Troupes

Betse Green and Bill Cernansky are longtime veterans of the Portland improv scene, but they've been married even longer--since 1989. They are both members of Portland ComedySportz. Betse is also an ensemble member of Curious Comedy Theater. Playing as a duo, for the last 12 years with their signature format, The Revolver, B&B focus on what they know best: relationships.

We are Deborah, the newest House Team at the Torch Theatre in Phoenix Arizona.

Franklin Institute is a house team currently performing weekly at The Torch Theatre. Franklin Institute delivers a balanced mix of grounded and imaginative scenes to build a world for the characters and relationships they explore.

Having performed countless forms and styles of shows across North America since 2003, Galapagos's performances are now liquid metal shaped by the suggestion and the group mind. One of the founding groups of The Torch Theatre in Phoenix, they place full commitment, exploring the absurd as a team, and having a blast above all, especially when it involves hijinks like mixing lofty artistic ideals with shameless pop culture tropes. Galapagos is Bill Binder, Jose Gonzalez, and Jon Jarhmarkt, and they love you.

MAX was an iO West house Harold team (RIP) and the only team that was graduated from Harold night. After moving beyond the Harold, MAX started experimenting with other forms. The result is an unexpected blend of forms and genres by a group of people who really enjoy playing with each other.

Pet Cemetery uses stories from their lives to inspire high energy shows where each player delights in pushing the envelope, trusting that collectively they will find some way to bring it all together in the end. Or not. Either way, they have fun performing together and sharing funny moments with the audience.

Rat Kween improvises and discovers intricate relationships, environments, and characters through a single continuous scene. Rat Kween was formed during Laugh Riot Improv Festival, a festival at Torch Theatre for Arizona performers who identify as female/non-binary/gender non-conforming. Rat Kween has also performed in the 2019 GhostFest improv marathon at Torch Theatre.

Velvet Hammer delivers grounded, connected improv that's dangerously funny straight to your face. It's hard hitting, yet soft and cuddly. It's like a war hammer wrapped in velvet. Velvet Hammer is Carla Cackowski (improv yak, Orange Tuxedo), DK Reinemer (Becoming Magic Mike, Seattle Improv Fest), Dylan Reiff (Kickstand Comedy, Stumptown Improv Fest), Kara Moore (MI Improv Fest, Kickstand Comedy).