Mesha Arant (she/her/hers) is a Chicago-based musician and arts administrator. She is the Manager of Administration & Programs at 3Arts, a nonprofit arts organization that supports women artists, artists of color, and Deaf and disabled artists.
WHO WE ARE
OUR MISSION
The founders of iO were instrumental in the creation and development of longform improvisation. Through this collaborative artform, iO seeks to create a community that makes space and creates new pathways and entry points for performers of all backgrounds and abilities.
iO is committed to creating an inclusive incubator for performers and ensembles to explore this art form and develop new and exciting works.
HISTORY
Chicago’s iO Theater was founded in 1981 by Charna Halpern and David Shepherd. Following Shepherd’s departure, improv specialist Del Close came aboard and helped turn iO into one of the country’s premier comedy theaters and a launching pad for some of America’s most promising comedic talents. Following the theater’s pandemic-related closure in 2020, Halpern sold iO the following year. Now in the care of new owners and a new management team, the restored theater is once again at the epicenter of long-form improvisation.
OUR DIVERSITY TEAM
Upon rebuilding the new iO, one of the first priorities was to institute a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) board to advise the theater’s new owners and management team. Comprised of community members, the board serves an instrumental role among iO’s current leadership to ensure the theater’s business operations, workplace culture, and social environment are safe, positive, and equitable.
MESHA ARANT
LUIS CORTES
Luis (he/him) is a Mexico City born host, performer, improviser, producer and teaching artist based in Chicago, Illinois. He also serves as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion for ComedySportz Chicago. He holds a BA in Raza Studies from San Francisco State University and Diversity and Inclusion Certifications from UC Berkeley and Cornell.
NATTY GALDE
Natty is a Miami, Florida native who moved to Chicago in pursuit of all things improv, comedy, acting, writing, production. Joining the first iteration of iO's DEI Committee is an opportunity to be there for everyone's accessibility. It feels like an enormous responsibility to students, staff, performers and audiences and she doesn't take it lightly.
MARK JAMES HEATH
Mjh is a poet and comedian originally from the south suburbs of Chicago, who partners with Non Profit Organizations to produce programming, workshops, fundraisers and outreach events.
TERRI LYNNE HUDSON
Terri Lynne Hudson is an actor, multimedia artist and disability rights advocate living and working in Chicago. She is a graduate of the Second City Conservatory, was formerly a Monday Night Live regular at IO and has opened for Silly Point and Matt Damon improv as a solo sketch performer.
KIM IHEME
Kim is a Chicago comedian from Minnesota. A diOveristy grad. A teacher at The Annoyance Theater . A Bob Curry Fellow. A true Taurus.
KATIE CAUSSIN
CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Katie Caussin is originally from Springfield, VA and received her degree in Theater from Radford University. She has been a Chicago based professional actor for over 20 years. She is an alumnus of The Second City and has performed with ComedySportz, the iO Theater, the Annoyance and many others across the Chicago theater and comedy scene as well as television and commercial acting. She has directed for independent productions and Sketchfest. She was also an improv instructor for The Second City and the Annoyance.
ADONIS HOLMES
Co-Artistic Director
Adonis Holmes is a Writer, Performer, and Comedian out of Chicago. Adonis graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelors in Psychology and Anthropology. Having produced, directed, and written several shows in the Champaign-Urbana community, he started taking improv classes and regularly performing at IO. Adonis has been featured in several sketch shows throughout the city, including Chicago Sketch Fest and the Best of Annoyance sketch show. Currently Adonis is a member of Devil's Daughter Improv, the Annoyance House team Mummy, and is a 2022 Bob Curry Fellow.
STEVE PLOCK
Managing Director
Steve Plock has spent the last, roughly, ten years as a manager, bartender, and performer at the iO Theater, except for the last two years which he spent in Wyoming managing one of our nation's premier honky-tonk bars. Steve is now excited to return to Chicago as the Managing Director of the new iO Theater and to help steward the theater in a new direction. Steve is also an accomplished drummer and musician who has toured all over the United States and even most of Europe one time. John Forté once told him he had 'great pocket.' Steve is also an avid beef jerky fan and believes that Y2K was a hoax perpetrated by the non-perishable food corporations to scare us into buying lots of old food. I mean, why would a computer *think* that it's 1900 and just decide to crash? It makes no sense. Hopefully you'll be able to see Steve perform with the world famous improv team Dumb John around Chicago soon.
KIM WHITFIELD
Managing Producer
Kim Whitfield is a southern raised, east coast crazed multimedia artist from the mean streets of HEB–not to be confused with the popular grocery chain! While they’ve been performing comedy since their high school days (and unexpectedly at various family outings), throughout the years she’s gained experience in independent theater, film, television, and live event production for several companies including but not limited to Letter of Marque Theater, Paradoxal Inc, Walter Pictures, and Netflix. Credits and titles include cast, writer, assistant director, and associate producer–not to mention world class cannabis connoisseur and devout Ghibli nerd! Whit is beyond excited to begin their new artistic journey with iO Theater and is committed to inspiring young artists to create and explore their craft in the newfound, vibrant and diverse community that is iO. "Truth is power and art is truth." ~ Kim Whitfield
JESSE SWANSON
Executive Producer
Jesse Swanson is a producer, arts administrator and comedian. He has led organizations large and small and presented original work across the country and around the world. Originally from the east coast, Jesse began his career in Philadelphia, where he produced and directed original sketch, stand-up improvisation and several world premier comedic plays and musicals. His independently produced work won acclaim at The Philadelphia and DC Fringe Festivals as well as the CrisisArt Festival in Italy. After deciding to take comedy a little more seriously, he came to Chicago in 2012 and went to work for The Second City where he oversaw talent development and production of new work, partnering with companies like The Kennedy Center, LucasFilm and Disney. As an artist with a disability Jesse is an organizer and advocate for access in the arts and passionately pursuing making all art accessible to everyone. He is honored to join this incredible team at iO.
RACHAEL MASON
Director of Education
Rachael Mason is a Director, Writer, and Teacher schooled in the Chicago improv scene. While at The Second City, iO, Annoyance she developed and now teaches her philosophy of not “yes and” but “Yes And Because" where scenes that are rich and sustainable are inevitable and infinite. She has toured and taught all over the world, headlining festivals with her comedy partner Susan Messing as The Boys. She’s worked with theater novices, Masters Degree Candidates at universities, and working professionals both in and outside of the entertainment industry. Candor is her love language. She passionately believes that putting art where there was none before is an act of revolution.
KYLE ANDERSON
Technical Director
Kyle Anderson came to Chicago in 2003, drawn to the city’s reputation as a central hub of improvisational comedy and a desire to work in theater as a lighting designer. His first and second orders of business upon arriving in the city were to adopt a cat and sign up for classes at iO. Design and improv dovetailed into a career of stage management and lighting design at The Second City. He was the stage manager of The Second City e.t.c. when he developed and inhabited that theater’s first Technical Director position. He is happy to be a part of iO’s new team.
STEVE SACKS
Co-Owner/CEO
Steve Sacks was Vice-President and later Co-CEO at S&S Truck Parts, where he honed his comedy skills. Before managing S&S, Sacks spent a decade in Ecuador where he founded "Andean Organics," the country's first certified organic horticultural farm. Steve earned a master's from Harvard's Kennedy School, and also studied at Harvard Business School where he won the "Porter Freund Entrepreneur of the Year Award"