STAFF

Armando Diaz Instructor

Armando is widely regarded as one of the best improv teachers in New York City and beyond. His list of teaching credits is a long one: the ImprovOlympic Theater, Victory Gardens Theater, The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, The Peoples Improv Theater, and Michael Howard Studios. He has trained dozens of actors who have performed or written for Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Mad TV, and The Daily Show. 

A Chicago native, Armando studied improv under Del Close at the ImprovOlympic, Mick Napier at the Annoyance, and graduated from the Second City Conservatory. He performed in and helped create one of the most popular improvised longforms in Chicago, "The Armando Diaz Experience...." For the last decade, "the Armando" has been performed weekly in Chicago, and is now taught and performed in many other cities including Los Angeles and New York.

In addition to writing and producing short films, Armando wrote sketches for the show Upright Citizens Brigade on Comedy Central, and has performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Armando lives in Manhattan with like, nine roommates.

Ed Herbstman Instructor

Ed has been teaching performance improvisation for over 10 years. He grew up in Chicago and after graduating from Northwestern University, he began working at The Second City as a member of their National Touring Company, and at the ImprovOlympic Theater as an instructor. In Chicago, he was trained by and performed with his idols: Del Close, David Razowsky, and the original members of the UCB.

After performing improv at the Aspen Comedy Festival, he moved to LA where he helped start the ImprovOlympic West. He performed in a handful of really great stage shows, and starred in a bunch of really crappy pilots, both of which he enjoyed very much.

Ed has created and/or written shows on MTV and VH1, and was a contributing writer on Season 2 of HBO's Da Ali G Show. Recently he wrote the innovative “Webisodes” for Lincoln Mercury called MeetTheLuckyOnes.com, named in Adweek’s Top Ten Ad Campaigns of 2004.

Ed was also a NYPD Police Officer for 3 years, assigned to the 70th Precinct in Flatbush Brooklyn where he once arrested a gun-toting drug dealer for kidnapping a prostitute. He lives in New York City with his wife and son (and dog).

Alex is a writer and animator living in Brooklyn. He has written, directed, and produced several plays including his own adaptation of the movie Rushmore. He studied improvisation at the IO West in Los Angeles where he learned from Bob Dassie, Pete Gardner, Miles Stroth, Scot Robinson, James Grace, Jeff Drake, and Paul Vaillancourt. He performed at the IO West with Bounce Castle, The Deconstruction Derby, the Spontaneous Shakespeare Company, and retired Cage Match champions Blaine is Obviously Gay.

Since coming to New York he has studied under Armando Diaz, Ed Herbstman, TJ Jagodowski, David Pasquesi, and David Razowsky. He has most recently directed Flea Flurkus in their presentation of the Evente and the Necroplitans' presentation of the Wake. He currently performs with his Megawatt team Hello Laser.

Objects he has successfully hammered into his nose include nails, spoons, and ice picks. Objects he has unsuccessfully hammered into his nose include a screwdriver and a ballpoint pen.

Bob Acevedo Instructor

Bob has been improvising for eight years and doing longform for four of them. He's trained at the Tokyo Comedy Store in Roppongi, Japan and also at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, The PIT and Magnet Theater, here in New York City. He's studied with Armando Diaz, Ian Roberts (UCB), Michael Delaney (UCBT), Pat Shay (The PIT), Ed Herbstman and a bunch of other good folks, like Joe Bill, Susan Messing & Mark Sutton from The Annoyance Theater and Jay Rhoderick from Centralia. He's performed at the Chicago Improv Festival, with the improv show Foreplay and at the Del Close Marathon. He can be seen performing with Beatrice at Harold Night at the UCB Theatre and around town with Surf'n Turf and The Fightin' Lobcats. He's pleased to be teaching at the Magnet and helping build improv skills, love and community however he can!

Christian Capozzoli has studied improvisation with Armando Diaz, Kevin Dorff, John Lutz, Ed Herbstman, Tara Copeland and many others from both Magnet Theater and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Christian has been studying and performing comedy for the last 14 years and holds a BFA in Comedy Arts from Emerson College and a Masters in Literature and Education from Harvard University. He performs weekly with Skosh and 4Track (Best New Improv Show 2007 TimeOut NY), and is happy and proud to have been in shows such as Flea Flurkus: Evente, The Last Picture Show, and The Armando Diaz Experience. The Magnet Theater and improvisation is a big part of his life and he is thrilled to now be a part of the Magnet Theater's faculty.

