THE CSZ TEACHING STAFF
Mary Carpenter :: Education Director
Mary has worked in Philadelphia theater for the last fifteen years as an actress, director, teacher and writer. She has performed with a variety of Philadelphia theatre companies, including 1812 Productions, Arden Theatre Co., The Wilma, InterAct Theatre Company, Freefall Productions and more. Mary has been a performing and teaching member of ComedySportz for 17 years where she has also served as Artistic Director. She has taught at Villanova University, University of the Arts, Abington Friends School, Germantown Academy, Arden Theatre Co., InterAct Theatre Company, The Philadelphia Improv Festival and for 15 years with ComedySportz. Her improvisation training includes work with Second City, Keith Johnstone, Mick Napier, Jeff Wirth and Todd Stashwick. She holds Theatre degrees from Northwestern University and The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.
Bobbi Block
Bobbi co-founded ComedySportz Philadelphia in 1992, was the Education Director 1992-2006, and the Artistic Director 2004-2006. Bobbi has taught Improvisation at The Wilma Theatre, University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School, University of the Arts, Villanova University (where she received her Masters in Theatre) and currently at Temple University. She studied improv in Chicago and NYC at ImprovOlympic, The Annoyance, and Upright Citizens Brigade. She received the 2008 Philadelphia City Paper Choice Award for “Actress who will lead Improv to the Promised Land.” She is also the Artistic Director of the reality-based improv company, Tongue & Groove, and performs with other local groups such as LunchLady Doris and Playback Philadelphia. For the 2007 Philadelphia Live Arts Festival Bobbi was invited to create LEAP: The Actors’ Improv Experiment in which she directed veteran scripted actors in an improvised show. Bobbi also oversees ComedySportz’ corporate workshop and team building program.
David Dritsas
David discovered the world of improv in 1998 and has been working in it ever since. He joined ComedySportz in 2001 and has been teaching for five years. He has performed with ComedySportz companies all over the country and has studied improv from such greats as Joe Bill, Asaf Ronin, Jill Bernard, and others, and has actor training from Penn State and The Wilma Theater. David has also been involved with groups such as Choosical: The Improvised Musical and Bad Hair Sketch Comedy. In 2009 David was cast to perform with The Second City at Philadelphia Theatre Company and was afterwards asked to join Second City’s Norwegian Cruise Line Touring Company.
Kelly Jennings
Kelly has been member of ComedySportz Philadelphia since 1992 where in addition to performing and teaching she has served as both Business Manager and Co-Artistic Director. Kelly teaches all levels, from high school through adult level 4. She is also a facilitator for CSZ corporate workshops. She has taught improv and acting workshops for The University of The Arts, C.W. Post Long Island University, and other local schools. Kelly studied acting at Syracuse University and her improv training includes classes and workshops with Mike Young, Jill Bernard, Joe Bill, Jeff Wirth, Mick Napier, Miles Stroth, Paul Grondy and others. Beyond ComedySportz, Kelly is a founding member of LunchLady Doris. Kelly works as an actor, director, and sometimes corporate trainer. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.
Karen Getz
Karen’s been a member of Comedysportz Philly since 1995 and has been teaching CSZ classes since 1997. She’s been improvising for the past 24 years and has taught (in Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia) for the past 20. She’s studied at The Groundlings, Theatersports, with Joe Bill, Jeff Worth, Mike Abdullah and countless others. Karen is also a member of Philly’s most venerable long-form group, Lunchlady Doris and improvises with Kelly Jennings in their two-person shows Killer Pussy and The Adventures of Cecily and Gwendolyn. Karen is also an award winning choreographer and actor, including a Barrymore Award for Best Coreography for a show of her own creation, Suburban Love Songs.
