Jess Elfring-Roberts, Lead Facilitator (she/they)

Jess is an award winning improv comedian with a BA in Acting and Comedy from Columbia College Chicago and a MEd from Moreland University. She has been performing improv for over 18 years. Jess combined her skills as a large group facilitator and as a ropes course  facilitator with her love for improv comedy, and founded Improv For Change. She is also an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church and is the Executive Director of Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers. You can catch her performing with her improv group Part Dog all over Chicago or take a class at The Second City where Jess teaches part-time.  

Lori Lewis, Facilitator
Lori has been doing improv and sketch comedy in Chicago for the past 12 years. She has a BA in theater from Columbia College Chicago, and is an graduate of the Comedy Studies and Conservatory programs at The Second City. Lori has also performed at and graduated from the iO theater and The Annoyance Theater training programs. She has been teaching with the Living Compass wellness program for over 4 years. Lori loves to teach and see her students change while in class. You can also see her perform with her comedy group ‘Sweet Tease’.

Mike Newquist, Facilitator
Mike is a Chicago actor and improviser. He is one of the founding members of the The Comrades, and has performed in several productions with them, most recently “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” by Sarah Ruhl. He has also worked with Raven Theatre, Pride Films & Plays, Prop Theatre, Strawdog, Jackalope Theatre and Mary-Archie Theatre,  as well as many others. Commercial: Illinois Tourism. New Media: The Dreamers, Dudes, Coffee Talk. Mike is alumni of The Second City’s Comedy Studies Program and Columbia College Chicago. Mike teaches improv for St. James Common’s Congregational Wellness Advocacy Training Program. He is also a freelance cartoonist. Follow his artwork on Instagram: @newqcartoons.

Teresa Moore, Improviser
Teresa Moore is a graduate of The Second City Conservatory and iO Theater’s Improv Program. She has performed at Second City, The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival (Sketchfest), and the Bentwood Comedy Festival (iO). You can see Teresa is her sketch group ‘The Family Robot’, which just finished their third sketch revue, Blood Sweat and Prayers at the Annoyance Theater.

Eric Reyes, Improviser
Eric is a House Team player on “Black Cat” at the Crowd Theater.  He has been doing improv since 2015 to help him be a better teacher and fell in love with it. He has completed training programs at the Annoyance Theater, Second City, and Comedy Sportz and enjoys to dabble in stand up from time to time.