viewpoints, Tai Chi, yoga, Chi Gong, LeBon, masks (neutral to Commedia del Arte) and Indonesian Lotus techniques. All of these trainings are supplemented by his hip-hop influence of break dancing, free styling and beat boxing.
Tami Nelson
Tami Nelson has no background in anything approximating theater whatsoever. Her background includes things like spending other peoples money, working lame jobs and changing subjects mid-topic…something that she is trying not to do right now. It’s working so far. However, there is no predicting if this bio will actually remain a bio throughout or if it will veer off into journal entry. So far so good, still. Tami Nelson has had many ex-boy friends who have told her “you know, you should really take up acting…”. And then, one day she did. And studied very hard at the Comedy Conservatory in New Orleans, Louisiana to become an improvisational actor. Now she performs with One Hand Clapping, like, all the time.
Sean Patton
Sean Patton is funny. Yeah, I know these bios are supposed to describe his accomplishments and give you a brief history of the man, but really all you need to know is whether or not the person is funny. If you ask an audience member why they liked a Comedy Sportz show, they're not going to reply, "Because that one guy has a bachelors degree in communications.” (Note: Sean Patton does not have a bachelors in communications.) But, do you know what an audience member will say? "I loved that show. Those guys are so funny!" Sean Patton is just one of the guys.
Dan Rubin
Daniel Valentine Rubin is a veteran bio writer and the youngest Comedy Sportz N.O. player to use the phrase "19 to 6" in a sketch about penicillin. He's interested in acting, voice-work, screen and creative writing, percussion (vocal and otherwise) and all forms of comedy (improv, stand-up, and sketch). He enjoys puppets, spearfishing and Ron Jeremy.
Arthur Simone
Arthur Simone is a New Orleans-based painter, actor, and writer who specializes in avoiding ever having to choose one career. A graduate of Oberlin College, he has performed with of Chicago's Cool Kids Leave the Party and Suspicious Clowns, and is currently an ensemble member of New Orleans' Let's Settle for Mediocrity and ComedySportz. Arthur has starred in such films as Maverick's The Evil One, Tempe Entertainment's Jigsaw, as well as a slew of independent features and shorts that either tour prestigious film festivals or languish in someone's refrigerator next to the eggs.
Yvette Smith
No bio yet.
Chris Trew
Chris Trew was hatched from a healthy egg in 1981 and has been taking comedy seriously since 2001. Most of his time and energy is spent on Studio8.net, which is the home base for his projects that include: a satirical print newspaper, various television projects, indie film, stand-up comedy, music and as of summer 2004, Improv! His more notable accomplishments include starring in a feature length mockumentary and winning best performance at the 2003 Outhouse Film Festival and the best college humor website of 2003 by A&F Quarterly. Chris also enjoys screenwriting, triathlons, and marathons, but does not enjoy talking about himself and does not have a large ego.
Justin York
Before returning to his native New Orleans, Justin York lived in Los Angeles where he graduated from The Second City Improv Conservatory, The Second City Writing Program, and The Improv Olympic West Training Center. He wrote and performed with several troupes in L. A. and frequently appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Justin is currently finishing his MBA at Tulane's A.B. Freeman School of Business. He is the Business Manager of the La N.u.i.t. Theater.
