Amy Rene Byrne is an Ensemble Member at BTE and the former Education Director. She has been saying "yes, and..." her entire life and it wasn't until she discovered improv that she realized it wasn't because she's a complete pushover of a people pleaser. Amy's thrilled to be a part of BTE Improv and excited to see it's place in the community grow and develop like a fungus you just can't kick. She hopes every child who has ever been called precocious knows that they, too, can grow up and get paid to play make-believe all day-- and if that's not making it, Amy doesn't know what is.

Crystal Comuntzis is excited to be back on stage after a long hiatus that included starting a family and becoming a high school special education teacher. She uses her love of comedy and acting (especially doing accents) to entertain not only her own children but her students as well. They seem to think she's hilarious so she's excited to say a lot of the things she can't say there because not censoring is frowned upon in those situations. She can't wait to work with this amazing group of talented and funny people who remind her why the stage always felt like home. Prior to joining BTE Improv, Crystal performed on stage at Rutgers University's Caberet Theater. She would like to thank her husband John for always giving her material to work with, and along with her friends encouraging her to pursue this dream.

Renee Fawess is super stoked to be part of this outstandingly awesome, marvelously silly improv group. A 2004 graduate of Bloomsburg University, Renee has used her theatre degree in a number of ways. Daily, she uses it to entertain her toddler daughter and husband, Tom Byrn. They think she's hilarious. She uses it for work at Geisinger, Sarah Lawrence College, and the University of Pittsburgh where she is a standardized patient and helps educate professionals working on their communication skills. She is an Affiliated member of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble and was one of their interns for the 2004/2005 season many moons ago. She has also taught theatre school, managed their box office, and gone on many TIC school tours. Making people laugh feeds her soul. She couldn't be more excited to be part of such an awe-inspiring group that makes her belly laugh with each interaction.

Rory Gaughan currently serves as the Box Office and Office Manager at BTE. He was previously part of improv teams at Bloomsburg University and San José State University, and has held a variety of positions – Actor, Adjunct Instructor, Box Office Manager, Dramaturg, House Manager, and Programs Director, among others – at various theatres in California and Pennsylvania. Rory cites John Candy, Jim Gaffigan, and The Three Stooges as his top comedic influences. He is proud to be counted among the members of this amazingly talented group, and is grateful for the opportunity to entertain you.

Johanna Gelbs - Who has two thumbs, loves to laugh, and is really excited to be here? This girl! (And probably you, too...) Johanna is a Junior at Bloomsburg University studying Theatre Arts with a performance emphasis. Her theatrical journey started at the age of 8, with two dreams. To grow tall and to do as much theatre as possible. Thankfully one of the two came true! Some of her favorite credits include 'Ivy', John Proctor is the Villain, 'Sponge', James and the Giant Peach, 'Belle' A Christmas Carol, and 'Rapunzel', Into The Woods. Here's to friendship and dream following.

What's better than one Abby? Two Abbys! Abby Golden is a student at Bloomsburg University majoring in Theatre with an emphasis in Performance. She's hit the Alvina Krause stage before (though does NOT condone violence) in BU Player productions John Proctor is the Villain as Shelby Holcomb, A Midsummer Night's Dream as Puck, and in Everybody as a Somebody. Abby G would like to thank her friends and family for thinking she's funny, and can't wait to join her fellow goofballs onstage.

Abigail Leffler is BTE's Education Director and Improv facilitator. She has been working with BTE since August 2019. She is also a mom to two wonderful children and married to a man who claims he is funnier than her. (Jury is still out on that.) She founded the Improv group in January of 2020 and is very proud of the group and their amazing spirit. Theatre has been her passion since college and she is thrilled to be back at BTE (after 10 years in NC) offering up the silliest of performance styles, as well as educational outreach, to Bloomsburg and its surrounding areas.

Violet Race is a 26-year-old artist from Berwick, Pennsylvania. She has been acting since age nine with the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, and they still can't seem to get rid of her. She has loved every show she has worked with them on, and they have helped her grow as an artist and as a person in so many ways. In recent years, Violet has expanded her journey as an artist to other platforms, such as outdoor theater at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, musical theater at Round Barn in Indiana, and voice work for Luzerne County Community College. Improv has always been in Violet's life, even when she didn't know it, from entertaining family at gatherings, to busking, to covering up mistakes onstage. Outside of the theatrical world, she recently embarked on an adventure to the mountains of Colorado, where she made new friends, met a moose, shared good whiskey and laughed from her belly. She has learned to embrace the silly side of her, and now knows that through laughing together, the world is a little brighter. Today, she chooses joy, as one of her old mentors taught her. She has returned home, where the air isn't so thin, to keep that energy, as the kids say. She is so happy to join this ragtag group of comedians, in hopes to share a little sunshine with each other and the rest of the world.

Jon Schultz is a local Actor, Pro Wrestler (J.S. Hawthorne), Stuntman, Artist and Drag queen who arrived in Bloomsburg to get his degree in performance theatre from Bloomsburg University. He has Performed with BTE (Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble) several times in such plays as Something Grimm and Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley. Jon has been a lifelong fan of Improv and jumped at the chance to practice this art form. Mr. Schultz and the rest of the improv Ensembled were emboldened by the support shown by the community and hope for your continued raucous laughter in the future performances.

Michaela Tloczynski is a Bloomsburg native. She spent a collective 6 years in the Greater Philadelphia Area and State College, PA studying and performing in theatre and dance. She was introduced to Improv while studying at West Chester University. Since then, her improv experiences include two years with the campus team, studying and performing Commedia Dell'Arte in Calabria, Italy, and performing in a devised clown show with the Shoebox Company in Manayunk. But enough of all that! She is happily married to her dreamy high school sweetheart and is an immensely proud dog mom to two rescue pups. She's also worked hard with her sister and family to found Wandering Brewtique, a local specialty coffee and beverage trailer. She is always running from one place to the next, so she needs Improv to stay sane and just laugh at herself (and others).