Cherubs

JONATHAN EVAN GOLDBERG (PRESIDENT, TREASURER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER, IMPROVISER) was born and raised. A full-time lawyer (Juris Doctor, not Jewish Doctor) and resident of Manhattan, Jonathan has performed in numerous improvisational comedy shows with Quickthinking! Improv.
Jonathan’s other credits include SNOOPY!!! THE MUSICAL (Snoopy), THE CURIOUS SAVAGE (Samuel Savage), and THE MIRACLE WORKER (Capt. Arthur Keller). His debits include a mortgage and a huge cable bill. Jonathan’s last appearance was on the Very, Very Early Morning Show, hosted by his pets, and he has appeared in federal and state courts throughout the country (not as a defendant).
Jonathan also serves as a board member of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and Friends House and an actor and writer with Storahtelling.
Contact Jonathan: jonathan@cherubimprov.org or 212-CHERUB-I (212-243-7824).

STEVE VAN OOTEGHEM (VICE PRESIDENT, CO-FOUNDER, IMPROVISER) is best known for his work with Quickthinking! Improv where he studied and performed for several years. In addition to appearing in shows at locations throughout the city, Steve assisted with corporate events such as the QT MTV workshop. When Steve is not performing volunteer improv comedy with Cherub Improv, he works as a social worker and volunteers through New York Cares.
Steve is a second year medical student at Mount Sinai medical school.
Contact Steve: steve@cherubimprov.org.

Additional Cherub Improvisers include MAGGIE ALLEN, MAYA BATASH, DAVID BERMAN, MARC CHASE, AVRA FRIEDMAN, CAROLINE GULDE, ANNE JACOBS, YVETTE KOJIC, EMILY MILLER, J.B. MILLER, ELIZABETH PARISH, LAURIE SAMMETH, ADAM SHECHTER, ROBYN SOMERS, MIKE VEASEY, and DELANEY YEAGER.

PIOTR MIROWSKI (IMPROVISER) was born in Poland and grew up in France, where he became addicted to unpasteurized cheese and “l'improvisation.” He continued the latter in New York with Quickthinking! Improv. His other credits include THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at the Inwood Shakespeare Festival, THE HOTEL (Cambridge Classworks) and a Barbershop Quartet in a VAUDEVILLE. When not performing or backpacking, he happens to work as a computer science PhD student and adjunct faculty at NYU, and collaborates with its medical center on research about prediction (and hopefully prevention) of epilepsy. Piotr has volunteered for Idealist.org and the SEED science foundation and is thrilled to share the magic of improv.

BEN WELLINGTON (VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, ASSISTANT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, INSTRUCTOR, IMPROVISER) (started doing short-form improv as a 13 year old at French Woods camp, where he went back as a counselor to direct (and be a lifeguard!). Upon growing up and going to college, Ben founded and directed We Brake For Nobody, which is still Bucknell's longest running improv group. After leaving Bucknell, he was a PhD student at NYU and quickly realized that he missed improv. So he founded and directed Dangerbox, which is now NYU’s premiere (long-form) improv group. Ben studied long-form at the UCB theater, and has performed in and directed groups at festivals like The Dirty South Improv Festival, The Chicago Improv Festival, the Miami Improv Festival, The Del Close Marathon and the National College Comedy Festival. Ben is thrilled and honored to work with the Cherubs.
Contact Ben: ben@cherubimprov.org.

Angelumni (former Cherubs) include SITIJ AGRAWAL, JEFF ALFONSI, FLOANNE ANKAH, RICK BERGGREEN, SHERI BUTTS, LINDSAY CALLERAN, APRIL CASTOLDI, KAREN DABNEY, LEV DEMIDOV, ANN DOHERTY-HARDBATTLE, SUSANNAH DUNN, JASON EVANS, MARCI FINE, LULU FRENCH, EMILY FRIEDMAN, TOBY GIPS, JENNIFER GLASS, GRETCHEN GRUNZKE, MATT HEIDRICH, SHARI JOHNSON, CASEY KAUFFMAN (FORMER VICE PRESIDENT), JOSH KAUFFMAN (FORMER VICE PRESIDENT), KELLY KING, KENT KOREN, SWARNA KURUGANTI, ANNIE LEVY, NAAVA KATZ, DORRON LEMESH, CASSIDY MARTIN, GABRIELLA MAZZA, MEEGAN MIDKIFF, LORI MILCHMAN, MICHELLE NIVERT, CAITLIN NORTON, BETH OLARSCH, DIANA PASCHAL, ROB PAUL, DAVE PEARL, CHRISTINA PITRELLI, BRITTANY PIXTON, JOHN “BONES” RODRIGUEZ, BARRY ROZEN, MEGAN SCANLON, ANNA SILVERSTEIN, LEE SOLOMON, AMANDA TARKOW, NICOLE TAYLOR, MONIQUE TUCKER, LEAH WASSERSTRUM, BEN WEBER, ELAINE WILLIAMS, DAWN WING, GILLIAN WOO, EYAL UNGAR and JODY YOUNG.

