Teams
First Saturday
Zombie Gourmet
Cast: Andrew Bernier, Eric Storie, Jackie Rich, Liz Hutchman, and Alexander Danvers
Zombie Gourmet dishes up an organic buffet of brainy bits, relying on flexibility, support, high energy and feeding off of each other to shape their shows.
Composed of stylistically diverse and dynamic troupe members, well seasoned like hand-me-down cast iron, ZG marches ceaselessly toward the lights in their ravenous pursuit of comedy.
Long form full of bizarre worlds, pulsating organs, and lightly braised transitions, the Zombie Gourmet format explores the soft, fleshy, delicious parts of improv.
Plunk!
Cast: Brian Ress, Jackie Rich, Raphael Robbins, Shane Shannon, Tara Jensen, Tillea Baltzell, and John Palmer
Plunk! is a Second Beat born and bred improv team featuring 100% Second Beat Theater training graduates. Jumping onto the scene, Plunk!’s fun and high energy show combines memorable characters in unusual circumstances with a splash of refreshing insanity.
Second Saturday
Hearts on Fire
Cast: Anthony Reynolds, Billy Brandes. James Hoffmaster, Jeremy Schwarts, Michael Ziman and Stewart Gross
Google: What improv team takes audiences down a fast-paced, no holds barred, internet rabbit hole of scenes, characters and relationships all inspired by search questions? One result found: Hearts on Fire.
Salmon Shane
Cast: Sam Haldiman and Shane Shannon
These two have been performing together for more than seven years. Their improv style is based heavily on the straight/absurd dynamic in the most unconventional way. They are always pushing the envelope on grounding their characters' worlds with the most ridiculous points of view.
Third Saturday
Birds and Broads
Cast: Jacque Arend and Liz Hutchman
Starting as a one-night-only performance, Birds & Broads have now been performing together for four years. They focus on a single location scene, creating a strong relationship at the top after which they may or may not explore the other rich characters who inhabit that space. Their shows bounce from being utterly hilarious to edge-of-your-seat engaging.
Displacers
Cast: Chris Hooper, Eric Storie, Rick Grove, Sam Haldiman, and Sara Palmer, with accompanist Chad Michael Lawson
The Displacers have been performing the long-form signature format the Harold for five years. They perform with a high energy and create a rich cast of characters that will keep you talking about their show for days. It's no use trying to explain the show to a friend. Tell them they just need to be there.
Fourth Saturday
Too Cubed
Cast: Andrew Hadder, Eric Storie, Javier Gilmore, and Michael Ziman
Coming together in 2017, Too Cubed is a Phoenix-based improv ensemble that approaches The Harold with big characters and high energy. The diverse cast provides compelling and interesting viewpoints on life, the universe, and everything. During their shows, Too Cubed discovers deep connections between themselves and the audience through play and fun.
NewHeart
Cast: Bryan Gerdes, Clifton Gray, Laurie Shellenbarger, and Rachel Tullio
From audience suggestions, NewHeart builds scenes with strong characters and points of view, allowing relationships to drive the discovery of concepts and connections throughout each show.
From the absurd and playful, to the real and ridiculous, shows often tackle complex themes such as renewal, loss, hope, stagnation, death and other hilarious tragedies that define the human spirit. NewHeart strives to bring love, honesty, and passion to the world, one set at a time.
