{breakout - who's who?}

jon horton is the den mother of
{breakout} and owner of the celestial hat.

where you might have seen jon
Improv is the latest venue for this former television personality. He began his media career as one of the youngest announcers in pro sports when he called the action of the Dallas Sidekicks soccer team while still in college. After many years on radio, he became the voice of Pro Wrestling on ESPN where he first used his improv skills. After a short on-air stint locally with KSTW and Fox Sports Net, he moved behind the camera where he has won seven Emmy Awards for his production work. He has appeared in Jet City and Unexpected Productions showcases, the Jet City Performance Series, Cure Improv, and was the organizer of Seattle's Most Awesome Karaoke Performance Ever at the Historic University Theater. Jon currently serves on the Board of Directors of Wing-It Productions, parent company of Jet City Improv.

comedy influences

My influences started at a young age when my Mom and I would watch Ernie Kovacs shows on PBS. Then, regular trips to the Biograph Theater in Washington, DC led to a love of Groucho and the Marx Brothers. Steve Allen, Sid Caesar, Mel Brooks and classic TV performers/writers have to go on the list as well. Currently, I love Kristen Wiig (and my wife knows it) and have been a long time David Letterman fan. The most entertaining live performances ever - Wayne Brady! Also, I have to give it up to my Improv mentors, Doug Willott, Matt Smith and the incredible Mandy Price!

five random facts about jon
1. I am from the other Washington (DC).
2. I have been happily married for 15 years, and have two kids to show for it.
3. My "porn name" would be Beau Chalfont.
4. I do all this sober.
5. Have actually met Drew Carey, Jesse Jackson, King Hussein of Jordan, and conducted a one on one interview with Michael Jordan.

sarah bohlen is the queen of all things awesome. she'll tumble for ya, or if you are not nice to her, she will tumble you!

(founder and alumni member)

where you might have seen sarah

There is one place Sarah appears more than improv. She is a competitive powerlifter, participating in meets all across the region, and taking home lots of trophies! She took first place in the masters class at the 2010 National Championships in Cleveland! When it comes to improv, she has appeared in Jet City Showcases, most recently in a Musical Improv performance. Rumor has it that she was also seen in the background of an Evening Magazine story. Along with Paul and Jon, Sarah is one of the founding members of {breakout} as well as being the inspiration for the forming of the group with her "dutch oven" reference in a warm up game.

where she learned this stuff

Sarah trained with the incredible Doug Willott and Ian Schempp at Jet City Improv.

paul cornish has a secret identity. really, he does.

(founder and alumni member)

where you might have seen paul

Rumor has it that you have seen him perform at Everett Memorial Stadium, Emerald Downs and other places where people gather for sports and celebrations, but we haven't been able to prove it. He was another member of the 201 family at Jet City with Sarah and Jon. He is also one of the founding members of {breakout}.

He is currently on a one month tour of New Zealand.

comedy influences

President Taft.

five random things about paul
1. My Parents forgot my sixth birthday. They remember my sister's though and she was born on the same damn day.
2. I went to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro
3. I moved to Seattle the same day that the I-90 bridge sank. My Pinto was too heavy.
4. I think I am 155 in dog years.
5. After I use my Swiffer, I always break it down and put it back in the box.

julie holt is awesome and she likes this.

where you may have seen julie

If there's improv, she's been there. Prior to {breakout} she was a member of Comedy Court Improv where she has shown her awesomeness at places like the Odd Duck Theatre, the Point Defiance Zoo, the University Heights Center and various "private functions". She also came through the Jet City program where she wowed audiences in their showcases.

comedy influences
I admire the work of the amazing Becky Bartlein.

five random things about julie
1. I was supposed to have been named "Gary Turkey" since I was due on Thanksgiving Day. The middle name was my brother's and sister's idea. Thankfully, I was born a girl.
2. I married my Psych professor.
3. I will humiliate myself no matter what.
4. I am an FBI agent.
5. I was kidding about number 4.

jon richardson knows your deepest, darkest secret and isn't afraid that you know it.

where you might have seen jon

Jon is a standup comic that started under the bright lights of Hollywood. He has appeared numerous times at the world famous Comedy Store, and recently guest starred with the ground-breaking LA improv troupe, The Gay Mafia. He began doing improv after moving to Seattle, and came to the attention of {breakout} during his incredible 201 performance where he stole the show. He also promotes standup nights at local establishments, the latest one featured Kira Soltanovich of "Tonight Show" fame. Recently, he completed education at Second City Los Angeles prestigious sketch comedy writing class.

5 random things about jon
1. I really am boring. Okay, maybe not. Okay, maybe I am.
2. You can see my stand up routines soon on comedyjonah.com. Laugh, damnit!
3. My first kiss was with a girl at age 13 in a portable classroom trailer. We must have been studying biology.
4. My cat, Josette, just celebrated her 19th birthday. That's 95 in cat years. The vet says she should live another five years, with me no less.
5. There was a lot of drug use where I grew up, so I moved to Hollywood to clean up.

john marble was a two timer, but now is a faithful improviser!

where you might have seen john

John has been in various shows across the region including Jet City showcases, and performed as a member of the Ministry of Exuberance. He also has appeared in clubs doing his stand up act. Rumor has it he's actually been seen in the background of a recent Evening Magazine story on comedy.

comedy influences
Chopped and formed by Doug Willott, Mandy Price, the Catholic Church, Adina Gillett, Kaci Aitchison Boyle, Kathy Griffin, Gabe and Amanda Denning, Stu Stuart, Peter Greyy, and the casts of Breakout Improv and Ministry of Exuberance. Inspired by George Bullock, Daniel Tosh, Steve Martin, SCTV, Saturday Night Live, Kristin Wiig, Monty Python, Dan Akroyd, Phil Hartman, Martin Short, David Lynch, Alfred Hitchcock, Wayne Brady, Sean Ottey, Geoff Lott, and Jeff Dye.

