Meet the people bringing you the 2017 Pittsburgh Comedy Festival!
- All
- Executive
- Programming
- Marketing
- Operations
- Production
Aaron TarnowExecutive and Technical DirectorAaron has been working on the technical side of the Pittsburgh comedy scene (and other local theatre) for over a decade. He is the technical advisor of the Arcade Comedy Theater, the unseen third wheel of the Justin and Jerome Experience, and the technical director of Uncumber Theatrics, creators of Serpentine and Her Things. Favorite local comedy work includes lighting and technical direction for the Death Show and Grammelot, and he's been lucky to have worked throughout his career with great theatres throughout Pittsburgh, including Quantum Theatre, City Theatre, Pittsburgh Festival Opera, and many others. He currently serves as the Vice President of Comedy Arts Pittsburgh and has been Pittsburgh Comedy Festival's technical director since its inaugural year in 2014.
Mindy CooperExecutive DirectorMindy produces and acts in shows all around Pittsburgh. In the past few years, she's performed in sketch shows and immersive theater, including Stranded with Rangers, T2 Judgment Ballet, Caribbean Andy's Summer BBQ, Star Wars: The Arcade Awakens, and Uncumber Theatrics' Serpentine. Her improv resume includes performances with Well Known Strangers, Atomic Jane, and a number of Arcade house teams. She is also a writer, producer, and performer with Secondhand Sketch; creator, producer, and host of the monthly live show Just Trust Me; and has performed in a variety of comedy festivals, including Del Close Marathon and Sketchfest in New York City, and the Chicago Improv Festival.
Nilesh ShahExecutive and Programming DirectorNilesh Shah began improvising in 2004 and is a graduate of the Second City-Detroit Conservatory program and writing program. At the Second City training center, Nilesh co-wrote the sketch shows Monday is a Four Letter Word and Massages From The Surgeon General, in which he also performed. He also performed in Joke Jams: NOW That's What I Call Writing 5!, and was a member of the Detroit improv troupe Vegan Meat Locker . Since moving to Pittsburgh, Nilesh has been a member of the long running group Irony City, and has performed a one man improv act called The Nilesh Show. He performs regularly with Irony City, The Writers' Room, and Ground Rule Double. Nilesh served as the programming director for PCF in 2016.
Greg GillottiImprov DirectorGreg has been improvising since 2006. He has taught at Steel City Improv Theater, and continues to coach and direct. He has been involved with PCF since its inception and lived in Pittsburgh since his conception. Greg can't wait to see what great troupes will be in PCF 2017!
Day BraceyStand-Up DirectorDay is a producer and stand-up comedian, and one-half of the craft beer-fueled Drinking Partners Podcast. When he’s not on stage, in the studio, or at a local brewery, he is producing shows featuring some of Pittsburgh’s best comics and musicians.
Gab BonessoKids Comedy DirectorGab Bonesso is a Pittsburgh comedy veteran who pioneered the city's alternative-comedy scene. In 2004, after graduating from Duquesne University with a degree in Theater Arts, Gab created underground comedy rooms at Club Cafe and Brillobox as an alternative to comics who didn’t fit into the traditional comedy club scene. She was named the “Best Comedian in Pittsburgh” by readers of both the Pittsburgh City Paper and Pittsburgh Magazine, has appeared at the Seattle Sketch Comedy Festival and The New York City Underground Comedy Festival, and toured the continental United States and Canada while sponsored by American Eagle Outfitters from 2011-2013. Gab’s written work has appeared online, in print, on radio, and on television. In 2012, Gab began a partnership with Josh Verbanets of the band Meeting of Important People, creating The Josh & Gab Show - a musical comedy show created to combat bullying. Josh & Gab have taken their live program to over 500 schools, in addition to having been featured in anti-bullying PSAs for WQED-TV. Gab has also been a featured speaker for TEDx where she discussed the role of adults within the anti-bully movement. Gab’s performance style is best described in this excerpt from Pittsburgh Magazine: "[Gab] has long danced on the border of comedy, theater, performance art, and general mayhem. Her style is so unique (and her material so singular and specified to her life) that branding it simple stand-up is off the mark; in performance, Bonesso is something else entirely, a whirlwind of humor, confession and theatrical abandon." Gab is the first comedian signed to Misra Records.
Brian GrayEducation DirectorBrian Gray is President of the Comedy Arts Pittsburgh Board of Directors. An improviser since 2002, Brian has coordinated workshops in Pittsburgh for performers such as Kevin McDonald and Katie Rich, and is excited to be focusing on education for PCF 2017.
Derek MintoStand-Up Competition DirectorDerek Minto is stand-up comedian, storyteller and writer currently residing in historic Mt. Washington. He was voted by Pittsburgh City Paper as 2016 best local comic. Derek has been a featured comic for the WDVE comedy festival, Burning Bridges comedy festival and recently won best of fest at Chicago's Stubfest 2017. Derek has opened for Hannibal Buress, Dan St. Germaine, John Heffon, Jim Brewer and Amy Schumer once drunkenly told him he was very funny. He has won several Moth storyslams and been part of two moth grandslams. Derek Minto is the host of Hambone’s comedy open stage as well as the stand up rumble. Derek is also the head-writer for Secondhand Sketch, voted 2016 City Paper's best sketch group.
