Kim Scott
Kim Scott was thrilled to find Westside Theater. An improviser since high school, Kim loves being part of a community that values play. She spends her free time watching tv, reading, eating large quantities of popcorn at solo movie outings, and trying to make her 4 year old laugh.
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Eileen McArdle
As the youngest of six children, Eileen was always performing. She received her BA in theater at Loyola University and later graduated from the Second City Conservatory.
Eileen is a professional "Garbologist" and has been working in the recycling industry for 15 years. If you invite her over, ready yourself for dumpster diving and unsolicited recycling tips. She’s Not Sorry.
Marriage, motherhood, and career put improv in the backseat until a nearly empty nest in 2019 afforded her the time to join Westside. As, Julia Cameron, Author of the Artist Way, says, “It is never too late to begin again.”
She is thankful to be part of the Westside family
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Deborah Shaddon
Deborah performs long form improv at Westside Improv.
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Sheryl Alkevicius
On a fateful night in March 2018, Sheryl had no idea her world would be turned upside down watching her son's Graduation Show at the Westside Improv. She joined her first class at Westside that night and has never looked back. She comes to Westside with years of theater experience having performed with The Olympic Theater, Morton College, Village Players, and Speakeasy Productions. Currently, she works as a Director of high school plays and a manager of a doggie daycare. In her spare time, Sheryl spends time with her family and shows her French Bulldogs. She would like to thank Jeff Ash and his teachers for creating an enriching environment for mind and soul, her supportive family and all of her improv family.
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Steph Hochstetler
On a mission to break out of her too-cozy comfort zone, Steph registered for the Intro class at Westside because it sounded paralyzingly terrifying, but (slightly) safer than skydiving. She miraculously survived her first jump on stage in late 2017 and was completely hooked by the challenge and the joy she found there. Steph is endlessly awed by and grateful for the support and friendship in the Westside community. Special thanks also go out to Steph’s family and friends who cheer her on even though they think she’s a little weird.
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Kathleen Richardson
A native of Lisle, Kathleen has always enjoyed making people laugh. She acted in plays in high school and college—then got married and raised four fabulous children. Life changes brought employment opportunities at People’s Resource Center here in Wheaton. After downsizing her life and looking for comedic things to make her heart flutter again, Kathleen found Westside Improv. The classes were fun and supportive! She’s made many new friends of all ages! And Jeff Ash has made the journey to House Team a wonderful one! Her advice is to jump into whatever it is that you love! It’s never too late!
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Karin Rettger
Karin Rettger found her love for Improv at Westside! She took her first class without any knowledge of improv or any experience acting. Studying under some great teachers at Westside, and after getting over the fear of performing, she learned how playful and fun it is! A single mom, she discovered a supportive community at Westside, wonderful friends, and Taco Tuesdays at Muldoons. She has her own successful business in Glen Ellyn as a Benefits Advisor and Wealth Manager. Karin graduated from Elmhurst College and obtained her Master Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
UPCOMING SHOWS
PERFORMS WITH
Karen Craven
Little did Karen Craven know when she awoke the morning of November 1, 2017, that a nearly forgotten goal of practicing improv would come to fruition. She pasted “Improv” into a dream box more than a decade earlier, in part because she thought she was funnier than her sister who practiced it. The second daughter of five children born to a former nun and Chicago firefighter, Karen’s initial path as a communicator began as the family storyteller. As a news reporter she covered murderers and mayors. When she went into government and politics the actors changed to felonious statesmen. Her work in corporate and now in not for profits has her massaging messaging for the masses through the right medium. Her favorite part of Improv is connecting with her fellow players, seconded by making random thoughts into absurd comical sense. Mom to one teenage daughter and two dogs, she’s humbled to be in the company of the wittiest women she knows. She lives by the words of Oscar Wilde, “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.”