Teachers

Teacher Name
Ronnie Adrian

Originally from South Carolina, Ronnie is now a performer based out of Los Angeles. He performs in cities all around the country and you can often catch him with his various groups most notably The Dragons and The Big Team. He does other things besides comedy but this is a comedy bio so he’ll keep it to himself.

Teacher Name
Julie Brister

Julie Brister is a performer, director and teacher living in Los Angeles. She's a longtime performer and teacher from the UCB Theater, since it's early days in NYC and has performed in many shows including her solo-show Fatparts, which she also performed at SF Sketchfest and at Out of Bounds in Austin. Other shows include Showgirls! The Best Movie Ever Made! Ever!, Laid Up, and Put it in You! The Sex-Ed Musical. She's performed with dozens of improv groups over the years and currently improvises with her fellow teachers in Assembly. Julie plays Marva Jefferson on Goliath on Amazon and Daisy the attorney on Review on Comedy Central. Other TV credits include Superstore (NBC), Adam Ruins Everything (TruTV), Transparent (Amazon), Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX), Playing House (USA), Parks and Recreation (NBC), The New Normal (NBC), Comedy Bang Bang (IFC), Newsreaders (Adult Swim), Onion News Network (IFC), New Girl (FOX), Good Luck Charlie (Disney), Rules of Engagement (CBS), and Conan (TBS). She has an alarming collection of owls and clowns.

Upcoming classes for Julie Brister:

  • Level 1: Intro to Improv, 16 people max, $240 USD
    Sat Apr 8 3pm-5:30pm (PDT)
    Sat Apr 15 3pm-5:30pm
    Sat Apr 22 3pm-5:30pm
    Sat Apr 29 3pm-5:30pm
    Sat May 6 3pm-5:30pm
    Sat May 20 3pm-5:30pm
  • What's Your Deal?, 9 people max, $240 USD
    Wed Apr 19 10am-12pm (PDT)
    Wed Apr 26 10am-12pm
    Wed May 3 10am-12pm
    Wed May 10 10am-12pm
    Wed May 17 10am-12pm
    Wed May 24 10am-12pm

Teacher Name
Sarah Claspell

Sarah is an actor/comedian/writer living in Los Angeles. She has been featured on tv shows such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and written for Drunk History, Gizmodo, Ask.com and many live shows at the UCB Theatre. She performs regularly with improv team Cardinal Redbird, the sell-out variety show Asian AF, and various shows doing improv, sketch, and characters. She has performed at the San Francisco Sketchfest, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and SoHo Rep Theater in New York. Additionally, she has trained with members of the Royal Shakespeare Company in London. Sarah co-hosts the podcast Everything is Rent, a podcast with popular comedians or musical theater types talking about the Broadway musical Rent, of course.

Upcoming classes for Sarah Claspell:

  • Noon Bitness - April 2023, 18 people max, $250 USD
    Mon Apr 3 12pm-2pm (PDT)
       Show: Thu Apr 27 7:15pm-8:30pm (Broadwater Theater)
  • Level 3: Second Beats, 16 people max, $240 USD
    Sun Apr 16 3pm-5:30pm (PDT)
    Sun Apr 23 3pm-5:30pm
    Sun Apr 30 3pm-5:30pm
    Sun May 7 3pm-5:30pm
    Sun May 14 3pm-5:30pm
    Sun May 21 3pm-5:30pm

Teacher Name
Sebastian Conelli

Sebastian Conelli is a comedian and improviser in Brooklyn, CT. He's a longtime performer and teacher from the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Among his many terrific shows and teams, he was a member of The Stepfathers, The Enemy and Slamball. He's also a regular performer in the NYC-based show Raaatscraps. He co-hosts the hit podcast Loud About Nothing with fellow comedian/improviser Robbie Nunes.

Upcoming classes for Sebastian Conelli:

Teacher Name
Michelle Gilliam

Michelle Gilliam is a voice actor and improviser. She has been involved in the improv comedy scene for over 20 years. Michelle has had the pleasure of performing all over the country and being immersed in the Milwaukee, Chicago, and Boston improv scenes, which gives her a unique and well-rounded perspective. Michelle currently coaches, teaches, and performs in Milwaukee, WI. Michelle is also the owner of Improv MKE LLC, and is passionate about connecting the global improv community through online and in-person classes, workshops, skill-based drop ins, and jams. A few fun facts about Michelle: She sang at Carnegie Hall when she was 15 years old, and her grandfather, Clarence W. Gilliam, invented the chemical formula for glow sticks, or chemiluminescence.

