The Players
More About Our Players
Jon Bruinooge
Years performing: 20 years
Hometown: Green Bay
Favorite Improv Game: Closed Captions
Favorite Animal: Dogs
A Random Talent or Skill: Make a pretty good Old Fashioned
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
Physical, slapstick comedy
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Video games and playing Magic
Maggie Dernehl
Years performing: 3 yrs w/ Comedy City, 7 yrs. overall
Hometown: Ashwaubenon
Favorite Improv Game: 5 things and Pick a Play are toward the top of the list
Favorite Animal: Tie between Horses and Dogs
A Random Talent or Skill: One match bon fires.
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
The Carol Burnette Show always gets me, and Abbott and Costello’s Who’s on First routine.
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Making art, trying out Great British Bake-off recipes, hiking, genealogy research, making Cardboard props for Cardboard Theatre shows.
Mike Eserkain
Years performing: 31 years
Hometown: Wauwatosa
Favorite Improv Game: Story
Favorite Animal: Bear, like just a regular bear. Wearing a hat and carrying a briefcase.
A Random Talent or Skill: Juggling. Piano playing. I can paint the edges of a room really good.
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
Good ol’ fashioned slapstick and physical comedy.
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Writing and Arting.
Ken Goltz
Years performing: 23+
Hometown: Green Bay
Favorite Improv Game: Genre
Favorite Animal: Dragon
A Random Talent or Skill: I play guitar. I also make a quacking sound that only one other human on the planet can replicate.
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
My wife Sarah, Brian Regan, Jim Gaffigan, Patton Oswalt.
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Managing a Used Car Department, raising two daughters, collecting comics.
Gonzo
Years performing: 2
Hometown: Green Bay
Favorite Improv Game: Switch Interview
Favorite Animal: Sweat hog
A Random Talent or Skill: I can fit 23 Rolos in my mouth
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
The word ponytail
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Eating Rolos
Amber Hasenjager
Years performing: 6
Hometown: Manitowoc
Favorite Improv Game: Musical improv
Favorite Animal: Dogs. No ducks. No dogs, final answer.
A Random Talent or Skill: Currently learning the ukulele
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
My husband Eric, who is also an improviser. Also farts. They are never not funny.
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Any kind of art project or refinishing some kind of furniture. Playing with our new puppy Vinny as well who is a ball of energy.
Eric Hasenjager
Years performing: 8
Hometown: Green Bay
Favorite Improv Game: Musical Comedy
Favorite Animal: Monkeys are always hillarious.
A Random Talent or Skill: Know a lot of actor’s names of movies I never seen.
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
Terrible puns and physical comedy
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Playing with our puppy Vinny and spending time with my wife and much funnier performer Amber!
Nicholas Hendel
Years performing: 2
Hometown: Appleton
Favorite Improv Game: Blind line, weekend at Burnies, survivor replay
Favorite Animal: Orangutan
A Random Talent or Skill: I know how to wood turn and can make stuff like mallets or ornaments.
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
I laugh at witty one liners or comedians like Joe Koy.
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
I enjoy riding my long board around the city. I like to play D&D with friends and different video games. I also enjoy working with wood and creating things.
Jeff Lucas
Years performing: 13
Hometown: Green Bay
Favorite Improv Game: 5 Things
Favorite Animal: Dog
A Random Talent or Skill: Dinosaur Wrangler
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
Mel Brooks and My Kids
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Software engineering
Erica Larsen
Years performing: 2 if you include the COVID year
Hometown: Westby, WI
Favorite Improv Game: Switch Interview or New Choice… it depends on who else is playing!
Favorite Animal: Elephants
A Random Talent or Skill: I know the Norwegian national anthem, and I can tell you anything you want to know about any European royal family.
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
The other players! Everyone has their own original brand of humor that catches me off guard every single time they perform. I’m just fortunate to be surrounded by funny people. My daughter is very funny, my husband is very funny, and my friends are very funny.
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Working at my real world job, playing video games, taking my daughter to riding lessons, buying groceries, telling my dog she’s a very good girl, and chasing my cats around the house so I can hug them against their will.
Logan Madson
Years performing: 1
Hometown: Appleton
Favorite Improv Game: Hesitation
Favorite Animal: Capybara
A Random Talent or Skill: I can play piano
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
Dumb youtube videos
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Just chillin
Dan McNeely
Years performing: 4
Hometown: Bloomington, MN
Favorite Improv Game: Switch Interview
Favorite Animal: Penguin
A Random Talent or Skill: I can juggle!
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
My toddler
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Parenting and cooking
Chad Nehring
Years performing: 7
Hometown: DePere, WI
Favorite Improv Game: Mega-Replay
Favorite Animal: My chihuahua mixes – Chiweenie and Chug
A Random Talent or Skill: Booyah maker!
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
My fellow improvisors, they rock! There’s enough absurdity in normal life to laugh at anything. I love old-school observational comedy and comics (I enjoy watching old Johnny Carson re-runs). Don Rickles is my all-time favorite, his insult comic style was sharp, yet loving.
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
I’ve been in financial services since 2001. I’m a Certified Financial Planner and own an advisory firm. I also co-own the theatre operation here at ComedyCity Theatre, and have rental property. In my “spare” time I’m a member of EAA as an aspiring pilot, and try to get “up north” to the lake to boat or snowmobile.
Garth Zimmermann
Years performing: 18
Hometown: Menasha. Originally Wausau.
Favorite Improv Game: Shopkeeper
Favorite Animal: Dogs
A Random Talent or Skill: Salsa making!
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
Creative, funny people and events.
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Naps. Retirement is awesome!!
Abby
Years performing: 3
Hometown: Abrams, WI
Favorite Improv Game: Replay
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
John Mulaney
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Directing plays
Carrie
Years performing: 23
Hometown: Green Bay, WI
Favorite Improv Game: Story
Fun Fact: Has been to several countries in Asia
Who and/or what makes you laugh?
Confusion
When you aren’t on stage, what are you up to?
Driving a boat or solving a mystery.