ADARA ALMONTE (IMPROVISER) (August 7, 1969 - December 15, 2007) joined Cherub Improv in late October 2007 (Steve invited her to learn about the group and brought her to a rehearsal on October 20th). Adara's first event with us was during a Project ORE workshop on October 29th. In just 5 weeks, she attended 7 Cherub Improv events, an incredible number given how new she was to the group. Adara consistently demonstrated her amazing enthusiasm, spirit, and heart, her great passion for volunteering and giving back to the community, her sharp mind, and her natural comedic and musical talent. We have numerous memories of audience members connecting with and complementing Adara, and of Adara smiling, laughing, and singing. We were proud of and excited by Adara’s involvement with Cherub Improv and our growing friendship and miss her already. Our thoughts and prayers are with Adara and her family. May she rest in peace.

MARC ADAM SMITH (PROJECT ORE WORKSHOP LEADER, INSTRUCTOR, IMPROVISER) is a native new Yorker and currently is the Executive Director for Gotham City Improv, One of New York City’s longest running improv schools and theater. Marc has been involved with Gotham in one way or another since 1992, before taking over the reigns in August 2008. Marc is thrilled be able to play with the Cherubs.

Contact Marc: marc@cherubimprov.org.

MELISSA CENTER (IMPROVISER) is currently pursuing an acting career in NYC. Some of her favorite credits include playing Miriam Knight in the stage adaptation of THE GIRL MOST LIKELY TO (role originated by Stockard Channing), Zoey in David Ives’ DON JUAN IN CHICAGO with Personal Space Theatrics (“PST”), Catherine in A CHRISTMAS CAROL (also with PST), and Maggie in A CHORUS LINE: Hawaii tour and Nemacolin Resort (a private birthday celebration that also included performances by Robin Williams, Bette Middler and Christina Aguilera). Prior to moving to NYC, Melissa attended Northwestern University and worked in Chicago at various theaters. She studied improv comedy at Second City Chicago, and is very excited and proud to be a Cherub.

LEANNE LINSKY (CHELTON LOFT WORKSHOP LEADER, IMPROVISER) is the host of the 3 year running open mic for sketch and stand-up comedy, Casual Sketch, and is a TV show host on KZTV, Kid Zone TV at Mount Sinai Hospital. She is excited to be performing in Lula Bell in Search of Santa at Manhattan Children's Theatre November through January 2011. Leanne began her studies at The Second City Las Vegas, which led her to UCBT NY & LA, IO Chicago and Magnet Theater in New York. Some of her performance credits include: Dead White Males, Sweet Pea, Sex, Relationships, & Sometimes...Love, Walker Live!, New York Musical Improv Festival, Busker, Rendezvous, Carnival of the Unlikely, We're Just Sleeping Together, Lawyer Money, Sandbox Association, Pajama Party, Unlikely Probability, and Magnet Theater's former resident ensembles: Yum Yum Bangkok and Commando. You may have even seen her on TV in several funny commercials.

Contact Leanne: leanne@cherubimprov.org.

GINA DIMAGGIO (IMPROVISER) became hooked on improv back in 2000 when she took her first improv class. Since then she has performed in many improvisational comedy shows at Gotham City Improv, including those with the ensemble, malarkey. Gina attended NYU and Thomas Edison State College, and is currently working on her master’s degree at The College of New Jersey. She teaches high school English and is excited that when performing improv she can speak before she thinks, which is a refreshing alternative to what she teaches her students at school. Gina also gets lots of practice improvising with her teenage son, who keeps her on her toes every day. She is thrilled to be a part of this group where she can mix her love of improv with her love of volunteering!

SIMON FEIL (IMPROVISER) is neither funny nor good. But he does like being around good, funny people, which is why he’s so excited to work with Cherub Improv. Some of his unfunny work includes Law & Order, The Dawn Chorus (Sundance 2007), and Wingman (Altered Stages). Even less funny still (but possibly good) is his humane meat co-op, Kosher Conscience.com. The fact that he teaches sushi lessons and poker could be funny depending on your attitude. And then there’s Julie & Julia (Columbia Pictures), an Optimum commercial where he plays a home owner confused when the Verizon guy shows up - with his mom, and his hosting of the Broadway opening night party of SPAMALOT! as the French Knight, taunting cast and guests on arrival. John Cleese told him he was good. So maybe he was funny there. But he’s very sorry, he didn’t mean it. When not performing he's a budding aerialist. Now that’s funny.