5 random things about john
1. I grew up in the slums of Montecito.
2. I have a “common law” marriage with Kristin Wiig
3. I can't sing unless I am doing karaoke then I can sing really well. Okay . . . upon reconsidering....
4. I once appeared on an episode of the Flintstones.
5. My nickname to the group is "Gasoline."

{i'm going to make you look good!}

where you may have seen her
Becky Bartlein began life in Wisconsin, by way of the other Washington... Washington, DC where she graduated from George Washington University. She was a member of the all-female improv troupe Capital GOGA. In Seattle, she has gone through the Jet City education program and wowed audiences with her performances in their showcases. She is going to be graduating from the University of Washington Grad program and will be traveling around the world this summer!

comedy influences
I am inspired by the great Julie Holt.

five random things about becky
1. Next Solstice Parade, I will be the naked one with the Cheesehead.
2. I spent many years in a foreign land "entertaining the natives."
3. I got my start in entertainment as a voiceover artist on "Sesame Street."
4. She thinks that rehearsal is a hell of a lot more fun than writing a term paper, although we have seen her do both at the same time.
5. Julie was kidding about her number 4.

sam buchanan once performed as a stepchild, although we think he was adopted.

where you might have seen sam
One of the rock stars of {breakout}, Sam has performed in all of our shows and will soon be appearing in a weekly show in Downtown Seattle. He has also gone through the Jet City education program and has performed in several of their showcases. He was also an extra on an episode of the game show "Shop Till You Drop"!

comedy influences
Charlie Chaplin, Eddie Murphy, Nicole Acton, God, and everyone I have ever improvised with!

five random things about sam
1. My Mom wanted to name me "Rupert".
2. I got my first kiss from Soleil Moon Frye (the actress who played "Punkie Brewster".
3. My body doesn't produce the bacteria that causes body odor.
4. I was shot in the chest with a BB, and had it removed from my heart 15 years later.
5. I was born in Hollywood, CA.

megan jergens can bring serve it up, sing it out, and start all over again!

where you might have seen megan
Megan Jergens was the enchanting songstress of {breakout}. Her song stylings opened our first show with a selection of power female selections from artists like Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and the Pretenders. Then, a funny thing happened. Without any formal training, she broke out as one of our main performers in the improv show! She has been a bartender at some of our favorite places (which is where we discovered her). She won the Best Vocal award at the 2010 Jet City Improv Karaoke Spectacular for her performance as Jessica Rabbit. During the day, she is an Aveda Stylist at Shanti Salon and Spa in West Seattle (visit her there - shantisalonspa.com). She was raised in Gig Harbor and has karaoke-ed her way around the globe ever since.

musical influences
Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Patsy Cline, Chrissie Hynde

comedy influences
Joel McHale and Chelsea Handler.

five random things about megan
1. We don't know her natural hair color, but she knows all of ours.
2. Had her first kiss in summer camp with a boy named Jamie.
3. Her childhood dream was to be a paleontologist. She once dug up her entire back yard. Her parents were never so happy to send her back to school to learn something else.
4. It takes one of the following to get her up in the morning: earthquake, tornado, act of god, the sound of a Red Bull opening.
5. Actually knows her ABC's backwards better than she knows them forwards. (We'll test her on that, believe us!)

elizabeth woods knows you are up to something, and is not afraid to tell you so!

where you might have seen elizabeth

Elizabeth has appeared in over 40 shows in her lifetime. This singer/actress graduated from Gonzaga University; and spends her days in advertising and her nights pursuing her creative passions. In addition to {breakout}, Elizabeth has been seen in theatre all over Washington State. Some of her favorite roles include Reno in “Anything Goes”, Juliet in “Romeo & Juliet”, Milly in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and Rosie in “Bye Bye Birdie”. Improv has become a new obsession; and she is quite thrilled to be a part of {breakout} and work with such an incredible cast of fancy faces.

5 random things about elizabeth
1. Teddy the Wonderdog is my 8 year old Pomeranian. He’s an ambi-turner.
2. I sing everyday, all day, about everything. (Ask me about my traffic musical.)
3. Renick (my hubby) and I plan to retire and live in a hut on the beach in Tahiti.
4. The largest room in that hut will be the closet.
5. My family and friends are the most important part of my world.

{our directors}

how much do we love mandy price? you should too!

Mandy Price is a Seattle based improviser who made her directorial debut with {breakout} with the show {girl meets boy}. She was trained in Chicago and is currently on the high seas as a member of the Cruise Touring company of the Second City for the NCL Cruise Line. She also performed with GayCo Productions and Laugh Out Loud Theatre while in the Windy City. Since arriving in Seattle, she appeared in a number of shows including Wing-It Productions' "Dirty Laundry" and "Lovetanic," and "Vroom" at the Live Girls Theatre.

jen rizor actually killed people on stage for multiple performances by drowning them. I wish I was kidding, but it's true!

Jen is the director of {reunion}. She is a cast member of Jet City and has performed in Wing-It Productions presentations of Lovetanic and Dirty Laundry. Jen was born and raised in the beautiful state of Washington. She has been improvising in Seattle since 2003 with groups such as NW GOGA, Stimulus and Hogwash. Jen has had the honor of working with Wing-It Productions in Your Job Sucks!, Election Show and most recently in Lovetanic. She attended Skagit Valley College, where she studied theater and wrote and directed original works. She has also performed on various stages in scripted work, some of her favorites being Hero in Much Ado About Nothing and Catherine in The Foreigner. We thank her family for sharing her with us!