Jason Parker
Jason began his improv career in Texas in 1997, starting in college and continuing on to perform across venues in Dallas for eight years. In addition to performing regularly during that time he made frequent trips to Chicago to study with iO and Annoyance, taught improv to college and high school students, did some corporate gigs, and even once performed at a prom. After a nine year hiatus from performing, Jason is excited to be getting back into things with Westside.
Jason directs Formal Bonfire.
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Dave Friedland
Dave Friedland began performing improv at ComedySportz-Madison while attending college at the University of Wisconsin. After moving to Chicago, he went on to study improv at Second City and iO, and then, after a late-night game of zip zap zop went south, he decided to take his improv skills to the courtroom and earned a law degree in New Orleans. He is now back and thrilled to be performing at Westside. Dave is also an accomplished musician with 30+ years of experience in piano and guitar instruction and has performed music all across the country. When not performing improv or music, Dave enjoys chasing his three children around and trying to talk to his wife. Laisser Les Bon Temps Rouler! .
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Matt Guglielmi
Matt started doing improv back in 1998 at Fredonia University in Western New York with the comedy group Random Acts. After graduating, Matt with two friends moved to Chicago to try life in the big city. Matt completed the training program at iO and performed on the team Ralphies Rug for two years. He was also on various teams at the Playground theater. He then took time off from improv to help repopulate the Earth. He is excited to return to improv at his new home Westside Improv.
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Josh Hepler
Josh Hepler has been performing Improv ever since he stumbled upon it in High School. He is a graduate of the Second City Training Center Conservatory, and formerly performed with Frank Frank at One Group Mind in Chicago. He also teaches Youth Theater Acting and Improv classes.
He enjoys film, attempts to write a novel every November, and has completed several Pokédexes.
Josh directs BOINK!.
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Jeff Ash
Jeff Ash is the owner and Artistic Director of Westside Improv Studio. Jeff is an alumnus of The Second City, Hollywood, and has performed and taught improvisation all over the U.S..
The host of TEDx Naperville in 2016 & 2017, Jeff also performed at the 2017 event with his team Rad Uncle. On top of teaching the Intro to Improv class at Westside, Jeff also coaches several teams and teaches sketch writing.
Jeff is the co-creator and primary teacher at Westside Studio B, focusing on organizational training, communication, leadership, and development.
Jeff directs Flexible Boat, Rad Uncle, Formal Bonfire and Not Sorry.
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Dave Kuhlmann Taylor
Dave began his improv and sketch comedy journey in 1999, when he moved from the DC area to Chicago to take classes at Second City. There, he penned “Starbuck Trek”, ek,” a Star Trek parody set in a coffee shop—inspired by his barista position at Starbucks and featuring the characters Scones McSoy, Pecan, Biscotti, Mr. Stock, Cremora, Mr. Solo, and James T. Perk. Trust us, it was brilliant and cutting-edge comedy. A couple years later, he started long-form improv classes at iO, and eventually joined the main stage ensemble, Rattlesnake High School. In Los Angeles, he performed weekly for seven years at iO Hollywood with USS Rock N Roll, who performed at festivals in San Francisco, Boston, and Los s Angeles. He also toured the festival circuit with the sketch comedy group, 25th Century Heroes, who somehow managed to sell an ad campaign dubbed the “Hot-N-Ready Talker” to Little Caesars Pizza about a carpool commuter who wouldn’t stop talking about Crazy Bread. Dave is happy to be back in the Chicago area and is thrilled to be performing with the perfect gentlemen of Rad Uncle.