Honored to be New Director of Pepperdine Improv Troupe

Malibu, CA. I’m happy to share that I’ve been hired as the new Director of the Pepperdine Improv Troupe (PIT)! As a former student member of the PIT ensemble,  (seen above in 2019, top row third from the right) it’s a huge honor to become PIT’s professional instructor. Improv is a passion of mine and I’ve received extensive training at The Groundlings in LA and Second City in Chicago. Now I’m on the faculty of my alma mater, Pepperdine University!

The Pepperdine Improv Troupe is a tight-knit comedic ensemble of 15 students and is always directed by professional instructors. We’ve already had auditions and selected our new PIT student improvisers and they’re a talented group! Students interested in joining or rejoining PIT must audition each year. It’s an exciting opportunity for me to teach long-form and short-form improvisation, sketch comedy, and activities that involve audience participation—vital skills for every versatile screen actor, director, and writer. I’m taking the baton from the outstanding previous leaders, Brian Jones and Allen Simpson (who specializes in musical improv).

A bit about the group: Originally founded by Tracy Burns in 2000, PIT has been a source of encouragement to the Pepperdine community for the past 21 years. From the bravery of its student performers to the laughs shared in spontaneous scenes, PIT supports and inspires the student body with its free, monthly shows in Elkins Auditorium. So please follow PIT on Facebook to learn about our upcoming shows.