Meet the Big Blue Door’s latest studio team, Ladies Who Lunch, performers always ready to ask personal questions, sniff at your secrets, and notice what’s in your purse. These improvisers are nice on the surface but that doesn’t mean they aren’t keeping track of who ate more cucumber sandwiches while wanting to split the check.
Ladies Who Lunch will be one of the opening acts at Vinegar Hill Theatre on April 26th! Plus they’ll be performing Friday, May 2nd, at McGuffey Art Center; Saturday, May 10th at Cardinal Point Winery; and Saturday, May 17th at Vinegar Hill.
Performing throughout the spring with I Am KGB, and How to Get Away With Improv.
Coached by Joel Jones.
Alena Mackay-Smith. First-timer Alena works in higher education by day, saving the world one FAFSA at a time. By night, she’s writing, doing standup, or spinning across the dance floor to a salsa beat. This is her first run with the troupe, and she’s excited to be on stage with people who also think “yes and” is a valid life philosophy.
Otter Moutenot. Veteran Otter is a carnivorous aquatic mammal who was raised in 1980s/90s suburban captivity on a diet centered around the Kids in the Hall, Kurt Vonnegut, and Mr. Bungle. He made lots of joyfully collaborative improvisational films and music in his youth, and then life got really serious and heavy like allofasudden. So now a psychotherapist by day and improviser by night, Otter gets to dive to the depths and play in the light. He’s been studying and performing with Big Blue Door since 2018.
Leah Esslinger. Newcomer Leah moved to Charlottesville in 2014. Leah can’t believe it’s been over ten years. Leah came to Cville for UVA. Leah stays for the mountains, the super cool people, and the improv scene.
Sarah Adams. Veteran Sarah Adams, a born and raised Virginian, works for UVA doing her dream job: neuroscience research. When she’s not geeking out over brain scans, you can find her with her improv troupe, at dinner with friends, or relaxing by the river — preferably with a furry friend!
Jim Hughes. Newcomer Jim Hughes is a mathematician-turned-software engineer. Outside of work, Jim is an avid swing dancer and trail runner – both involving shuffling for long periods of time.
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