Our Teachers

Ann Marie Trepkowski

Ann Marie has been doing improv for over seventeen years. She took her first improv class to prove to herself that she could do something she was afraid to do. Ann Marie continues to perform and teach improv because it brings her so much joy.

Ann Marie is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory and The iO Theater. She has also taken classes at The Annoyance Theater, the Philly Improv Theater, the Magnet Theater, The People’s Improv Theater and the Planet Ant Theatre. She performs with Flexible Boat at Westside and with Jam Sandwich at Second CIty. Outside of improv, Ann Marie does stand up and sketch comedy.

Ann Marie enjoys teaching improv forms, slow comedy, advanced improv and good scene work. She also coaches improv and has taught workshops in improv for business.

Anne Marie Irey

Anne Marie has been involved in theater for over 30 years. She minored in Theatre at Saint Mary’s College, and earned her M.Ed. at DePaul University. Anne Marie is a graduate of the Second City’s Conservatory and Musical Conservatory. She also studied and performed at Comedy Sports in Chicago, where she spent several years performing improv at various theaters.

Previously, she taught 4th grade at the Sacred Heart in Chicago, where she founded an after school theater program. Prior to teaching at Westside, Anne Marie taught the Children’s Acting Workshops at Wheaton Drama.

Anne Marie has enjoyed teaching the Youth Improv Classes at Westside for the past five years. In addition to teaching youth classes, Anne Marie, also teaches adults in the Player’s Workshop. She currently coaches her team Objectivize and performs musical improv with Dirty Bars.

Anne Marie feels incredibly grateful to be a member of the Westside community. She feels honored to work with such an amazing group of improvisers.

Alyssa Barringer

Alyssa has been performing on improv teams since 2001 (when she was an actual child) and teaching and coaching since 2007 (when she was, arguably, still an actual child). She trained at iO Chicago, Theater Momentum, and the School for Theatre Creators. Before coming to Westside, she performed with Wheaton Improv and Open Source Improv. She doesn't have enough mime and clown training to be a legitimate mime or clown, but she DOES have enough to require students to wear comfy shoes and get moving -- yes, even on Zoom!

Alyssa was first inspired to start teaching because she did not like when people assumed that improv was a talent rather than a skill. If improv is a talent, then only the people who are already funny, clever, quick, and brave have a chance. But improv is a skill, and a skill can be learned and taught. It doesn't require you to come in already knowing how to do it!

Alyssa has been at Westside since before its first show and doesn't ever want to leave. She performs with Circus Police and Flexible Boat. She guides beginning players from being unsure how to be in a scene to completely blowing everyone's mind at their first show. She also loves helping more seasoned players troubleshoot their playing and get out of ruts. From the outside, it appears that Alyssa's pedagogy consists mostly of clapping and saying "YAY," but that is only because she is so genuinely delighted by seeing her students' progress.

Alyssa's definition of Harold is expansive. Even if you don't think you did a Harold, she will probably argue that you DID do a Harold. She really likes the Harold.

When she's not performing or teaching improv, Alyssa teaches Latin to children at The Greenhouse Co-school. You'd think Latin would be the opposite of improv, but it's not.

Beth Brousil

Beth started learning improv at Westside in 2018 but has been talking in weird voices and imagining worst-case scenarios her entire life. After completing Westside’s improv levels, she moved on to Player’s Workshop, character development, and sketch writing/performing and was invited to join Flexible Boat and BOINK! in 2019. Then in 2021, Beth and Kim LeClair created The Salt Sisters. 

Beth attributes improv to helping her find her voice in the world and hopes to empower her students to find theirs. She believes in the power of laughter to break down walls and bring us together. 

When she’s not at Westside, she’s probably at Target or her day job as a graphic designer. She knows too much about true crime, the paranormal, and Mad Men.

Caleb Sjogren

Caleb Sjogren has been in the improv game since 1997. He has played corporate gigs, touring shows, and experimental improv–both short and long form–in venues ranging from Piper’s Alley in Chicago to church camps, from comedy cabarets to the county farm barn. Caleb is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory (Chicago) in addition to training with iO and Under the Gun.

In 2012, Caleb founded Open Source Improv, a Chicagoland improv co-op. OSI disbanded in 2015 with the opening of Westside Improv in Wheaton, IL, and its teams and players are now featured in many shows on the Westside stage. He has taught and coached improv at elementary, high school, college, and full-grown-adult levels. He centers his classes around building community, building trust, and building skills.

Caleb is a proud founding member and director of the tragicomic team known as The Unwritten Works of William Shakespeare.

Danny Bowery

Danny has been doing improv for 5 years. He took his first intro class at Westside Improv and has been with the theatre ever since, moving on to Players’ Workshop and completing classes in character development, sketch writing, accents and the La Ronde form.

