Brian Howell

Brian’s wife, Marissa, knew what she was doing when she got him a Christmas gift of Improv Comedy Classes. What started as a simple Level 1 class with Jeff Ash has turned into a full-blown obsession. (Did she plan this? Is it part of grand scheme to get the TV remote to herself?) Brian’s paid gig is as a college professor of cultural anthropology, but now his true vocation is making up characters with faux French accents and singing his feelings. He moonlights as a musical director for Westside occasionally, and loves supporting the Westside community in whatever ways he can. Vive la Westside!

UPCOMING SHOWS

PERFORMS WITH

Nate Wagner

Nate grew up in Michigan but after a series of successful cosmetic surgeries you would never guess.  In elementary school, Nate started piano lessons and participated in a professional choir as a soprano chorister/soloist. It was then that Nate discovered he had a knack for recognizing pitches but always struggled with the 4-seam fastball.

At one point, Nate discovered he could no longer sing soprano and years later discovered musical improv in Chicago at Second City and IO Improv.  Shortly after, he found Westside, a theater right in his backyard, with the great community of players, formed under the gentle bosom of Jeff Ash.

Nate is thankful to Dave Asher and Stephanie McCullough for their impactful instruction in musical direction for comedy theater.  He also thankful to all the wisdom imparted by his fellow musical directors at Westside; Nate Erickson, Sally Hepler and Sam Scheidler.

Nate is a Musical Director who coaches/plays with Futon Music.  He can also be found at tickling the ivories for other groups at improv shows and conducting the Westside's Musical Jamboree.

UPCOMING SHOWS

PERFORMS WITH

Janet Roe Everette

Janet Roe Everette grew up on a small farm in north central Illinois, so she knows all about an agrarian lifestyle. She plays on two teams at Westside Improv and is grateful for the positive community and friendship.

UPCOMING SHOWS

PERFORMS WITH

Jim Wozniak

Before starting a beginner’s improv class in the fall of 2017 at Westside, Jim had no prior improv or theater experience other than the time he was an extra in a Hollywood movie that never was released. Now, thanks to great teachers, fellow improvisers, and the will to get better at something, Jim can be seen with a couple of house teams at the theater. When not singing badly or pretending to be Irish on stage, Jim likes to watch movies and be a sous chef at home. Jim and his wife (who is also a Westside alum) live, as the Irish say, a “wee stone’s throw away” from Westside.

UPCOMING SHOWS

PERFORMS WITH

Eric Scheidler

Eric Scheidler got started doing improv hanging out around his backyard firepit with sons Nate and Sam. His formal training began in October 2018 at Westside. When he's not making up goofy songs with Futon Music, Eric enjoys playing guitar and piano, mountain biking, and spending time with his 8 kids (yes, you read that right). His favorite yoga pose is Side Angle. He has the loudest whistle you've ever heard, and has very strong opinions about the proper way to make s'mores.

UPCOMING SHOWS

PERFORMS WITH

Kim LeClair

Except for playing Eeyore as a little kid in a community production of Winnie the Pooh, Kim hadn’t really set foot on a stage until she happily stumbled on Westside in 2018. She had no idea what she had been missing. Hopelessly hooked, Kim plans to keep doing whatever she can at Westside for as long as she can. George Bernard Shaw said it best “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

UPCOMING SHOWS

PERFORMS WITH

Yolanda G. Waddell

Yolanda loves improvising at Westside. She feels a great sense of community here, which has helped her grow as an improviser. Yolanda discovered improv comedy in late 2010 at the tail end of a postpartum depression. The laughter and creativity she found in improv helped end that dark time. She is also a recovering perfectionist, for which improv continues to provide the best treatment!

Yolanda has studied improvisation at Westside Players Workshop, The Annoyance, Jimmy Carrane’s Art of Slow Comedy, iO, ComedySportz and The Second City. She has performed at various venues in Chicago with Kelly Machiavelli, a former house team for One Group Mind Improvisers Guild. She is a former actor with The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Show in Schaumburg.

She is so grateful to her biggest cheerleader, her husband, Michael. His loving support (and childcare!) has made studying and performing improv possible!

UPCOMING SHOWS

PERFORMS WITH

Lucy LaPlaca

Lucy is an improviser at Westside Improv.

UPCOMING SHOWS

PERFORMS WITH

Sarah Haggett

Sarah discovered improv while trying to impress the cool kids in high school. Now in her 30’s and a pediatric occupational therapist, she has rediscovered improv at Second City and Westside, and is still trying to impress high school kids on the regular. She is grateful for the opportunity to play with her Westside family while staring down fears of failure and rejection both collectively and with total abandon.

UPCOMING SHOWS

PERFORMS WITH