SALUTATIONS!
We are four orphans who were adopted and raised by a wealthy recluse whom we knew only as Uncle Titus. Our beloved uncle knew that we were different from other children, and kept us confined to the family mansion, where we subsisted on a diet of vintage films, Mad magazine and horror comics, along with the occasional postal worker. Until the age of sixteen, James could only communicate by playing musical instruments, while Jeremy taught himself to move like a little monkey. Michael, thought to be the most normal of us, has trained an army of rats to do his bidding. As for Alisa, Uncle Titus used to call her the spider. We all treasure our Prince Phillip doll, which we found in the attic hidden away in an old trunk. Why were there so many padlocks on that trunk? Perhaps someone was worried he would be stolen! Philip is so lifelike, you can almost hear him whispering in your ear and telling you all kinds of interesting secrets.
Come see us in action!
ALISA KWITNEY has an MFA in Fiction from Columbia and is a former editor for the Vertigo imprint of DC Comics. She writes novels and graphic novels in various genres, and teaches writing at Manhattanville College, where she will be giving an improv for writers workshop this spring. She recently discovered she has an IMDB page, which lists her credits as 1) A walk on as “Bar Mitzvah boy’s mother” and 2) An appearance as herself on the Anti Gravity Room. Alisa has performed with Hudson Valley Improv in The Truth About Splatter and co-directed last year's Weird Science Valentine's Day Show.
Jeremy studied theater and improv school with Andrea Adler, Nancy Donohue, and Timor Djordjadze. He earned his B.A. in Music from Binghamton University studying jazz improvisation with Al Hamme. Interests over the years have included lead guitar, martial arts, dance, and trail marathons, activities that require real-time action faster than thought. He returned to improv comedy decades later with HVI's improv and live theater productions while spending days as a physical therapist.
Philip performs, directs and is a member of Uncle Cannibal at HVI. He began his acting training at LaGuardia School of the Arts. He has done community theater, television commercials, sung at Carnegie Hall and was recurring on PBS's Live From Off Center. He created an original show The Truth About Splatter which ran in the Hudson Valley. A licensed social worker, Philip provides direct counseling and systems work in health care settings. He relies on his husband and 2 daughters for sanity.
James began his acting career in Kingston, NY as Santa Claus in the JFK Elementary School 4th Grade Holiday Play and then immediately retired from acting. 36 years later he "un-retired" and joined HVI’s training program in 2017. James has sung in Carnegie Hall with Ulster Choral Society and St. Cecila Chorus & has acted in several scripted plays in Hudson Valley STICKY and in HVI's The Truth About Splatter. James lives in Saugerties, NY with his amazing wife Jen.
Michael is original company member of HVI. Acting and directing credits include Half Moon Theatre’s 10-Minute Play Festival, 20-Year Gala, and A Christmas Carol, All My Sons/VOICE Theatre, Hudson Valley STICKY & new works for Howl Writer's Group. He is a company member of The Voice Theatre. While studying design and acting, he began performing at the Summer Repertory Theatre “After Show Cabarets”. He was also a member of The Baker’s Dozen Improv Troupe , directed by Samantha Jones.