Lou Stone Borenstein (IMPROVISER) was born and raised in New York. After attending college in Pittsburgh, he realized why he was born and raised in New York. He performs stand-up at clubs throughout the city and loves to write comedy. Lou has trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade and the American Comedy Institute and is currently writing/directing/editing/scoring/producing/distributing/starring in the webisode series “Is This Thing On?” When he’s not writing comedy in advance, he's writing it on the spot as a proud member of Cherub Improv. Lou has a professional Bachelor of Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University, and is obviously making great use of it.

GABRIELA MARCUS (IMPROVISER) is a recent graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts’ Drama Program, having studied in the Atlantic Acting School and Stonestreet Studios for Film and Television, where she appeared in numerous plays and film projects. Gabriela has performed and studied improv at The Peoples Improv Theater and will be appearing in an Off-Broadway production of a new play, “The Awakening” this coming July 2010. Gabriela is delighted and honored to be a part of Cherub Improv and hopes to continue to use her love of acting and comedy to brighten others’ lives.

Liza Binkley (IMPROVISER) graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Acting and a degree in Business just to level the playing field. She studied and taught improv in Paisley, Scotland for many a summer, and has been working as an actress in New York City for the past three years. Liza is so very happy to call herself a Cherub!

MELISSA PIETARO (IMPROVISER) recently received her BFA in Acting from the University of the Arts, where she performed in The Cider House Rules, To Kill A Mockingbird, and directed for the Equinox New Play Festival and P. Seth Bauer’s The Umbrella Play. Currently, she appears as Sister Terry in the Philadelphia production of Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding, and has also performed the role Off-Broadway. Melissa is thrilled to be winging it as a Cherub!

REISHA SIMPSON (IMPROVISER) is a native of Brooklyn, New York. An identical twin (the good one), Reisha has been acting on and off since the age of six with a background in singing, and dancing (including step and African). Her most memorable roles have been off Broadway in Three Sisters and Dr. Funk’s Christmas Bizzarre. She is currently performing off-broadway in “Life is Short, Cherish Every Moment,” and she, in fact, has cherished every moment volunteering her time with Cherub Improv.

JESSICA FORSYTHE (IMPROVISER) is so happy to have Cherub wings! She has directed, produced, designed and assisted shows with The Red Barn Studio Theatre, Albertine Theatre, Invisible LLC, The Collective and Green Sea Theatre. Jessica’s acting credits include Ballerinas (Scheherazade), Chicago (Liz), The Will Rogers Follies (Ziegfeld’s Favorite), H2$ (Hedy LaRue), The Music Man (Zaneeta) and The Sound of Music (Liesl). Jessica has a BFA from New York University Tisch School of the Arts and studied Meisner with Don Biehn and William Esper.

PAULA SCHULZKI (IMPROVISER) borrows a quote from the great Gilda Radner to describe life as “delicious ambiguity.” Paula herself, on the other hand, while always delicious, is never ambiguous about her passion for Improv, something she discovered while participating in an improv-based team-building workshop with coworkers. Since then, Paula has honed her skills through extensive study at the PIT and Magnet theaters, as well as by being involved with numerous indie groups and shows. When Paula is not on stage, she offers up great performances as an art director in pharmaceutical advertising. In a recently fabricated interview, Paula openly proclaimed her passionate love for FitFlops, pumpkin lattes, and Cherub Improv, where she is thrilled to be able to give back by doing something she enjoys.

ROB LENDVAI (IMPROVISER) started his theatrical performance career in third grade, in Budapest, Hungary, where he entered several poetry recital competitions with uniformly heartbreaking results -- on account of speaking waytoofast. Years later, undaunted, he dabbled in stand-up, then went through the Unexpected Productions improv school in Seattle, WA, proceeding -- for some reason -- directly to business school. When he's not busy earning his MBA or trying to come up with the next big web thing, he’s giving all his love to Cherub improv. Chances are that he plays ping pong better than you.

ALEXIS LEVENSON (GILDA’S CLUB WORKSHOP LEADER, IMPROVISER) has studied and performed improv since 2007, when she agreed to take a class with a friend who was looking for a new hobby. After four weeks, Alexis was hooked. Since then, Alexis has studied improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade, the People’s Improv Theater, and multiple independent workshops. Alexis joined Cherub Improv in 2010 to show her appreciation for improv by using it to help others build their confidence, be creative in a supportive environment, and to simply be entertained for a few hours. Alexis performs with Sunday Morning, an improv group that makes up a musical on the spot, and leads the Cherub Improv workshops at Gilda’s Club. In her spare time, Alexis is the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications for a global company in the insurance industry. When she isn’t working or improvising, Alexis is likely to be swing dancing or playing her ukulele.