Previously best known as the recipient of the 2006-2007 St. Patrick High School Academic Merit Award for Religious Studies, he’s better known now as a member of house team, Boink!, which is comprised entirely of Players Workshop alumni. Outside of improv, Danny has been trying to break into stand-up and has performed in a couple showcases.

He lives in Elmhurst with his wife and Chiweenie. Previously a 5th and 6th grade teacher, Danny has a bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education and is grateful for the opportunity to teach something new in this awesome community.

Jason Parker

Jason has been teaching and performing improv comedy for over 15 years. He’s had the opportunity to train with directors, instructors and alumni from Second City, Annoyance, Improv Olympics, Upright Citizens Brigade, and more. During his 5 years at Westside Improv Studio he’s been a member of house teams Rad Uncle and Flexible Boat, coach of Formal Bonfire, Players Workshop teacher, and co-creator of Westside Studio b.

Jason is a big believer in improv not only as a creative art form but also as a powerful set of skills that can help strengthen relationships and enrich work. As such, Jason is constantly looking for ways to take what’s learned on the stage and apply it how we live and relate to each other.

Born and raised in Texas, Jason has been living in the Chicago area since 2006. He has a master’s degree in social psychology and works in advertising as a strategic planner, helping companies like McDonald’s, P&G, Bayer, and others discover and unlock creative opportunities by better understanding human behavior.

John Abbott

John started studying improv in 1999 in his home town of Chicago, first at Second City's Conservatory, then at iO, and finally at the Annoyance. He interned and then worked at iO for nearly a decade, performing on 3 different teams while working there. John played with Wing Night at the Playground (Chicago) for 14 years, a team that played in the Gainsville Improv festival and the Chicago Improv Festival (CIF).

When John is in San Jose, he performs in a duo with Chris Shurland of the American Improv Theater called The Legends Of Public Access. At any given time, Mr. Abbott is coaching 2-4 improv teams.

He currently teaches at WestSide Improv in Wheaton, Illinois, and is incredibly proud to coach and perform with the musical improv team Dirty Bars.

Kim LeClair

Kim is a freelance website designer by day and an improviser by night (and weekend). She discovered Westside in early 2018, has taken every class on offer and did a slow comedy intensive in the city along the way as well.

She went to school for Cognitive Psychology, earned her masters degree and then began a non-traditional career path that has included roles as trainer and workshop facilitator.

Collaborating with people to make something together is just about the best thing ever and in Kim’s opinion that’s improv!

New to teaching, Kim hopes to encourage each player to grow into their own strengths as a player and a human.

In Kim’s work, in her play and in her teaching, the motto is: Let’s Make Something Together!

Kyle Tasch

Kyle is an improv teacher, filmmaker, writer, actor, comedian and musician from the Chicago suburbs. He began acting in middle school, and since high school, he has performed improv in a variety of contexts.

Kyle began improvising at Westside in 2015 and is an alumni of Westside Improv's Players' Workshop. He has performed regularly with house team Flexible Boat since 2016.

Kyle is a filmmaker who often makes films and videos for Westside Improv. Kyle has produced, written, acted, and directed his own independent films and web series since 2005. Many of the films and videos he has created use improv as a technique crossed with storytelling narratives. There are over 100 original comedic films and videos available to watch online today.

Since Kyle began writing comedy, his comedy sketches have been performed in Chicago and suburban theaters. Kyle is a published poet and photographer.

Kyle began teaching improv at Westside in November 2019. He focuses on techniques involving practice, energy, strategy, and fun to elevate the improv experience for players and audiences alike.

In his day job (which he cannot yet quit), he works in the legal industry performing various administrative and marketing tasks for a multi-state law firm. He graduated from Roosevelt University with a degree in Communications. As a commercial videographer, he has made commercials for several businesses and even two local politicians who won their heavily contested elections.

Kyle is also a longtime musician and also often incorporates comedy into his music. Since fronting a punk rock band in the 2000's, he has since played music for folk projects, jam bands, comedy bands, and has many original solo recordings available on every major music streaming platform. Kyle's music has been featured in award-winning independent films. Since 2005, he has performed music regularly at a wide variety of venues. Kyle has played live music events in several different states and even as far as Edinburgh, Scotland. His instruments of choice are guitar, vocals, and harmonica. Many music videos and live music recordings are available online to view today.

Kyle's philosophy on teaching Players' Workshop is to have the students improvise scenework as much as possible. Since this is a workshop, Kyle considers himself just a handyman who works in a woodworking shop who is there to open the doors and provide the tools, and let the students make their masterpieces.

Kyle holds the world record for longest amount of time spent breathing through a harmonica (this record is not confirmed).

Laura Kivisto

Laura is a graduate of Westside Improv Studio’s improv, slow comedy, and sketch classes. She has also trained in standup comedy at The Chicago Improv and The Lincoln Lodge. 

 She likes teaching at Westside because of the supportive community and the range of experiences each performer brings to the stage. In her classes, Laura focuses on building players’ toolbox of skills with memory exercises, embracing silence, emotional honesty, investing in relationships, and characters. She hopes students will learn to express themselves freely, not get in their heads, and have fun. 