Tara Copeland Instructor

Tara made her way to New York after 18 years in Arkansas via Bryn Mawr College, where she discovered her love for sketch and improv comedy while performing with The Lighted Fools. She can currently be seen at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater with the group Mother (2001 Cage Match Tournament Champions), who have their own show entitled The Soundtrack and with Ms. Jackson (2004 ECNY Best Improv Group), who are FOR REAL, and every Saturday at The Magnet Theater in The Tiny Spectacular! Tara has also appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, as well as in The Third Degree, Commedia Del High School, Vampires in Havana, Double Down, I Eat Pandas & Friends, and the short film Running with Scissors. She was seen most recently as Pip in The Crushing Blow (www.thecrushingblow.tv). Tara has been teaching improv in New York for over five years with Chicago City Limits and The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Tara would like to thank her roommates, friends, and family for their support.

James Eason Instructor

James Eason originally came to New York to be a jazz musician. Finding it a buyer's market he slowed made the transition to improvisation. He's been teaching improv and coaching improv groups since before the turn of the century. James performs with Mother, Neutrino, The Tiny Spectacular, Under the Influence, Amper&sand, The Project, and occasionally with the all-female Ms. Jackson (not as weird as it seems). He has appeared in the independent short films Hotties I & II, Joseph's Wives, and Running with Scissors. James has also appeared on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Comedy Central's The Upright Citizens Brigade. James has studied improv with Armando Diaz, the founding members of the UCB, T.J. Jagadowski, Dave Pasquesi, and members of the Annoyance Theater. He has also studied acting at Atlantic Theatre School, T. Schrieber Studios, and with Tom Todoroff.

Dan Gregor Instructor

Dan has been performing sketch and improv comedy since 2001 when he moved to New York City to fulfil his lifelong dream of being a comedy nerd. He's studied sketch with Matt Walsh, Ali Farahnakian & Jake Fogelnest. He's an original member of The Wicked Wicked Hammerkatz, founded at New York University and housed at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater since 2003. With Hammerkatz, Dan has produced, written and performed in countless sketch shows in festivals and theaters all over the country, having won numerous accolades, including being named BEST SKETCH TROUPE in NYC (2005) by the prestigious ECNY Awards. Professionally, Dan has worked in production/ research on Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 and on Robert Smigel's never released Triumph political documentary. Following that he worked in HBO's Latenight Comedy Development on such shows as Da Ali G Show, Real Time w/Bill Maher, One Night Stand, and many others.

Currently, with his production company/ sketch trio Chubby Skinny Kids, he has produced, starred in, and written pilot presentations for ABC/Touchstone and CW/Endemol, and is writting a feature length film for Universal Pictures/Imagine Entertainment, and a low-budget indy feature for Endemol Productions. Also he hosts the Magnet's standup showcase Her Majesty's Standup, and performs sketch and improv regularly around the city. Come say hello to the nerd!"

Mark Grenier is an actor, director, and teacher in New York City. Mark has studied improvisation extensively with Armando Diaz. He has also studied with Mick Napier at the Annoyance Theater in Chicago and with many other instructors from Improv Olympic, Second City, and The Upright Citizens Brigade. Mark has studied acting at The Atlantic Theater Company, Michael Howard Studios, and The Eric Morris Workshop in Los Angeles. Directing credits include The Dick Sisters, Dynasty, An Evening of Scatological Humor, Failed Family Sitcom, Hey Gorgeous, Hotboard, The Jonathon & Mike Extravaganza Show, Kelly & Greg Can't Read, Picture Day, The Pulsating Life, Self Image, Shameful Display, and many independent and resident improv ensembles. He created the long-running improv show Improdome at The Peoples Improv Theater and co-created Magnet Theater's Casual Sketch. Mark has taught improv at Fairfield University, The Fulbright Association, The Gainesville Improv Festival, Marymount Manhattan College, The Peoples Improv Theater, The Philadelphia Improv Festival, Polaris North Theater Company, The Providence Improv Fest, and P.S. 6 Elementary School in Manhattan.

Rachel Hamilton Instructor 

Rachel has been teaching Improv for over ten years. After receiving a theater degree from Northwestern University, Rachel spent 8 years at the Second City, Chicago, beginning in the National Touring Company and culminating on the Mainstage. After moving to Los Angeles, Rachel got a tan and helped build The Second City, LA. Now living in New York, Rachel is delighted to be an instructor at the Magnet Theater.

