The CSz Blog

ComedySportz Philadelphia is the longest-running comedy show in the city, and has spent more than 30 years growing the next generations of improv performers and comedians. One of the most popular iterations of improv is the idea of a longform team, where troupes perform longer, more interconnected narratives on the spot based on a premise and audience suggestions. Our Longform “Double Feature” teams bring two new ensembles together each season with a new concept and new directors at the helm. This fall we debuted The Hotel and Teschmacher, under the training and direction of familiar faces Darryl Spencer and Don Montrey, respectively. We talked with them about why longform is a delight to watch, and why you should come out this winter to see our Improv Double Feature 6.

Darryl Spencer has over a decade of Improv Comedy experience. He currently coaches and performs with teams in the Philly and NJ areas. He teaches several hilarious workshops on short form improv in his free time, and he was part of the cast of the fun CSz show Dun Dun and assistant director for the CSz show Tip of the Cap, noting both were great experiences and led to proposing an idea for a show of his own at CSz. That show is The Hotel. It has an amazing ensemble cast that brings The Hotel to life every show. The Hotel touches on all of our shared experiences of being away from home on business trips, vacations, or anything that might lead to us being at a hotel, motel, hostel, etc.  Spencer says, “We all know the types of people we'd expect to find at a hotel, you will see those characters but maybe slightly kookier, maybe extremely kookier. Each night the cast will bring those characters to the stage using your suggestions of reasons to write a GOOD or BAD review of a hotel stay.  Throughout the show you will see hapless hotel employees doing their best or worst to keep the guests and the hotel happy... oh yes The Hotel is a character in its own right. It has its own thoughts, feelings, and motives. Manipulating employees and guests alike, to what end? You'll just have to come see for yourself to find out.”   

The cast of The Hotel is Alex Gardner, Jillian Hartman, Amber Harned, Yasmine Beydoun, Kimmy Nazaruk, Ahmad Maarouf, Nick Connors, Jim O’Donnell, and Masha Makarova, and had Assistant Director Kavita Goyal on the project as well. Spencer raves about the cast that they have put together for this team: “The cast for The Hotel is a diverse one filled with talent. We have vets who have been a part of the improv scene for years bringing their knowledge, pose, and expert timing, working seamlessly with some fresh faces that bring their eagerness to share their wit, style, and flair. They all work together to give the audience the best show possible each and every performance.”

As if that wasn’t enough of a reason to come out to see a performance of The Hotel, Spencer has this to offer: “This is the kind of show that you don't get to see very often. It has it all - romance, intrigue, action, a ghost, and for some reason sometimes it has really wet sheets.” Now, how can you pass up that opportunity?

Don Montrey has been a member of ComedySportz for 23 years, 12 of those years also serving as the Executive Director. In that time, he has been in numerous other improv productions, including Murder Manor, Ghost Stories, Friday Night Improv, and AITA. In 2025, Montrey and his duo partner Kevin Regan won Dual Duel with their show THE PITCH, where they improvise a movie pitch to a "producer." This concept led to the formation of his upcoming 2026 show Pitch/Black, where his duo and another team combine for a night of sights and sounds of improv.

Clearly, Montrey is always eager for a project, and directing a longform team was exactly what he was after. He says, “I wanted to direct a straightforward longform show without any complicated gimmicks. The goal is to focus on the improv itself, not on the mechanics of a format. I’ve got nothing against those kinds of shows—I enjoy them and have done plenty. Teschmacher is essentially an ‘Armando,’ but instead of a monologist, a cast member interviews an audience member. The idea was inspired by the fantastic RaaaatScraps and the way they perform when they’re on the road.” The team bringing this to life has to have great recall, quick wit, and a comfort working together on the fly. The cast features Kai Bobbi, Katie Hewko-Dykes, Olivia Kram, Michael Levine, Will Murphy, Ally O'Rourke-Barrett, and Gio Padovano, with Assistant Director Lo Cuevas. Montrey is delighted to brag about them all: “I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my cast. They’re sharp, hilarious, and completely fearless. That’s the secret sauce: smart, funny, and fearless—an unbeatable combo for improv. After doing this for so long, getting to work with good performers who are new to me is an exciting experience.”

Montrey is passionate about improv and talks about the significance for an audience seeing a show like this: “We should always show support for the arts, especially for smaller theaters. Every ticket sold, every donation made, every positive word spoken—it all makes a difference. Find what speaks to you and support it. Philadelphia has an incredible comedy scene, and there's so much more to it than just stand-up (though stand-up is great too!). Just like a movie lover enjoys everything from comedies and action films to dramas, sci-fi, and horror, a comedy fan has a whole range of options: stand-up, improv, sketch, clowning—you name it.

He adds, “When improv really clicks, it’s magic. Speaking from experience with Teschmacher, one of our core principles was that the audience is an essential part of the show. That connection starts right from the opening interview. By using the information we gather from the audience, we invite them into the joke, making the experience more interactive, fun, and fulfilling for everyone involved.”

Okay, though, Don - the question on everyone’s mind - what does Teschmacher mean? Montrey: “It doesn't mean anything as it relates to the show. It's the name of Lex Luthor's girlfriend in the "Superman" movies. The way Gene Hackman says/yells her name in the '78 movie stuck with me. I love nonsensical names for improv groups and just went with it. The best part is my 54-year old self had to explain it to my predominantly 20 and 30 year old cast. “

Now that that’s answered, the biggest question is how can YOU come see The Hotel and Teschmacher at CSz Philadelphia? The Improv Double Feature 6 shows are the first two Fridays of the month at 9 PM, continuing December through February. CLICK HERE to read more and purchase tickets for the upcoming shows, and see the teams in action!