2010/2011 DIRECTED TEAM
Ghazal Azarbad
Ghazal is a first year student who has been singing and acting for 6 years. It was during her middle school drama classes when she realized she loved “that thing where you act on the spot.” When she was finally old enough to remember the name of this wondrous activity, nothing could stop her from doing it. Along with being in Musicals, Metfest shows, and good old community theatre productions, she continued to do that thing through-out her high school life. Ghazal can look like Jack Nicholson when she tries. She would like to thank UBCi and her high school improv coaches, Nathan Kelly and Nick Weber, for teaching her to always say ‘yes.’
Patrick Beauchesne
Taking his first steps into the proverbial Improv wilderness with the UBCimprov directed team, Patrick comes to the table armed only with musical theatre and acting experience, as well as the haunting of an old grand master improvisor who told him he'd never make it in the proverbial Improv wilderness. Patrick hopes to prove her wrong, as well as to demonstrate that extemporaneous bodily movements and sounds coordinated with an invention of Stephen Fry's known as "language" can be thought of as (some experts refer to it) "funny". Improv works its own magic upon young Patrick to relieve him of the heart-wrenching doldrums of chemistry, which he studies by day.
Isabelle Deluce
Isabelle is an ambiguously ethnic Vancouver local and Kitsilano hood rat. She has always enjoyed performing on stage and improvising skits with friends. These skits, however, usually resulted in Isabelle giving birth or killing everyone on stage. In an attempt to fine-tune her improvisational skills, she joined her high school improv team and competed with the Canadian Improv Games for three years. Two glorious summers at the legendary Improv Camp were enough to convince her to join UBCimprov and continue the esteemed practice. Isabelle's interests also include medieval instruments of torture and swimming.
Michael DeMaria
Do I know Michael DeMaria? Michael... Now, that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. A long time. There once was a time when the name Michael DeMaria meant something. Yessir, if you was talkin' UBCimprov, you was talkin' Michael DeMaria. There'd even been talk about makin' him the King of Improv. Course, that was a long time ago, back when UBCimprov still had a duly elected King. Back before the War. But the times have changed. Yep, now seems all anyone ever talks about in these here parts is Amber McLennan this and Kenta Nezu that. Seems like no one comes asking about Michael DeMaria. Not no more at least.
Jeremy Fitzgerald
Jeremy has been doing improv for an entire year, joining the prestigious ranks of UBCimprov in the dark cold winter of 2009. It's exciting and thoroughly delightful with plenty of laughs, the best part is that every day is something new. Jeremy is also excited to learn more about improv and do lots and lots of shows and hopes that you are all ready to have yourselves a grand old time.
Shank 'STEFAN' Lovebone
Currently, Stefan is facing an untreatable aversion to writing her bio so she would prefer to formally thank Zosia Cassie, Tom Hill, Devin Mackenzie, and Jessica Bryson for being the best coaches in the world; may they be immortalized in internet ink. Stefana would also like to blame masterly improvisers such as Billy Tierney (Up Front Theatre: Bellingham), Dave Morris (CIG: Victoria), Alistair Cook (!nstant Theatre: Vancouver), Christian Capozzoli (4 Track: New York), Justin James Collette (Flapjacket: Chicago), and Kevin Gillesse (Dad's Garage: Atlanta) for molding her into a weirdo. This is Stefana's second year as a UBC Improv player and her first year as a UBC Improv Promotions Officer.
Noah Goldenberg
Noah is a first year arts student who has been acting since he was little. In 5th grade he found out what Improv was and has been doing it ever since. From theatersports to "unrehearsed Shakespeare," Noah loves getting challenged on the spot. He is super dooper stoked to be a part of UBCimprov and is looking forward to a great season. He would like to thank his coach Brian Allard for teaching him everything he knows.
Max Montesi
Max Montesi has been improvising for 6 years, from his humble beginnings with the Canadian Improv games on the Lord Byng Secondary Improv team, to his humble beginnings on the UBCimprov Directed team. Max has had much fun learning all that he has about improv, and has had even more fun actually improvising. He feels very privileged to be on the team and to be improvising with such awesome people. In the words of the great Steven Seagal "Stay strong, keep it real." And so that's just what I'll do.
Jordan Moore
Born under a double rainbow on the highest peak of Mount Backdoo, Jordan's parents knew he was trouble form the beginning. A hyperactive child, mischief seemed to follow young Jordan. At age five, during an after church reception, Jordan wondered away from his chatty chatty mother and chocked on a triangle tuna sandwich, causing 80 year old church organist Mrs. Stanard to faint from panic. At age eight, Jordan threw up on his dental hygienist, after swallowing, rather than spitting, the fluoride mouth rinse. At age seventeen, he totaled one of the family cars by rear-ending a fellow student while pulling out of his high school parking lot (for the record, he was NOT texting, he is just very dumb). From Kingsville to Vancouver, Jordan has been making things up for two full decades now. This is his second year with UBCimprov, and Jordan is also enjoying the privilege of co-coaching the Lord Byng CIG team. Jordan would like to dedicate this year's improv to his cat, Chico, who has always been supportive in all his endeavors, and who's soft fur will make a wonderful hat after her passing (go green- reduce, REUSE, recycle).
Kenta Nezu
Kenta, a first-year at UBC and UBCimprov, has been an avid improviser since Gr. 10, taking part in the Canadian Improv Games (CIG) during high school.... and that’s about it. Not much experience other than that. Does he even deserve to be on the team?? No, no.... he’s been coached by the improvisers from Pump Trolley, that has to count for something, right? And he went to the world famous Improv Camp too! Hopefully the rest of the team and you, the audience, will look on the poor fellow with kind eyes as he stumbles his way through life, university and the stage.
Bethany Stanley
The story of how Bethany came to be in UBCi (because I know you all were wondering): Once upon a time Bethany met Rachel and Shauna in Italy (she also met Nir, but only on skype). Laughs were had, and these two fine improvisers told her to audition for UBCimprov. She did, and the rest is history! This is Bethany`s first year doing improv, but she has been doing stage and musical theatre for years. She is very excited and looking forward to the rest of the year!
Directed by Ember Konopaki
Ember has been improvising for almost a decade. In high school she was an national bronze and gold medalist in the Canadian Improv Games (CIG). She remains involved with CIG training and judging at a regional and national level. She performed with Rapidfire Theatre (Edmonton) for 4 glorious years during university but now you can see her perform sketch and improv regularly with the Pump Trolley Comedy Collective. She likes watching baseball, eating pineapple and wearing new socks.
