Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Pizzolo.
Hi Jen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My interest in comedy started from watching tv as a kid in the 70s and 80s. I especially enjoyed when the likes of Johnny Carson and David Letterman featured stand up comedians, as well as watching ensemble casts like the Carol Burnett Show and Saturday Night Live. I was in awe! Who are these people and how do they make people laugh?
Growing up, I wanted to be a theater kid so bad! But I didn’t quite have the singing voice or the acting talent, so I felt like I shouldn’t even audition. But I wondered…could I be funny? Like my idols who I watched growing up?
I took a chance and auditioned for ComedySportz in Philadelphia in the early 90s and was accepted onto the troupe! That began my journey with improv.
After taking time off to raise my kids, I wondered if I would ever be able to do improv again. Was I too old? Would I still be funny? I had no idea. Then in 2021 I heard about an audition at a professional improv theater in Tustin, California called ImprovCity. Even though I was so nervous, I took a chance and auditioned. When I got the call that I was accepted, I actually started crying!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
To this day, it’s still scary for me to get up on stage and put myself out there in front of an audience. It’s sometimes terrifying to let myself be willing be fully vulnerable and be ok with the knowledge that some nights I might try and fail. But that’s also the excitement of it all, too. Not knowing what is going to happen!
Overall, my experience with improv and stand-up comedy has been one of the best experiences of my life. I feel like I’ve found my people. They get me! I love everyone I meet, not just other performers but also audience members. At ImprovCity, we have fans who come to see us every week! It’s such a wonderful feeling to be part of this community. And honestly, I simply love making people laugh. If I could do it 24 hours a day, I would!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a member of the main stage cast at ImprovCity in Tustin, CA where we perform improv comedy five nights a week. We also offer classes, corporate workshops and private events.
In addition, I’m also the Artistic Director of the Tuesday Troupe at ImprovCity. Watching this troupe grow from a group of new troupe members to a close-knit family has been an absolute joy for me.
In addition to improv, I also perform stand-up comedy at ImprovCity and at other venues around Southern California.
What’s the best part of all of this? It’s the supportive community that I’ve found at ImprovCity. They have become my second family. I always try to be a team player and do what’s best for the ensemble. I feel like I’m the luckiest woman in the world to have found this community.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I don’t think people know that I am actually really shy and quiet in my day-to-day life. It takes a lot for me to get up there on that stage and let my guard down like that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Improvcityonline.com