Contact Alexis: alexis@cherubimprov.org.

ELAINE LIEBMANN (IMPROVISER) is a retired teacher who has recently rebooted her career in acting. She has trained and performed with Improvolution, Nat Turner Revue, Red Tie Mafia, and Urban Chase. She has also appeared in television, commercials, and independent films. She looks forward to improvising with the other Cherubs.

SHAWN AMARO (IMPROVISER), a native of California, fell in love with the city that never sleeps. Over the last decade he has performed in off broadway shows, participated in musical improv with Los Banditos del Canto, volunteered with Cherub Improv, and hosted Variety Underground at the Parkside Lounge. He has trained at Comedy Sports, The Pit, UCB and the Magnet Thearter. You can see him around New York City and on ShawnAmaro.com.

FARAH BROOK (IMPROVISER) is a native New Yorker and a native Improviser. She began practicing Improv at the age of 2, when her sister was born and became subject to her “performances.” A recent graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Farah is honored to be a newly winged Cherub. She looks forward to performing with the group and spreading the joy of silliness.

JULIE STAINER (IMPROVISER) has studied with Second City, the UCB and Paul Sills. Although she enjoys performing, her true love is developing and producing new works. Julie has helped bring improv and one-person shows to the stage such as Joystick, T’ings, Lylice, The Out-Spoke In Comedy Festival to support AIDS Ride participants, and the long-running show “Plan B & Friends at The Parkside.” Her writing has appeared in New Monologues for Mature Actors (Dramatic Publishing Company) and the cartoon series Brave Soldiers. Julie is an associate producer on the award winning short WTFU (currently being shown in film festivals around the country), a contributing filmmaker for Shoot from the Hip (hipfilmnyc.com) and a proud member of Reel Spiel Productions. Julie holds a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is proud to be a Cherub!

SHELLY SAVOCA (IMPROVISER) graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Communications. She began her career in television/radio and did voice-over work for AccuWeather. She made the transition to pharmaceutical sales but continued to work on writing song parodies, producing, directing, and performing at national meetings. While she maintains her day job in medical sales she takes classes at The People’s Improv Theatre and Upright Citizen’s Brigade. Shelly's passion is musical improv and she is currently studying with Baby Wants Candy Academy. She is extremely excited to be a Cherub!

ALEX SCHAEFER (IMPROVISER) was born forty eight hours after April Fools Day in Centerville, Ohio and has never looked back. In addition to waiting at Thalia Restaurant, he waits (hand and foot) on various communities through his volunteer improv. His interests include acting, movies, books, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and he feels very lucky to be part of the Cherub Improv family!

GINA LORENE LOITZ (IMPROVISER) was born and raised in Canada, and while she will always stay true to the True North -- strong and free -- she feels fortunate to have fallen (fallen angel?) into the warm bosom of Mother York. Fresh to the city, she keeps in mind the words of Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones, “Go ahead, bite the Big Apple, don't mind the maggots!” Gina has been performing from the beginning in front of any audience no matter the size or scope, and regardless of whether they willingly signed up to be spectators! It started with her big brother when he was just trying to watch t.v. and she’d run around and jump on him each lap around the house, then to her family members when her first character role was a horse, running around on her hands and knees, shaking the china cabinets! She has been a figure skater -- preferring interpretive free skating (to warm up jams) to her regularly practiced routines for competitions that she often forgot anyways! During her University career, she found it difficult to balance her studious side with her passion to ride the hills snowboarding where she competed for fun and preferred to ride under the chairlift for exhibition runs! Again, as long as there’s an audience! She landed a role in a production of the Vagina Monologues and got a taste for live theatre that she continues to explore on the open mic stages of New York City. Gina brings her passion for life to Cherub Improv and is excited about connecting with the community this way.

JOHN FUDALA (IMPROVISER) grew up skateboarding in Virginia Beach. After a few years of touring professionally, he majored in film and video studies at Virginia Commonwealth University—where he first got hooked on improv theater with Comedy Sportz. Since then, John has studied with Chicago City Limits, The Magnet Theater, The National Comedy Theatre and many more, before finally finding Cherub Improv. John is an active producer and announcer of regional skateboarding events and also enjoys salsa dancing. When not performing, John uses his improv skills at his day job in marketing.

MICHELLE F. THOMAS (IMPROVISER) is quick, grounded and sarcastically charming; a Kerry Washington meets Maya Rudolph type . . . or at least that’s what some people think. Originally from Essex County, New Jersey, she has completed both the improv and sketch writing programs at The People’s Improv Theater and is currently working on completing improv studies at the Upright Citizens Brigade Training Center. Michelle is also the second half of wo-prov duo, Michelin. You can find more info about her and other performances that she will be a part of here. She is very excited to be a Cherub!