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Classes are lead by teachers that are well- versed in comedy and are passionate about sharing the craft with kids, teens and adults.

Our instructors have trained at storied institutions in Chicago, LA and NYC and regularly perform at Philadelphia area at comedy theaters such as Helium, ComedySportz, Punchline, Philadelphia Improv Theater, Crossroads Comedy Theater and right here at The Lab.

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our instructors

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Shyla Hungerford 

Shyla Hungerford is a performer, arts educator, theater-maker and playful leader. She has taught adults and children improv since 2009 and has her master's from American University. Shyla has performed at numerous improv festivals and on tour across the country, started a long-form improv theater in Houston and taught Improv and Theater History courses at Rice University. 

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Andrea Duffy

Andrea Duffy is a voiceover artist and veteran of Philadelphia radio, sketch comedy, and improv. She also creates content for radio stations across the US.

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Siobhan O'Hara

Siobhan O'Hara is a Philly based improviser, studying and performing for over 10 years. She is the Education Director at CSz Philly.

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Bob McNichol

Bob studied improv at ImprovOlympic, Annoyance Theater, and Second City in Chicago where he performed with the teams Johnny Roast Beef and Concept Album. He later taught, coached, and performed at Coldtowne Theater in Austin, Texas with award-winning troupes The Frank Mills and Stool Pigeon. Bob is an original cast member of the acclaimed sketch comedy podcast, Victrola, who were finalists in the Improv for Humans/Earwolf Competition in 2017. Find their episodes and their 2017 album “Virtual Aurality” (Sure Things Records) on iTunes. Locally, Bob has taught at Good Good Comedy Theater and The Philadelphia School of Improv and performs with McNichol and May and as a cast member of This Week Sucked.

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Erika May McNichol

Erika started her comedy career in Chicago, training and performing at ImprovOlympic, Second City, and ComedySportz. She performed with teams Mr. Sir, Hall of Presidents, and Bevy and was a writer on the long-running sketch show "Late Night Late Show with Mark Luge." More recently, they were a member of the award-winning Austin, Texas troupe The Frank Mills and co-founded the ColdTowne Theater Conservatory.

 

She's won several awards for her work including Outstanding Director, Most Valuable Player and Best Characters, as well as several B. Iden Payne awards for Outstanding Troupe with The Frank Mills. She’s led workshops around the country. Locally, they have taught classes at Good Good Comedy Theater and The Philadelphia School of Improv. She performs in Breeders and This Week Sucked at the Lab, as well as a cast member of Roll Play: An Improvised Adventure.

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Nick Elmer

Nick has performed improv comedy in Philadelphia for nine years and can currently be seen with The N-Crowd, No Diggity, Breeders, and the indie team Sizzler Hour. Besides teaching at The Lab and Philly Improv Theater (PHIT), he has years of experience coaching and directing independent improv projects, the recent Lab bunker team 1235, and the PHIT harold team Main Dog. 

 

More than anything, he is excited to help new improvisors find what they are great at and fall in love with the art form of improv comedy! 

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Michael Jastroch

Michael is an acclaimed comedic actor, writer and improv instructor, formerly based out of Austin, TX and new to Philadelphia!

As one of the founders of ColdTowne Theater and a member of the seminal improv groups ColdTowne and the Frank Mills, Michael has won awards for his work, including “Best Comedy Group ” in the Austin Chronicle and the B. Iden Payne award for “Outstanding Improv Ensemble.” His improv podcast, Victrola! was named one of Austin’s “Best Comedy Podcasts” and nominated by Austin Chronicle readers as one of the city’s best comedy groups.

Michael has taught improv comedy for the last fifteen years, and has been nominated and won “Best Improv Teacher” and “Best Improv Coach” a whole bunch.

He’s very excited to join the faculty at The Lab in Ambler, PA!

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