Rachel has performed at the Aspen Comedy Festival, the Montreal Comedy Festival, The Toronto Fringe Festival and has toured the country as a member of the Reduced Shakespeare Company. Rachel's one-woman show, Hamiltonia, recently enjoyed a run at the UCB in New York. She is a frequent guest host of The Young Turks on Sirius Satellite Radio and currently performs in Magnet's The Tiny Spectacular.

Rachel lives in Manhattan with her hottie husband and their two cats, Lottie and Steve.

Louis Kornfeld Instructor, Manager

Louis is a graduate of the Conservatory of Theater Arts and Film at SUNY Purchase and cast member of Magnet’s resident team, The Boss. Louis also appears in Magnet’s flagship shows, The Tiny Spectacular and Made-Up Musical and has extensive performance experience with former resident teams Monster and Kid Cadaver, as well as featured shows such as Handsome Devils, Rendezvous, Con, The Wisdom Circle, and Mega Lou: high-powered duo comedy with Megan Gray.

Louis keeps busy coaching teams, teaching at Magnet and directing (World of Tomorrow. Right This Second, and Busker) It only makes sense as he has studied with some of improv’s best: Armando Diaz, Kevin Dorff, Christina Gausas, Ed Herbstman, TJ Jagadowski, Dave Pasquesi, and Joe Bill to name a few.

A man of many talents, he takes the most joy in his own handsomeness, the quality of which falls somewhere between rugged and intellectual. Seek him out and you'll see what we mean.

T.J. Mannix has been a working professional actor in NYC for over ten years. He has appeared in more than 20 commercials and had roles on “Law and Order”, “Law and Order: Criminal Intent”, “All My Children”, “One Life to Live”, and “As the World Turns”, along with numerous appearances on “Late Night with Conan O’ Brien.

Peter McNerney Instructor

Peter grew up in Chicago and Minneapolis. He began his study of improvisation at Northwestern University where he majored in Theater. He has since studied improv in New York at The Magnet and the UCB Theatre. Past instructors include Armando Diaz, Kevin Dorff, Dave Pasquesi, TJ Jagedowski, Susan Messing, Matt Besser, Mike Abdelsayed and many others. Peter performs every Friday night with Statues of Liberty at the Magnet. He is a company member of the Striking Viking Story Pirates, New York’s premier absurdist children’s theater company and is a co-writer and director of the comedy duo Sax & Dixon (Montreal Comedy Festival, Ars Nova NYC). Past shows at the Magnet include The Tiny Spectacular, The Armando Diaz Experience, Under the Influence, Hello Laser, Happy Kid, Flea Flurkus, F’d Up, and the Destination with Peter and Garrett. He was also a contestant on the internet reality show, Project Improviser, where he was quickly eliminated.

Emlyn Morinelli is an actress and voiceover artist living in Brooklyn. Emlyn is a graduate of Emerson College with a BFA in performing arts. She has studied improv at, UCB, Second City and the Magnet with teachers such as Armando Diaz, Ian Roberts, Matt Besser, Shira Piven and Michael Gellman. You may have seen her perform at theaters like UCB, The Pit, Here Theater and the Tank in shows like "A Time for Heroes and Hoagies" and "Mortified". Her voice can be heard on radio and television on various commercials and cartoons such as "Hanes" and "Pokemon" She's very happy to be working at the Magnet and can't wait to meet EVERYBODY!!!!!

John O'Donnell Instructor

John O'Donnell comes to the Magnet with a Masters Degree in education and over ten years of teaching experience in New York City. He studied under John Cameron Telfer, Del Close, Charna Halpern, and Magnet's own Armando Diaz. He has appeared in pilots for Comedy Central, the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival, and "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," as well as numerous commercials that have boosted the nation's economy! On stage, he served as a performer, writer, and touring company director for Chicago City Limits, as well as a performer for shows including ASSSCAT, A Dumb Guy Enters: The Andy Daly Show, Kilgore, and The Made Up Musical. He also has written and performed a trilogy of one-man shows, O'Donnellogues, Son of O'Donnellogues, and Beneath The Planet of The O'Donnellogues. He is thrilled to be involved at the Magnet Theater among such distinguished teachers and performers.

