WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29
7:30PM
Tipping Point Theatre
361 E. Cady St.,
Northville, MI
ABOUT
Based on a single audience suggestion, the cast of Squatters Writes will create a fully improvised hour-long performance. Featuring a veteran cast of actors and improvisers, this show uses the existing stage, set, props and lighting of the current production of Gene & Gilda at the Tipping Point Theatre to create a play without a script. This performance will benefit two local non-profits with proceeds going to Gilda’s Club Detroit and the Tipping Point Theater.
Gilda's Club Metro Detroit
Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit is a free cancer support community for anyone impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Whether you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer, or have recently lost someone to cancer, there is a place for you at Gilda’s Club. They serve all ages, all genders and all cancer types. With locations in Detroit, Royal Oak, St. Clair Shores and a thriving virtual space, they are dedicated to serving metro Detroit. Their program provides support and networking groups led by licensed clinicians, educational presentations, healthy lifestyle workshops, social activities and resources and referrals for cancer patients, their loved ones, and those who are bereft.
Tipping Point Theatre
Tipping Point Theatre is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit theatre operating under a Small Professional Theatre Agreement with the Actor’s Equity Association in a charming, intimate theatre in Northville, Michigan. They celebrate live theatre by producing a wide range of vibrant, diverse, thought-provoking programming, promoting local and upcoming artists, and providing arts educational outreach to the Northville community and southeast Michigan.
CAST
Tj Jagodowski
Tj has been improvising, directing and teaching in Chicago for over 25 years. A former member of Second City’s Main Stage and ETC casts, he now performs and tours with his improvising partner, David Pasquesi, as one half of TJ and Dave. Tj has had small parts in TV and film but is likely best known for his commercial campaign with Peter Grosz as The 2 Sonic Guys.
Dave Davies
Dave was born in Detroit, Michigan. Dave has been a professional improviser/actor/instructor since the early 1990’s. He has performed in several stage productions throughout the Detroit Metro and has performed internationally from Canada to Puerto Rico. He also has extensive experience teaching improv through Second City Detroit, Planet Ant Theatre, and several other venues. His teaching has additionally extended to include several corporate workshops throughout the United States and to many Detroit Public School children through the Detroit Creativity Project (detroitcreativityproject.org). Dave is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and can be seen in movies including A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, Restitution, Needlestick, Detroiters, and Lifetime channel’s Last Man Standing.
Kristy Nolen
Kristy received her BFA in Acting from Ohio University and has trained, performed and taught improvisational comedy at legendary venues such as The Second City (National Touring Company), Annoyance Theater, iO Theater, Arcade Comedy Theater, plus in Amsterdam with Boom Chicago. Television credits include One Dollar, Castle Rock, Those Who Kill, ER and Early Edition. Film credits include A Man Called Otto, Sweet Girl and The True Adventures of Wolfboy. Now living in the Detroit area and appearing at venues such as Go! Comedy, Planet Ant and hear.say Theater; usually with improv comedy duo, Nolen & Nolen.
Jethro Nolen
Jethro has been improvising for over thirty years. His experience includes learning, performing, coaching and teaching in Chicago (IO, Second City, Noble Fool), Amsterdam (Boom Chicago), and Los Angeles (IO West, Groundlings). Jethro lived in Pittsburgh where he was one of the co-founders of Arcade Comedy Theater. Most recently, he lives in Detroit, where he performs and teaches at hear.say Theater, Go Comedy and Planet Ant. He has studied with improv luminaries like Del Close, Mick Napier, Susan Messing and Gary Austin.
Lauren Bickers
Lauren is the director of The Planet Ant Home Team in Hamtramck who she performs with every Monday at The Planet Ant Black Box. She has been active in the Detroit theatre scene since 2001 when she began studying improv at Second City Detroit where she went on to work as an understudy, perform in various alternative shows and teach in the Second City training center. Lauren has worked as a writer, director, producer and performer at several theatres around town including: The Ringwald, Go Comedy!, The Abreact, Matrix and Century Theatre. Lauren also works as an improv instructor with Detroit Creativity Project.
Cara Trautman
coming soon
Chris Moody
Chris has been a member of the Resident Cast at Go Comedy! Improv Theater in Ferndale, MI, Pointless Brewery & Theatre and hear.say brewery + theatre in Ann Arbor, MI. He is one of the founders of the Detroit Improv Festival and the Detroit Improv Collective, Inc. and he currently volunteers and teaches improv workshops regularly at Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit. On weekdays, Chris is a coworker with Gene & Gilda’s playwright Cary Gitter at SME, a nonprofit organization representing the entire North American manufacturing industry.
Kathryn Renée Thomas
Kathryn (Katie) is best known for her work on the TV Land comedy, Teachers, which she co-created, executive produced, wrote, and starred in with her independent comedy group, The Katydids. She is an alum of The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she earned a B.A. in English Language & Literature and a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance. Katie has over two decades of experience in improv, and has trained and performed at iO, The Second City, The Annoyance, Planet Ant, hear.say theater, and many others. She is one half of The Cleave, a creative agency that focuses on writing and creating content for non-profits and organizations that move us. Katie likes coffee, Zoloft, and her kid.