Ben KormanMarketing DirectorBen Korman is co-marketing director of the 2017 Pittsburgh Comedy Festival. He has performed at the inaugural PCF and has been an active member of Pittsburgh's burgeoning comedy community since 2013, performing with various improv and sketch groups at the city's most beloved comedy institutions.
Kat CaringolaMarketing DirectorKat has been improvising in Pittsburgh since 2013 and values the skills and relationships she has developed through the Pittsburgh comedy scene. She is employed as Communications Manager for the US division of an international flooring company and is thrilled to be involved with PCF for a third year. You can catch her doing improv at Arcade Comedy Theater.
Brandon BittnerGraphic DesignerBrandon is a designer and illustrator who has been working in the Pittsburgh tech scene since 2005. Currently a UX designer at Autodesk, he spends the better part of his days trying to figure out the simplest and most elegant way to shoot lasers at things. When he's not siring his two offspring in the evenings he can often be found breaking his knuckles within the twisted bowels of one of his project cars. Sometimes he plays guitar.
Amanda AverellMarketing Consultant and LiaisonAmanda is a stand up comedian, improviser, producer, and writer. In addition to performing, she's House Manager and Intern Manager at Arcade Comedy Theater. She also really likes naps.
Olivia TrainiMarketing Consultant and Liaison
Jason NewsomVolunteer and Hospitality CoordinatorJason Newsom is a Louisville native. As a graduate from The Second City Conservatory in Chicago, he has made it his life's passion to make people laugh and be an advocate for artists of all disciplines. He recently relocated here to Pittsbrugh and is so happy to have discovered that this city has a booming comedy community. He is so happy to have found a home with Arcade. He is a current house manager, and you can catch him performing with DOG SHOW and also Arcade Comedy Theater's only musical-improv house team, THE HIGH SCORES. Welcome to Pittsburgh and I hope yinz are ready for a great week of comedy dahntahn.
Tony LiconWebmasterWhat a tangled web we weave...
Nick StamatakisTreasurerNick is a musician who moonlights as a business analyst during the day. In the Pittsburgh performing arts scene, Nick has played with numerous musical improv teams at theaters across the city, and has worked as a music director and accompanist for high schools, colleges, community theaters and professional theaters in the region.
Mary StewartParty PlannerMary has volunteered with PCF in some capacity since the beginning and is so happy to be back! The festival brings together all her favorite things: comedy, parties, complicated timelines, and lots of little details to plan. Mary works as a Project Manager IRL and loves to take things and splice and dice them into all the little steps and decisions that make an event/project/video/show/house renovation into a reality. Mary has been improvising since 2014 and is always making something up (like this bio), working with a wonderful group of folks to build something, or on occasion sleeping.
Josie NortonSponsorship CoordinatorJosie is a Pittsburgh native with several years of experience in event organization and an unhealthy passion for spreadsheets. You can catch her being a food weirdo on her podcast, 'Food Weirdos', at Unplanned Comedy Warehouse. She also performs improv with her house team, Mini Dungeon, and occasionally writes sketches about sandwiches at Arcade Comedy Theatre.
Kevin O’BrienAssistant Technical DirectorReturning to the PCF staff for a third year, Assistant Stage Manager Kevin O'Brien brings a wealth of experience. Before moving to Pittsburgh in 2013, Kevin studied music and worked in concert logistics at James Madison University and the University of Tennessee. While pursuing his Ph.D. in music at the University of Pittsburgh, Kevin fell in love with the Pittsburgh comedy scene. He performs with his long-form improv teams The Ted City Yodelers and Arcade Comedy Theater house team Kill Screen; co-produces the monthly improvised musical "Your Life: The Musical;" plays guitar in his musical improv duo "Miniature Table Concerts;" writes and performs sketches with his group "2Stoopid: A One Man Show;" and coaches Arcade Comedy Theater's musical short-form house team: The High Scores. When he is not on the stage, he's often working behind it as a stage manager for Arcade Comedy Theater.
Julia MetelskyAssistant Stage ManagerJulia is a stage manager and the A/V Editor at the Arcade Comedy Theater. She has been involved in media work for many years. By day, you can find her screen printing at Commonwealth Press. By night, you can see her doing improv at the Arcade Comedy Theater. She is also a sketch writer in the sketch duo, “Soda Water”. Other times, she’s a member of the May Day Marching Band as a trumpet player. She’s excited to be a part of PCF for the first time this year.
Megan BresserMaster ElectricianMegan Bresser will be starting her final semester as theater arts major at the University of Pittsburgh this fall. Earlier this year she was a scenic artist for Pitt Stage’s Peter and the Starcatcher and was the lighting designer for Pitt’s 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. During her time at school, she has also fulfilled many different roles on numerous mainstage and student productions. This summer she began working outside the University’s theater as the scenic charge artist/ assistant scenic designer/ spot operator for Resonance Works’ Falstaff. Most recently she was the scenic charge artist and master electrician for Kinetic Theater Company’s The Liar.