Louie Pearlman Instructor

Louie Pearlman is an improviser, filmmaker, and comedian from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Since moving to New York in 2002, he has studied with the Magnet Theater's Mike Meyers, Armando Diaz, Ed Herbstman, and Jean Villepique. He has also trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater with Ian Roberts, Amy Poehler, Billy Merritt and many others. Louie loves teaching teens the arts of improvisation and sketch comedy and has done so at Buck's Rock Arts Camp in New Milford, Connecticut, since the summer of 2000. He is also the director of Uncle Dad, a teenage improv ensemble from NYC and has taught many comedy workshops across the tri-state area. He has also been a teacher and performer at The Vancouver International Improv Festival and the Del Close Marathon in New York City. You can see Louie perform at the Magnet with his group, the Yes Andersens and with his musical improv duo The After School Music Club.

Stuart Ranson Instructor

Stuart Ranson moved to Chicago to study improvisation after graduating from The College of William and Mary in Virginia. After completing the training centers of the Improv Olympic, Annoyance Theater, and Second City, he began a tour of duty with the Second City National Touring Company. At Second City, he also performed with the ETC cast in the Jeff Award Winning “Holy War, Batman!” Stuart is an original member of musical improv group Baby Wants Candy, with whom he attended the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Spoleto Arts Festival. Baby Wants Candy was named 2005 Ensemble of the Year by the Chicago Improv Festival and performs regularly at Chicago’s Apollo Theater and in various New York venues. His other credits include the smash hit musicals “Jedi: A Musical Tour de Force” and “Moulin Scrooge.” He lives in New York City.

Gary Rudoren Instructor

Back in NY after a 19 year hiatus in Chicago, Gary Rudoren is an ensemble member of The Annoyance Theatre where he has improvised, acted, directed, written and designed dozens of shows. He also has directed & co-written several acclaimed one-person shows including: “I’m 27, I Still Live At Home and I Sell Office Supplies” & “Jim Carrane is Living in a Dwarf’s House" - both with Jim Carrane; “One Man Seen” with Andy Eninger; “The Ate Monologues” with Mark Sutton; and his one-man play about a serial killer - whose last request before execution is to do a one-man show - called “So, I Killed A Few People...” was published in the anthology Plays and Playwrights for The New Millennium. He has taught and directed in both the Annoyance and Second City training programs. Currently he is a co-author, with Eric Hoffman, of the new McSweeneys book, COMEDY BY THE NUMBERS at your local bookstore or wherever fine McSweeneys products are sold. If you google him, you might find that he did most of the work noted above under his old name, Gary Ruderman. The name change thing is a whole other story.
Gary is visibily excited to be teaching at the Magnet Theater.

Read the Time Out Chicago review of Gary's book COMEDY BY THE NUMBERS!

Some Photography on this page by Lynn Borowitz.

---

Abby Sher Instructor

Abby is an actress and writer who just returned to her native New York from Chicago. In Chicago she wrote and performed in 5 original revues at The Second City and was a member of its National Touring Company for 2 years. Abby has also written and performed for the New York Fringe festival and crooned with the band Tallulah.

While all that was going on, Abby also taught improvisation at the ImprovOlympic Theater in Chicago, where she regularly performed with the fabulous ladies of JANE and others. She has studied improv with Del Close and is a graduate of the University of Chicago. And to top it off, she just got engaged to a wonderful bird of whom Magnet Theater approves.

---

Blaine Swen Instructor

Blaine Swen is the founder and director of the The Improvised Shakespeare Company, a show that TimeOut Chicago calls "staggeringly brilliant." Blaine comes from California where he performed with ComedySportz, Ultimate Improv, and iO West. At iO West, he was part of the long-running and critically acclaimed Spontaneous Shakespeare Company. At iO Chicago Blaine can currently be seen performing with The iO Musical, The Armando Diaz Experience, and on the house team, Bullet Lounge. He also enjoys touring with the iO Road Show. Blaine teaches improvisation at The Second City and iO Chicago and travels the country teaching improvised Shakespeare.

---

Jean Villepique Instructor

Jean Villepique has a theater degree from Northwestern University, studied at IO Chicago with Del Close, wrote and performed for The Second City in Las Vegas, Chicago and elsewhere. She had
taught at the Magnet Theater in New York, where her solo show "Who Cares?" had it's debut, which was then selected by the Chicago Improv festival. She is a member of the dynomite trio Switchboard with Rebecca Sohn and Debra Downing-Grosz and performs with the Armando show at IO LA and The Soundtrack at UCBLA. She also plays music with Kit Pongetti in their duo The Artists.

Credits include: The Office, 30 Rock, The Goods: The Don Ready Story, I Love You Man, and My Boys.