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Alligator Alley
Featuring Improv Teams: Just the Funny! and Improv UAlligator Alley
Featuring Improv Teams: Just the Funny! and Improv UAlligator Alley combines two Florida teams into one cast, giving audiences the chance to experience a range of improv styles, approaches, and humor—all in one show. Featuring Just the Funny (Miami, FL), Improv U (West Palm Beach, FL).
JUST THE FUNNY! (Miami, FL) is Miami’s Home for Improv and Sketch Comedy since 1999. Just The Funny is going to bring the heat with their award-winning “Miami-style” brand of longform improv comedy based on YOUR suggestions. Big energy, big fun, and not for the faint of heart, Just The Funny is going to leave you begging for more!
Improv U (West Palm Beach, FL) is a collection of some of the best improvisers and improv teachers in South Florida. Improv U came together because they wanted to find a better way to present improv to local audiences. They stay together because they respect each other's work in and out of the group and admire each others dedication and professionalism when it comes to the work. The cast was formed by Anthony Francis shortly after the pandemic when Anthony and Tony went to Brian to hear his idea of a new way to present shortform. The show was a hit and we've been going ever since!
Just the Funny Cast
LD Madera
Marlene Marcos
LD MADERA is an improv actor originally from Miami, Florida. Since 2005, LD has been performing and growing in the craft of improv with Just The Funny: Miami's Home for Improv and Sketch Comedy. Over the years, LD has grown and developed his craft by performing with one simple philosophy: Feel Honestly. During his time at Just The Funny, LD has also had the opportunity to learn and train with some of improv’s greatest performers, including David Razowsky, Joe Bill, Mark Sutton, Stacey Smith, and Stacey Hallal. LD continues to be active at Just The Funny Theater, and also performs at various venues and locations in Florida. LD created Together/By Myself in 2019, which was inspired by the idea of creating multiple characters that could show various emotions and points of view. Since 2019, Together/By Myself has been performed on the road at various theaters and festivals around the country. LD also continues to teach various workshops sharing his love of improv with everyone!
MARLENE MARCOS is a performer, educator, and acting coach. She has appeared in many plays, national commercials, voice-overs, film and TV, both in English and in Spanish. As an instructor, she has taught at the New York Film Academy and the Florida Film Institute. She has traveled the country performing improv at various festivals and theaters, including Spontaneous Combustion and Dad's Garage (Atlanta), Dallas Comedy Festival, The Nestival (Columbus, OH), Curious Comedy Theater (Portland, OR), Sarasota Improv Festival, and the Miami Improv Festival, of which she was a producer. She continues to perform, teach. and direct at Just The Funny Improv Theatre in Miami, FL, where she is a co-owner and the former VP of Education. Marlene thrives on teaching in all areas of acting and improv. She is easily bribed with coffee.
Improv U Cast
Anthony Francis
Diane Jorge
Patrick Price
Brian Sutorious
Tony Tata
ANTHONY FRANCIS is the founder and artistic director of Improv U. He has been improvising since 2012. He performs in "The Unwritten Sketch Show," "The Comedy Game Show," and "ANT FARM." Anthony enjoys long-form, short-form, musical, and solo improv.
DIANE JORGE has been a dominant force in South Florida, bringing her unique performance style to the improv stage. You can find her performing her hit solo improvised telenovela, Solovela, and her hit one woman show honoring Popular Puerto Rican Astrologer Walter Mercado. She is a force.
PATRICK PRICE More like Patrick Priceless! Patrick is the newest member of the cast and he is a welcome addition for sure. His height and strength are incredibly helpful when it comes to getting high up things and his over 25 years of improv training and performing come in handy too. Patrick runs improv shows in Lake Worth, FL, and he's more charming than you can handle.
BRIAN SUTORIUS has been involved with live comedy spanning improv, sketch, and standup for over a decade. He's grateful to have learned from schools and teachers all over the country, and to have shared the stage with the funniest people in the world. He currently performs with Actor's Rep and Improv U, both in South Florida.
TONY TATA is the music behind Improv U. He has been the music director for Improv U since its inception in 2015. Tony got his start right here in Sarasota and has performed many times on the FST Improv stage. Tony's magical fingers will cast a spell on you and the keyboard. Don't be surprised if he starts juggling at any point. It happens, we all expect it at this point and he's really good so why not, right?
Festival Workshops
Dive into your own spontaneity with Sarasota Improv Festival Workshops! Our offerings allow you to learn from the experts with intimate trainings led by Festival artists from across the country and around the world. Featuring workshops in a wide range of improvisational styles and techniques, there is something for improvisers of all experience levels at the 2023 Sarasota Improv Fest. All workshops take place Saturday, July 22.