the troupe members

Professor Shaw is the type of man who could put his personality in a bottle for the night, and accidentally use his aftershave in its place the next day. When he was five years old he entered a yellow cab in New York City and asked to be taken to his destiny, and now he's wishing that he was a better tipper. Living deep in the heart of darkest Iowa, home of the brave, he does math research, writes math books, directs improv, and plays Puzzlepirates.

Watching Larry do comedy sucks the cynicism out of your soul like a spiritual vacuum cleaner that was designed by a god who believes that things should Work Properly.  It is happening even as I write his bio.  Embrace the positive! Here comes the Sun!! All you need is Love! Find your soldier girl! We are all dancing on God's thumb! Love the one you're with! A winner is you!  All one!  All one!  Yatta!  OK! OK!

Tanner is an ex theatre student at the University of Northern Iowa. He is temporarily on leave due to his over use of the phrase "ga-gow". He hails from the sunny shores of the Mississippi near Guttenberg, Iowa. Past performances include; Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Willy in The Wrestling Season, Man in Mr. Marmalaude, Victim in Car Accident, and Survivor in Cancer. He is a singer/songwriter with such great hits as; ...For No Shame, There Is No F#$%ing God, Megan's Song, Play with His Balls, Kurt's Song, and the world renowned Boobies Song. He has cowritten several pieces ranging from a short play called GoldFish to a full scale musical called LIFE (in progress). He joined Half-Masted in 2007. He aspires to Improvise through life and keep making people laugh by pushing back the so-called "line of decency."

Hopping and a bopping and singing her song, Tonia is an Elementary Education/Early Childhood double major. Her favorite color is blue, her favorite comic is Calvin and Hobbes, and she loves kittens, and things that rhyme. Tonia used to show sheep at the county fair and plays guitar.  She will be graduating soon, so love her while you still can.

Lauren graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Masters in Social Work and is employed as a mental health counselor for children and adolescents. When she is not talking to kids about their feelings, Lauren enjoys going for walks, feeling the wind in her hair and eating pickles. Lauren's random fact: When she was 5 years old she slipped and hit her head on the kitchen floor and was blind for a few hours.

Drew Hingtgen is tall, smart, and handsome, and as a nursing major, will be wealthy in five years. On the downside, he has a nearly unpronounceable last name. Drew can have brunch with you at a nice restaurant, go out and kill a lion with his bare hands, and be cleaned up in time for a sensible dinner. And he won't even let you leave the tip.

Joe is the one that the kids love and the parents fear.

Kari is a psychology major who loves CAKE the band, but not cake the dessert. She comes from Cedar Rapids, the City of Five Smells and home of the first American trampolines. In her spare time, Kari advocates good grammar with alarming fervor and trims down awkwardly tall flower arrangements.

Besides doing improv, Ross is an acrobat, a pugilist, mechanics wizard and scientist. He's kind, he's good, he's brave, he's wise, and he's ten times stronger than ten his size. And yet, every night, he weeps.

Having been a librarian, puppeteer, and artist, Amy chose improv as the next step in her quest to master all professions at which it is impossible to become wealthy.  Amy can recast radiance like a may tree in bloom in the morning, and still kick Tina Fey's ass in the late afternoon.  It's true.  I've seen her do it.

Alex is a Biology major and a pre-med.  You would think that would be enough academic rigor.  That is because you are stuck being you, and not being Alex!  She is also minoring in chemistry and music.  In her spare time, while you are watching television, she plays the flute, eats ice-cream, and listens to Russian composers.  Alfred Hitchcock is not a Russian composer, but she loves him as well.

Measuring only five feet one, Nate's presence is such that people often come away with the impression that he is the tallest member of our little band of thugs.  Nate embraces the good, fights the bad, and tolerates the neutral.  He keeps a locked box in his pocket, about the size of a deck of cards or a pack of cigarettes, and gets gently violent when anybody asks about its contents.  If you prick him, he bleeds, if you tickle him, he laughs, if you poison him, he dies, and if you wrong him, shall he not revenge?

Mitch can swim!  Mitch can dance!  Mitch puts whipped cream down your pants!  Mitch busts myths!  A gourmet cook!  He'll let you touch, but never look!