Upcoming classes for Michelle Gilliam:

Teacher Name
Will Hines

Will has been teaching long-form improv since 2004 at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, at both its New York and Los Angeles branches. He's published a best-selling book on improv called How to Be The Greatest Improviser on Earth. He's also a working comedic actor and has appeared on many terrific television programs (Brooklyn 99, Search Party, Broad City, Inside Amy Schumer). He's a frequent guest on some big podcasts, including Comedy Bang-Bang, Improv4Humans, Hollywood Handbook as well as the 99 podcasts he's produced himself (currently Screw It We're Just Gonna Talk about the Beatles, Screw it We're Just Gonna Talk About Comics) Pretty cool! He's also the founder of this web site.

Upcoming classes for Will Hines:

  • Calculated Conflict, 9 people max, $40 USD
    Sat Apr 15 10am-12pm (PDT)
  • Level 2: Game of the Scene, 16 people max, $240 USD
    Sun Apr 16 12pm-2:30pm (PDT)
    Sun Apr 23 12pm-2:30pm
    Sun Apr 30 12pm-2:30pm
    Sun May 7 12pm-2:30pm
    Sun May 14 12pm-2:30pm
    Sun May 21 12pm-2:30pm
  • Level 4: Harold , 9 people max, $240 USD
    Tue Apr 18 11am-1pm (PDT)
    Tue Apr 25 11am-1pm
    Tue May 2 11am-1pm
    Tue May 9 11am-1pm
    Tue May 16 11am-1pm
    Tue May 23 11am-1pm
  • Level 3: Second Beats, 9 people max, $240 USD
    Thu Apr 20 5pm-7pm (PDT)
    Thu Apr 27 5pm-7pm
    Thu May 4 5pm-7pm
    Thu May 11 5pm-7pm
    Thu May 18 5pm-7pm
    Thu May 25 5pm-7pm

Teacher Name
Nick Mandernach

Nick Mandernach has been improvising for 15 years at UCB. He performs with JV and the improvised emo band Every Place I Cry. He’s also written on TV shows like: Duncanville, People of Earth, Upload, I Feel Bad and Young Sheldon(!!)

Teacher Name
Billy Merritt

Billy Merritt has been teaching, performing, and directing Improvisational Theatre for over 30 years. Most notably at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre were he's been a member of the staff since it's inception in New York, as well as Los Angeles were he resides now. Billy was one the founding members of The Swarm and The Stepfathers in NY, and The Smokes in LA.

As Teacher/Director, Billy has helped develop [along with his students] shows such as The Documentary, The Improvised One Act Play, Roadtrip, and of course... The Garfunkel.

Upcoming classes for Billy Merritt:

Teacher Name
Shannon O'Neill

Shannon O'Neill is an actor/improviser/writer. She's a veteran of The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre where she performed for over 20 years, taught improv for over 15 years, and was Artistic Director from 2014-2018. She has been in TV and film and trouble.

Upcoming classes for Shannon O'Neill:

  • Get Weirder, 9 people max, $160 USD
    Thu Apr 20 11am-1pm (PDT)
    Thu Apr 27 11am-1pm
    Thu May 4 11am-1pm
    Thu May 11 11am-1pm
  • Get Weird: Then Ground It, 9 people max, $40 USD
    Sun Apr 23 7am-9am (PDT)

Teacher Name
Jake Regal

Jake is an actor and improviser with 15 years experience performing at the UCB Theatre in Los Angeles. He's a member of the long-running team Cardinal Redbird. He has taught improv workshops at UCB and theatres around the country. Recent screen appearances include "The Offer," "Hollywood," and "The Sex Lives of College Girls." He was also a member of the nationally renowned ensemble Mission: IMPROVable and he WILL teach you short-form if you ask nicely.

Upcoming classes for Jake Regal:

Teacher Name
Nate Smith

Nate Smith is an actor, writer and filmmaker in LA. Acting credits: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mixed-Ish, There's Johnny, Red Oaks, The Mick, Odd Mom Out, Inside Amy Schumer, Silicon Valley, Happy Endings, 30 Rock, Angel From Hell, Adam Ruins Everything, David Cross’ Hits and Max Landis’ Me Him Her. He's been in some pilots nobody ever saw like Black Jack for Comedy Central, Max for HBO and Lusty Crest for Adult Swim. He had lead roles in the independent features, Ready or Knot and Hello Lonesome (winner of the LA Film Festival’s award for Best Ensemble Cast). Theater: Tail! Spin! (off broadway) and Nate has been a regular improv and sketch performer at the UCB Theater since 2005. He’s written and directed dozens of sketch and one-person shows for the UCB stage. Nate writes and directs ads, short films and sketch for UCBComedy, Funnyordie, NurtureDigital and SoulPancake. In addition to comedy, Nate has worked extensively in documentary films as an editor and producer. Nate co-hosts the podcast, What’s That From, a thoroughly unresearched history of comedy podcast as two comedy nerds remember it.

