Meet the cast of House Party
-
Joshua Thomas
Joshua Thomas was born and raised here in San Antonio, and has been doing improv for a long time clocking in those 10,000 hours across countless stages in Los Angeles from UCB to Second City Hollywood.
He came back to Texas during the pandemic and started House Party in August of 2021. What started as a team has evolved into an improv company. He is the driving force behind HPI and acts as the Master of Ceremonies and Director of nearly every show in addition to joining the rest of the cast with his outrageous characters and hilarious perspectives. For better or worse, he sees no end in sight.
-
Kody Nace
“Vibe Check Bitches!”
Kody is one of the nicest guys you'll meet who also has the mouth of a thousand sailors. He is an actor with many plays under his belt and a graduate of Trinity University. By day is is the entertainment coordinator at Morgan's Wonderland!
-
Louie Arnett
Louie has been doing improv for close to a decade and is a master of characters on stage and. You can also catch him at Comedy Sportz, in the main stage match ups, or the late night show Monsternomicon, and of course every Friday Night on House Party Improv, committing 100 percent to every hilarious character, and supporting the hell out of everyone’s ridiculous ideas.
-
Dee Dee Bowden
Dee Dee is new to her improv journey but has taken to improv like a duck to water. Prior to taking long-form classes from House Party's Joshua Thomas before joining the cast on a regular basis. She has been apart of the class system and minor leagues at Comedy Sportz San Antonio and is now a main stage player. She is also an actor recently starring in several commercials, plus works full time and is a mother of two. How does Dee Dee do it? She’s her, her, her, her.
-
Caroline O'Malley
Caroline has been doing plays and musicals for her entire life. She has a long history in Marching Band and marched in the Golden Buffalo Marching band at CU Boulder. She learned improv back with her troupe in Colorado, performing at bar stages and other venues on a regular basis. She found House Party and looks forward to performing each and every week. Her characters are endless as she hits the stage injecting juicy details into every scene. She is also teaching an upcoming Long-form: Level 1 class, go sign up!
-
Clint Taylor
Clint has performed all over San Antonio, TX from graduating at the former Bexar Stage monthly with his team Bachelors of Science as part of a monthly variety show Dadurday Night Live. But House Party Improv is his home. He can be seen performing nearly every Friday and Saturday on our stage in a multitude of shows including the 80’s RPG adventure show Bellairs, TX and so much more! He is one of the most unique performers our audience members will ever see and everyone loves his choices and commitment. He is also teaching an upcoming Long-form: Level 1 class, go sign up!
Featured Performers
We have multiple House Teams with casts of amazing up and coming talent.
Leah Gransbery - Born in Butte (pronounced 'byoot', not 'butt'), Montana, a town renowned for its tough mining roots, Leah was raised amidst the rugged landscape of a place with more bars than people. It's a town with a reputation for toughness – where even the water tells its own tale as one of the largest bodies of polluted water and an EPA Superfund site. Butte isn't just a mining town; it's the birthplace of daredevils, including the legendary Evel Knievel. Leah emerged from this spirited environment, blending the daredevil spirit of her hometown with a comedic prowess she learned from her father, a German realist who used his lightning-quick wit to win over the town's Irishmen, earning their respect and an honorary Irishman title – talk about 'blarney' diplomacy! After leaving Montana, Leah explored nearly 30 countries, discovering that a good sense of humor knows no boundaries – it's the universal travel guide that brings people together in laughter. Settling in San Antonio in 2016, Leah is a nonprofit director, helping the homeless and low-income with their eye care needs. Beyond the improv stage, Leah's competes in several sand volleyball leagues while chasing her personal trainer certificate. Oh, and she's a model too – not the runway kind, but definitely a role model to two incredible kids. They serve as her personal comedy writers, constantly spinning hilarious tales, usually at her own expense. Finding House Party Improv classes and completing three levels of long-form lit a match for Leah's desire to perform and perfect the skill. Leah's a comedy alchemist, transforming life's experiences into relatable comedy. As a recovering people pleaser, she's learning to balance making others laugh while prioritizing her own joy. Her scene work is not about cheap punchlines but a laughter-filled journey, sprinkled with surprises, where being a model means flexing those comedic muscles instead of striking a pose!