On stage she tends to be an emotional, grounded player with deep 90’s hip-hop references and a risqué offbeat sense of humor. She can be seen performing with her improv teams BOINK! and Shade Tree.

Matt Guglielmi

Matt can not think of a time when he wasn't a teacher. Matt has taught high school social studies for the past 16 years. He has a Master's degree and B.A. in history and education along with an endorsement in teaching English as a Second Language. Teaching improv combines three of Matt's favorite things: improv, teaching, and being away from his family.

Matt started 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 Ralphie's Rug, coached by Jeff Griggs, for two years. He was also on various teams at the Playground Theater. He then took time off from improv when he got married and had five children. He returned to improv at his new improv home at Westside in 2015. He is on the two of the longest running Westside house teams Rad Uncle and Flexible Boat.

As an improv teacher Matt does not take anything too seriously. Improv is meant to be a fun form that is a release from the stresses of our days. Matt's classes are relaxed and laid back. If things are too tight or stressful then we will get in our heads and not be in the moment. Matt believes improvisers should relax on stage, connect with their scenememates, and go off of the last thing said.

Matt Higbee

Matt Higbee is a veteran performer, coach, and instructor in Chicago. He brings over two decades of performance experience, and more than fifteen years experience teaching and coaching improvisation. Matt has taught improv internationally and travelled the U.S. as a trainer of applied improvisation for educators, scientists, and corporations. He allows his intuition to guide his life journey and those experiences inform his performance and teaching styles. Presently, Matt works as an Instructional Designer and Learning Specialist for a global Financial Tech firm. Matt believes that simplicity, clarity, and listening are the keys to a good life... and better improv.

Raju Ben

Chicago comedian, Raju Ben, has appeared in improv shows, stand-up comedy shows, podcasts, several indie films, and theatre productions. You may have seen him trying to make you laugh at iO Theatre, Second City, Annoyance Theatre, Comedy Clubhouse, Logan Square Improv, Westside Improv, and Bit Theatre, to name just a few. Raju’s ability to be a great and dedicated team member has been recognized by his improv groups. He also has no problem putting you in check if you want to act up. He is represented by Lily’s Talent Agency. He’s also a coach at Westside Improv.

Not that you care, but here you go:
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Fave Video Game: Call of Duty (* all of them*)
Fave TV show: Martin
Fave Quote: Some people say cucumbers taste better pickled (*Dave Chapelle *)
Fave snacks: Flaming Hot Fritos, Sour Patch Kids Watermelon

Sally Hepler

Sally Hepler loves teaching music so much that she chose it as a career! By day, you can find her singing, playing instruments, and having a grand old time teaching elementary music in Geneva. By night, she is either playing keys at Westside or fighting crime. Sally was the first Music Director at Westside, starting with the inception of the musical improv team Dirty Bars - and now leads an entire team of amazing MD’s. She teaches Musical Improv class with her hilarious and talented husband, Josh Hepler.

Sally holds two Master’s degrees in Music Education and Curriculum and Instruction, as well as a Bachelor’s in Music Education. She was a total theater / musical kid and still remembers the dance moves to songs she performed in show choir. She strongly believes music is meant to be made by everyone! She loves empowering students of all ages to take full advantage of the joy that comes from making music!

Yolanda G. Waddell

Yolanda loves teaching at Westside. She has taught in Westside’s curriculum and Players Workshop. She developed and taught the elective courses The Improvised Movie, Object Work Workshop (Levels 1 and 2), and Let’s Get Weird!: Using Body Movement to Inspire Physical Characters. She also worked with fellow Westside teacher Josh Hepler to create and teach the class Accents for Improvisers, an exploration of British Isle and American accents.

Yolanda is the Director of Players Workshop. She enjoys supporting and witnessing the growth of emerging improv teachers and players.

Yolanda’s improv teaching draws inspiration from different schools of improvisation, her experience in speech-language pathology, and her musical training. She believes that a welcoming learning environment supports creative growth. She uses side coaching and specific feedback to guide students. And, when indicated, she believes in sharing her own struggles (past and present!) with learning and performing improv. It’s important for her students to know that they are not alone in the challenges they might feel onstage.

Yolanda is a graduate of the Chicago improv training centers at iO, Comedy Sportz, and The Second City. She has also trained at Westside Players Workshop, The Annoyance, and Jimmy Carrane’s Art of Slow Comedy. Prior to joining Westside Theater, she was an improviser with the Chicago based theater guild, One Group Mind, and an actor with The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Theater in Schaumburg.

She has a masters degree in speech-language pathology. She worked for many years treating elderly adults with neurodegenerative diseases. After her third child was born, Yolanda left clinical work to care for her three children full time.

She has an undergraduate degree in voice performance and English literature. She is also a classically trained violinist.