HUDSON VALLEY IMPROV HOUSE TEAM

Jamie is excited to be a new member of the Hudson Valley Improv House Team but he’s not new to improv. He’s been part of other improv teams with such names as The Sean Cassidy Fan Club, Razor Spirits and Pork Pie Hat as well as attended classes with Second City NY. Jamie can also be found teaching art as well as making art (sometimes) here in the Hudson Valley. Although Jamie has never appeared in a movie, one of his paintings has. It’s a long story.

Heather once quipped, “oh, I could NEVER do improv!” And then, of course, she tried it. Never one to do things nonchalantly, she immersed herself in improv and was very “chalant” about it all. When not creating with castmates, Heather tours her solo show No Hope for OZ.  She's a MOTH Story Slam winner, and performed at QED in New Tricks Stories. Ham-it-up-Heather lives in the sleepy town of Pine Plains with her supportive spouse and their three not-so-nonchalant children.

Since stumbling upon a kindred band of merrymakers at Hudson Valley Improv, Melinda DiMaio has embraced  "Yes, And"  as a spiritual teaching. A theatre major, turned music major, turned arts educator, Melinda enjoys spinning tunes as a performing songwriter, both solo and with various playmates. An admittedly overly enthusiastic kitchen dancer, Melinda is the mama to a fully grown person and a 15 pound bundle of canine joy who (benevolently) supervises her every move.

Patrick is a recovering theater kid who rediscovered his love for performance through taking classes at Hudson Valley Improv. Patrick seeks to continue growing as an artist and exploring new creative outlets, like writing and performing monologues. Patrick's past credits include choking on a piece of chicken during his high school production of Inherit the Wind. Patrick lives in Rensselaer, NY, and has two incredible kids that he will someday push into performing… but in a totally healthy way.

Jen began her improv journey as a proud mom inspired by watching her son on stage. After much cajoling, he convinced her to try it herself. She’s been learning ever since.  Her previous credits include performing stand up at the Secret Open Mic and read alouds as a classroom teacher. Her other favorite activities are walking the rail trail with her dog, playing board games with friends, and spending time with her handsome husband and two amazing kids.

Susan is delighted to be fulfilling a long-held dream of performing improv and is elated to be on the HVI House Team! She recently returned to the New York area after nearly 30 years in California’s Bay Area, where she performed sketch comedy and lots and lots of karaoke. She started taking improv classes at HVI as soon as she hit town and hasn’t looked back since. A collector of wind-up toys, Susan lives in Poughkeepsie with her husband Jonah and their two dogs.

Michael is an actor and a founding member of Hudson Valley Improv. He has been hosting, performing and directing with HVI since 2014 in venues around the Hudson Valley. Theatre credits include Half Moon Theatre’s 10-Minute Play Festival, 20-Year Gala, and A Christmas Carol; Hudson Valley STICKY short play festival (2017 and 2018); The Voice Theatre’s All My Sons; and The Howl Writer’s Group. His film credits include Duality, Flood and The Underpants Bandit.