Atlas Improv was founded in early 2004 by Mary Parmentier and Bryan Judkins. Their dream was to explore and innovate beyond what was familiar.
Our story goes back further than just a few years though. In the mid 1980s, Dick Chudnow, founder of ComedySportz, brought his brand of competitive improv comedy to Madison, and a figurative seed was figuratively planted.
As ComedySportz - Madison, we performed mainly short-form, a type of improvisational theatre where a show is segmented into five-to-ten-minute scenes and games. We loved what we were doing, and, during that time, we developed one of the show formats that we still perform today. It's as engaging for audiences and performers as ever. Each show is fresh and fun.
As managers, Parmentier and Judkins sought a creative environment that challenged and fulfilled us artistically. They knew that we were capable of more and wanted to push us to new heights. They realized short-form wasn't enough. In 2004, they started Atlas Improv. The active members of ComedySportz - Madison followed Parmentier and Judkins to do something new and amazing.
Today, Atlas Improv fosters an expert in each of its players. In story arc, character building, or pure wit, every performer is a master.
Amanda joined Atlas by winning The Cut in 2017. She is from Madison and spends most of her spare time with her husband, Casey, and her dog Sugarbear. Atlas was the first improv she had done and she's sticking to because she's a ride or die type lady. Amanda’s interests include hanging with friends, music, and art projects.
Dan Row joined Atlas as the winner of The Cut 2015. Growing up on a farm in rural Nebraska, Dan spent many hours out in the prairie making up stories for nobody, a habit that continues to this day. Dan served as the Artistic Director since 2017. Outside of improv, Dan enjoys video games, making art, and committing useless information to memory.
Eli joined Atlas in 2021 joining the company the only honorable way: auditioning twice. Originally from Ohio, he is an avid Cincinnati sports fan and would love to talk to you about the Bengals or Sean Miller's homecoming. When not performing in Atlas he can't be found.
Emily joined Atlas Improv Company in the fall of 2022. She is originally from Maryland and moved to Wisconsin to pursue a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering where she studies what happens to the brain after getting bonked. If you ever see her outside of Atlas or the lab, she will likely be tending to her many houseplants, hiking through the woods, or taking pictures of birds. If you know any hot spots for crane nests, please contact her immediately.
Griffin joined Atlas in December 2016. Originally from Ohio, he is an avid Cleveland sports fan and would love to talk to you about the Browns or Lebron's homecoming. When not performing in Atlas you can probably catch him dancing at a downtown bar with no discernible rhythm or style.
Heather joined Atlas Improv Company in the fall of 2022. She is originally from Long Grove IL and moved to Madison with her husband John and her sons Michael and Ben in 2000. She has worked with various theater companies in the Madison area and is currently the Artistic Director for Encore Studio for the Performing Arts. Outside of theatre and improv you can find Heather burrowed into her blue chair with a book, a snack, her dog and very likely napping.
Holly joined Atlas in November of 2022. Originally from Virginia, she moved to Madison to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular biology and astrobiology, which is as cool as it sounds. When she’s not searching for extraterrestrial life or performing on stage, she spends her time trying every craft project possible, baking some new dessert, and reading nonfiction books on medical ethics.
Jacob joined Atlas as the winner of The Cut in 2022. Thus far he hasn't been kicked out, so he must be doing something right! Originally from and perhaps still residing in Delavan, WI, Jacob has often been *described as everyone's favorite. Find him after a show to discuss Nicolas Cage, video games, and who you think the best Joestar is. (*Self-described)
Jon joined Atlas in Fall of 2013. Originally from the Milwaukee area where he did improv in high school, he came to Madison for school and (for the most part) never left. When not at Atlas or proving facts at his day job, he enjoys many things normal humans like yourself probably would, like using a bicycle, reading a book or futzing around with music. When at Atlas, he enjoys scaring himself, like a new swimmer thrust into a pool of scenework. He recommends that you try the beer on tap at bars, because draft beer is generally better.
Jonathan joined Atlas as the 2018 winner of The Cut. He was quite new to improv and has learned so much since joining the company. He moved to Madison for grad school in linguistics, which doesn’t mean he speaks lots of languages (but does mean he knows some sweet etymologies). For recreation, he enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts, and he has soft spots for urban planning and despair.
Josh Johnson has been improvising with Atlas Improv Co. since 2005. Highlights of his career at Atlas include his time on the Shakespeare team, hosting The Cut, and living with three other company members in the hallowed "Atlas House."
After taking a class at Atlas, Kai was hooked. A few months later, she made the cut (not The Cut, mind you) and joined the Atlas roster in December 2018. Hailing from a small island commonwealth just north of Guam, she made stops at the Naval Academy and U.S. Navy before landing in Madison as an organizational and talent development professional. When not on stage, she's probably walking her dog.
Kevin started doing improv in 2014 and joined the company in 2017 after a fine, fun year in the Atlas Indie Team system. In his free time, he loves eating tacos, shopping for used records, and worrying about bugs. He recommends the Atlas Saturday Showcase, Saturdays at 9pm.
Laura joined Atlas as the *winner* of The Cut 2016 and has been improvising nearly every weekend since then. Her roles at Atlas include performing, teaching, and coaching independent teams. She is the oldest sibling in her family and it shows.
Lauren joined Atlas in August 2017. She was born and raised in Paraguay and moved to Madison in 2011. On stage, she enjoys long-form improv and exploring diverse characters. Outside of Atlas, she enjoys dancing to Latin music, watching trash TV, and is happy to answer any questions about Capybaras!
Michael joined Atlas in July of 2015. Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, he came to live with the snow and ice but stayed for the sweet Improv. When not working, you can find him playing games wherever he goes or doodling on any piece of paper he can get his hands on. Come speak to him if you are having problems with a riddle.
Steve joined Atlas in May of 2014. He has no prior experience in Improv, but an extensive background in theatre. Steve is a wonderful cook, and improvises in the kitchen as well as on stage.