Ashton Simmons - A modern-day Renaissance Man, Ashton is your classic jack of all trades and a true connoisseur of the arts. A San Antonio native, he's embarked on a variety of creative endeavors, from music and film to podcasting and acting. He began his community theatre career in 2017 at the Overtime Theater, where he would eventually become mesmerized by improv comedy and the seemingly effortless performances of House Party. His roots as an enthusiastic spectator haven't escaped him, as he can frequently be seen supporting his cast members on and off stage with his iconic laugh. When he's not on-stage or behind the camera, he's selling San Antonio's real estate and spending time with his family. On the team, he's eagerly waiting for his opportunity to support his teammates and express his unique perspective and characters.
Angela del Pilar Mora Cordoba from Popayán, Cauca, is an actress who graduated from the Teatro Libre of Bogotá. She lived in Brazil for a few years, where she learned Portuguese and bellydance. In 2017, she came to the United States in her role as a businesswoman to open her ice cream business, Freshest. However, with little foundation in English, she found an unconventional method to learn the language through improvisation. This allowed her to rediscover her love for the stage, taking her first steps in short-form improv with the group Denials in 2021. In 2022, she attended the Ladies Night at House Party and emotionally connected with the show, leading her to regularly attend workshops. She then studied improv in-depth and with love at House Party, continuing to this day. With her English still in progress, some hilarious misunderstandings arise on stage.
Jonathan Chavez - a.k.a. The Thrilla from Amarilla Whether he’s embarrassing the government by dominating them in the courtroom or performing on stage with The Come Up, Jonathan creates a fun show for everyone involved, (except the prosecutors who get fired after he beats them on international television). Jonathan’s improv career began in 2017 where he first studied under Cary Farrow IV. Improv next took Jonathan to Bexar Stage where he completed all 6 levels and graduated from their training program in 2019. While at Bexar Stage, Jonathan studied under Dan Grimm and Tina Jackson. In addition to performing improv at Bexar Stage Jonathan produced The Trial Before Christmas with Clint Taylor and Matthew Hall, a sketch show placing famous holiday characters in the hot seat for their misdeeds. Jonathan wrote and performed a sketch with Kevin McDonald from the Kids in the Hall in his last venture at Bexar Stage in February 2020. Jonathan also studied sketch writing and performing under Devon Coleman, writer for Mystery Science Theater 3000 and former member of Austin improv troup Sugar, Water, Purple. Jonathan returned to training with Cary Farrow IV during the pandemic where he continued to hone his acting skills at the Woodlawn Theater. In 2022, Jonathan realized his true comedy genius when he began studying under J.T. of House Party Improv fame. That is where Jonathan currently studies the art of improvised long form comedy. When he’s not performing, Jonathan successfully represents people accused of crimes as a trial and appellate attorney in San Antonio. Often referred to as the Wizard in the Streets due to his miraculous ability to get complex criminal cases dropped, Jonathan fiercely advocates for his clients both in and out of the courtroom. Jonathan’s legal mentor is Gerry Goldstein—Famed attorney of Hunter S. Thompson, and who’s often featured in Rolling Stone magazine. Jonathan has successfully represented people from all walks of life: politicians, professional athletes, a military general of Qatar, drug traffickers, and persons accused of crimes while exercising their right to free speech. He has an absolutely adorable Jack Russell Terrier named Missy Elliot. Jonathan’s loving mother and father still reside in Jonathan’s hometown of Amarillo, Texas. Jonathan’s amazing and talented brother Jordan Chavez lives in Denver Colorado where he works as the morning show anchorman for NBC 9News. It is also worth noting that Jonathan’s high school band, Chavy and the Wombats, won the Amarillo High School Battle of the Bands in 2006, (we got snubbed in 2007). Jonathan lives by the belief that happiness is a choice you make every day.
Crystal Jackson - Crystal is in love with improv and has been performing since 2017. She studies short form and long form and has been a student at ComedySportz, Alamo City Improv, Bexar Stage, and House Party Improv. She loves performing, but you can also regularly find her in the audience cheering for the actors on stage and giving suggestions. Whether she's up on stage, taking classes, or in the audience, improv makes her feel so alive! When not improvising, she is a medically retired member of the military and a full time mother of one. She lives a pretty full life!
Pietro is new to improv but no stranger to people laughing at him in public. Prior to taking classes at House Party with Joshua Thomas, Pietro Gaudiano cut his teeth pretending to be someone he isn’t at Columbia University in New York City. Tired of the bright lights and limitless possibilities, Pietro relocated to San Antonio, inadvertently falling in love with the brand of improv comedy House Party has spent years cultivating and mastering. He is well traveled and, as a newcomer to the stage, brings a fresh, hilarious perspective to the stage every time he performs!