Upcoming classes for Nate Smith:

  • Write The Real Stuff, 8 people max, $120 USD
    Mon Apr 3 7pm-10pm (PDT)
    Mon Apr 10 7pm-10pm
    Mon Apr 17 7pm-10pm
    Mon Apr 24 7pm-10pm

Teacher Name
Monika Smith

Monika Smith is an actor and writer from Canada who modeled internationally for years until realizing she liked smiling and eating. That's the only bit in her bio. Monika has been a longtime performer at the UCB Theatre, including stints on improv and sketch house teams, as well appearing in many other shows. She got her start performing with The Second City Touring Company in Toronto, and has been fortunate to perform improv for years at UCB Theatre LA & New York, The Second City L.A. & Chicago, Chicago Improv Festival, iO Chicago, iO West, Del Close Marathon, Annoyance, improv festivals across America and more. You can catch her performing in different theaters and indie nights across L.A. with a number of teams including her one woman improv show Smith. Some recent credits include: Blunt Talk, Wanna See A Dead Body?, Who Gets The Last Laugh?, Newsreaders, Newsroom, The Joe Schmo Show, Two And a Half Men, UCB's Inside The Master Class, Nick Swardson's Pretend Time, Disaster Date, Players, and in sketches on The Tonight Show, Conan, and Arsenio and over ten unseen network pilots.

Upcoming classes for Monika Smith:

  • Get Faster: Confident Editing, 9 people max, $240 USD
    Wed Apr 19 5pm-7pm (PDT)
    Wed Apr 26 5pm-7pm
    Wed May 10 5pm-7pm
    Wed May 17 5pm-7pm
    Wed May 24 5pm-7pm
    Wed May 31 5pm-7pm
  • Advanced: Rest The Game, 16 people max, $240 USD
    Sun Apr 23 6pm-8:30pm (PDT)
    Sun Apr 30 6pm-8:30pm
    Sun May 7 6pm-8:30pm
    Sun May 14 6pm-8:30pm
    Sun May 21 6pm-8:30pm
    Sun Jun 4 6pm-8:30pm

Teacher Name
Joel Spence

Joel has been performing long form improv and sketch comedy at UCBTLA since 2005. He's a member of the house teams Sentimental Lady and Toledo Rep. He studied improv under Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, Seth Morris and many others. Joel grew up in San Antonio, TX and went to S.M.U. in Dallas where he received a B.F.A. in Acting. In 1995 he joined Theatre de la Jeune Lune and for the next five years performed in over 20 productions. From 2000-01, Joel studied at l'Ecole Philippe Gaulier in London, England. He's appeared on such TV shows as: Key & Peele, Newsreaders, Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, Big Love, Reno 911, My Name Is Earl, Burn Notice, Big Little Lies and others!

Upcoming classes for Joel Spence:

Teacher Name
Michael Strassner

Michael is an award winning actor/writer/comedian who has performed all over town for over 10 years. He loves character work and has been a member of the Groundlings Sunday Company, UCB Character Team, and the sketch team Genuine Jerks. He played Jerry "the King" Lawler on NBC's Young Rock, and also has appeared on Modern Family, Parks and Rec, and the Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo to name a few. He also does a ton of characters on his instagram @Strasshola.

Upcoming classes for Michael Strassner:

  • Finding Characters in Life, 16 people max, $260 USD
    Sun Apr 16 12pm-2:30pm (PDT)
    Sun Apr 23 12pm-2:30pm
    Sun Apr 30 12pm-2:30pm
    Sun May 7 12pm-2:30pm
    Sun May 14 12pm-2:30pm
    Sun May 21 12pm-2:30pm
       Show: Sun May 28 12pm-2:30pm

Teacher Name
Jim Woods

Jim Woods has an incredible improv resume. He's studied and performed extensively at: UCB, Boom Chicago, iO Chicago and North Carolina ComedySportz. He's one of the co-founders of the Free Association in London and the Improv Boot Camp in Los Angeles. He's appeared on numerous TV shows and commercial campaigns and recently was a staff writer on the Tracy Morgan show The Last O.G.

Upcoming classes for Jim Woods:

  • Noon Bitness - April 2023, 18 people max, $250 USD
    Mon Apr 3 12pm-2pm (PDT)
       Show: Thu Apr 27 7:15pm-8:30pm (Broadwater Theater)
  • Level 4: Harold , 16 people max, $240 USD
    Sat Apr 15 12pm-2:30pm (PDT)
    Sat Apr 22 12pm-2:30pm
    Sat Apr 29 12pm-2:30pm
    Sat May 6 12pm-2:30pm
    Sat May 13 12pm-2:30pm
    Sat May 20 12pm-2:30pm