Following packed houses and overwhelming amounts of laughter during its spring comedy nights, TORP Improv Comedy has added two new summer performances to its run of Friday night engagements.
In addition to the previously scheduled June 30 show, comedy fans can make a date with unscripted, live-in-the-moment hilarity on Friday, July 28, and Friday, August 25. All three shows take place at The Oak Room at The Citadel – in the heart of the Benton Harbor Arts District at 91 Hinkley St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., performances begin at 7 p.m..
Mike Nadolski, TORP director and cast member commented, “We are having so much fun bringinghomegrown improv comedy back to southwest Michigan. Connecting with the audience in the way we do makes the experience unpredictable and fresh every time, so no matter how many shows you see, it is never the same thing twice. That makes it interesting for us as performers, as well.”
After a more than four-year hiatus, TORP Improv Comedy has returned to the Southwest Michigan stage in 2023. In addition to Nadolski, TORP improvisers include Lana DeFrancesco, Meredith Frank, Stephen Kadwell, Wanda Loveless, Amy McWhirter, Andy Sawyer, and Joel Smiedendorf. Each performance is new and different, based on unscripted improv games and scenes inspired by audience suggestions.
ABOUT TORP AND THE PLAYERS
TORP began its reign of improvisational comedic revelry in 2011. The troupe has been causing fits of laughter while entertaining at charity events and public performances throughout southwest Michigan including for the Morton House, The Mendel Center’s Living Room Series, the Lake Michigan College Hospitality and Fine Arts programs, One Hundred Women Strong, and more. They are the house comedy troupe of The Oak Room at the Citadel in the Benton Harbor Arts District.
Lana DeFrancesco is an award-winning comedian. The most prestigious, and only, award being named Lakeshore Middle school “Class Clown,” circa 1992 staple-bound yearbook. She is a lifelong resident of St Joseph/Benton Harbor. Lana is a city organizer for PechaKucha and an avid DIYer. She grew up on Dana Carvey SNL, prefers stand-up shows over music concerts, and makes funny videos for the internet.
Meredith Frank is a long-time comedian and actor. She has performed with teams Fun Dumpster, Small Victories, and Oh Hey! Improv and has guested on many podcasts.
Stephen Kadwell is married with two dogs and lives in Niles. He grew up in several places on the west side of Michigan and graduated from Western Michigan University. He spent a decade in Orlando where he was on a first-name basis with several hurricanes before returning to Michigan where fall is an actual season.
Wanda Loveless Wanda’s interest in improv started by watching Whose Line is it Anyway with her dad when she was still a bit too young to understand half the jokes. But her geek side was stronger (and she had no show biz connections) so she grew up to be a computer tech with a dog and a board gaming hobby. She’s also a former world traveler, so you never know where her mind is going to go. But you’re welcome to come along and enjoy the journey (and the show).
Amy McWhirter is an international emcee, event host, and moderator, energetically inspiring audiences to connect to the heart of messaging at conferences, award galas, and meetings. She’s a soulful communicator who catalyzes content, instigates engagement, and ties everything together, driving focus and business outcomes. She also assists with projects as a producer and scriptwriter for her husband’s company, Bolin Video Communications. Amy has a lifelong passion for dance and performing on stage. She has appeared in numerous plays, musicals, and stage productions. Amy teaches and choreographs Adult Repertoire at the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph YMCA, where she and her ladies prepare one or two dance numbers per year to perform for film and in person. She is excited to be a part of the TORP improv comedy troupe!
Mike Nadolski studied improvisational theatre with The Players Workshop of Second City in Chicago back in ye olde days. He has been an improvisational theatre student, performer, and instructor for over 40 years, conducting improv workshops for a wide array of schools and organizations throughout Southwest Michigan. Mike has produced, directed, and performed with The Practical Theatre Co. in Chicago, Southern Streets Theatre in Atlanta, Bridges Theatre and Workshop and Smarty Pants Theater Co. in Benton Harbor, and a few other even more obscure Midwest improv troupes through the years. He is the founder and artistic director of TORP and owns the Citadel Dance Center building with his loving, patient, and supportive wife Sarah.
Andy Sawyer began his improv comedy career close to 40 years ago, using comedy as a tool for teaching environmental science at Stone Environmental School in Portland, Maine. After moving back to the Twin Cities to woo and eventually marry the one true love of his life, Nita Nicholie, the two collaborated to help establish the “Calling all Colors” program. Andy again applied improv comedy to this program, using it as a tool for children to begin dialogues on issues of race, stereotyping, and skin color. Improv continued to be a passion of his and he soon began working with Mike Nadolski at Bridges Theater, then Smarty Pants Improv, and finally as a founding member of TORP. Andy also enjoys weaponizing Improv to torment phone solicitors. Try it sometime.
Joel Smiedendorf is a St. Joe native who has studied improv acting in both Chicago and Los Angeles. He has also performed in local community theatre productions at Twin City Players, Lake Michigan College, and The Ghostlight Theatre. When not performing, Joel pays the bills as a freelance video production assistant and dreams about the day he can get paid to be funny. He hopes you enjoy the show and will continue to support your local arts!
Tickets are $15 and are available online at https://torp.ludus.com and at the door. In addition to public performances, TORP is available for hire to perform at charity fundraisers, conferences, galas, and other private events. For more information, contact Mike Nadolski at torpimprov@gmail.com.
