Remember Foul Play, the amazing cast of Big Blue Door’s summer Vinegar Hill show, How to Get Away with Improv? They are back this fall with a new name, Big Head Fight, and a new mission! Oh, they are still bringing you the smartest and funniest longform improv anywhere around!
But now they’re building toward putting together a show of their own! Check out their steps along the way, starting this Saturday, Sept 20th at Vinegar Hill Theater where they perform as part of Days of Future Past!
Deborah Arenstein has performed with Big Blue Door for over 10 years, and credits improv with keeping her adult (and fabulous) children alive. Her offstage life also includes her nonprofit consulting group, Board Whisperers, Irish Doodle Libby, mahjong, gardening, and reading as much as possible.
Rachel Showalter discovered improv after years of studying dramatic acting and quickly fell in love with its energy, collaboration, and humor. She trained at iO and The Annoyance in Chicago, performing with teams like Hammer Time and the all-female Boner Petite, as well as in The Annoyance’s long-running shows Late Night Tits & Bits and the critically-acclaimed Chasing Dumb. Since 2016, Rachel has been a performer, coach, and producer with Big Blue Door. Rachel is passionate about helping people find their comedic voice—and about making audiences laugh until they pee… just a little.
Keaton Ray is a personal trainer. He’s also an actor you might see performing in ads or shows on your very own teevee. He dreams of someday being in a horror movie.
Marjory Ruderman is a writer who has performed with many Big Blue Door improv groups. She’s also taught classes and run Big Blue Door workshops. Marjory was interviewed as part of WHTJ’s Charlottesville Inside Out program on Big Blue Door.
Teja Vadlamudi is a homebody. If he leaves the house, he can be found in a public sauna.
Jordan Breeding is a comedy writer and video producer best known for his work rebooting the Cracked YouTube channel before starting his own channel “Dr. Jordan Breeding.” He currently lives in Charlottesville with his wife and three kids.
Kevin Sawyer has been chasing the stage since he was a wee lad and flawlessly performed Diana Ross for his mom. He’s carried his lifelong passion of performing to BBD for the last several years. Kevin specializes in delivering big stage energy, embodying bold and offbeat characters, and offers a plethora of accents but somehow ends up as an elderly Southern lady in every scene. And also, he’s probably the one on stage trying desperately not to break, but failing.
Offstage, Kevin manages projects, coaches baseball, collects vintage cocktail glasses, loves an extra dirty martini, incessantly quotes Steel Magnolias, cherishes good conversation around a gorgeous table of food and drink, and firmly believes that “Zig-a-zig-ah” is a solid lifestyle choice.
Robin Smith grew up riding gators in New Orleans and was once the Queen of Sugarcane. She now lives a nice, noisy life with her patient husband, two free range kids, Labrador, saintly cats, and fourteen hens.
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