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var start = start || 0;
for ( var i=0; i < this.length; ++i ) {
if ( this[i] === el ) {
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return -1;
}; //http://www.dustindiaz.com/sugar-arrays/
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bioContent = new Array();
bioContent['ia']="
Improv-Abilities Cast
Improv-Abilities is a professional comedy troupe based in Kansas City that has been entertaining since 2000. During the last few years, Improv-Abilities has been proud to perform in the 2008 Chicago Improv Festival, the 2007 Kansas City Improv Festival, and the 2005 Dallas Comedy Festival.
We have also been coached and workshopped as a troupe by some of the finest people in improv: Jill Bernard of Minneapolis, Jesse Parent of Salt Lake City, Trish Berrong of Kansas City, and Tim Baltz and Rebecca Hanson of the Second City.";
bioContent['charley']="
Charley Belle
Charley began the improv odyssey in 2006. He has been duly impressed and forever influenced training and working with KC’s Comedy City and Loaded Dice. Somehow, he currently stands as the only two time winner of KC’s Improv ThunderDome. He also worked for 4 years as an on-air personality in Cleveland, OH for a Classic Rock station and retains the ability to enjoy “Iron Man” when it comes on in his head at 3:00 AM.
You can’t teach him anything, but he has so much to learn. He is confident his experience with I-A will finally break him of that and make him a man.";
bioContent['jonath']="
Johnathan Bender
Originally hailing from the East Coast, Jonathan Bender began peforming improv in Providence, RI. After graduation, he co-founded Improv Foundry, which he performed with for the three years he lived in Boston. In that time, he\'s taught everyone from corporations to children in workshops and training. Since moving to Kansas City, he has been on stage regularly at Comedy City and with Loaded Dice. He\'s proud to join Improvabilities.
";
bioContent['aron']="
Aron Carlson
Aron Carlson began acting at the University of Kansas, graduating with a Bachelors degree in theater in the spring of 2002.He performed in the University Theater productions of Othello and Prairie Fire Part I-II. Aron has performed with E.A.T. Theater Co. and has had leading roles in their productions of The Glass Menagerie, Jocasta, and Fatherland. He also has performed with the Luprenia Holliday Project, a theater outreach troupe that mounted productions of Caperucita Roja, The Frog Prince, and The Three Little Pigs for disadvantaged audiences. In addition to these projects, Aron does commercial broadcast acting work with Exposure Model/Talent and is a performer/director with Improv-Abilities, an improvisational comedy troupe.
Aron’s improv training includes nearly eight years of experience as a performer. He is versed in short form games as well as long form scene work and in recent years has acquired experience as a show director and instructor of the craft. Additionally, he has studied scene work with some of the most notable teachers and performers in the business. This list includes IO master teacher Joe Bill, nationally acclaimed improv performer Jill Bernard, Dan Izzo from Detroit’s Inferno Theater, Second City Touring Co’s Tim Baltz, Ryan Dolan from IO’s house troupe Revolver, and Kansas City’s own improv guru Trish Berrong to name a few. Aron has appeared as a performer with the Kansas City based troupe Improv-Abilities in the 2005 Dallas Comedy Festival, the 2007 Kansas City Improv festival as well as in the upcoming 2008 Chicago and Kansas City Improv Festivals.";
bioContent['scott']="
Scott Connerly
Scott \'Scottish\' Connerly used to have stage fright in the 3rd grade, though you wouldn\'t be able to tell that today. A member of Improv-Abilities since 2004, Scott has also been a part of the sketch groups Grandma Mojo\'s Moonshine Revival and Hey, That\'s My Sandiwch. When not doing improv stuff, Scott loves reviewing coffee shops and programming websites.
Scott is proud to have received instruction from all of the following: Dave Razowski, Susan Messing, Charna Halpurn, Jason Sudeikis, Jill Bernard, Rich Talarico, Craig Cackowski, Jesse Parent, Dan Izzo, Trish Berrong, Tim Mason, Shad Kunkle, Ryan Dolan, Tim Baltz, Rebecca Hanson, Ed Doris, Pete Calderone, Steve Jones.";
bioContent['keith']="
Keith Curtis
Keith is proud to announce that he is one of the original members of the Improv-Abilities group. Since the beginning in 2000, Keith has been there. He was introduced to the group by Jim Montemeyer, the founder of the company. Keith was taking classes at Comedy Sportz at the time, but auditioned for the group, and the rest is history.
My favorite instructors are: Joe Bill, Jill Bernard, Tim Mason, Jason Sudeikis, Jesse Parent, Tim Baltz, Rebecca Hanson, Shad Kunkle, Charna Halpern, Bill Chott, and Beau Golwitzer.";
bioContent['michael']="
Michael Grush
Actor, improviser, stand up comic, and man of a million faces. Born on the back of a seabass, Michael was destined to love improv. And he does. Destiny fulfilled.
Michael has been doing live theatre for the past 5 years with 2 years out of Comedy City. Notable workshops with Jill Bernard, Eric Davis, and Susan Messing. Now his mentor is a \"Vietnam Veteran\" who sings about the haystacks in Argentina.";
bioContent['joe']="
Joe Henley
Joe Henley has been doing Improvisation since he was 15. Starting in the Kansas City High School League, he then went on to college. Joe is currently an active member of I-A as well as Babel Fish, another local area Improv troupe. He also enjoys writing Sketch Comedy.
";
bioContent['magie']="
Magie Hogan
Magie began her love affair with improv in 2002 with St. Louis\'s own Five Finger Discount VIVA DAS 5FD! Since then improv has been her religion. She digs theater but has a nasty little habit of being casted as the silly role. Even in a depressing Irish drama Dancing at Loughnasa, she played the fat sister who smoked cigarettes and made provocative comments that astonished the rest of the family. Her favorite theatrical experiences always include at least a little bit of interpretive dance. She is currently at UMKC studying stuff with hopes of one day majoring in something and being happy for the rest of her life. Her motto is \"La vida es bella\" which is just the sexy Spanish way to say that life is beautiful.
";
bioContent['nifer']="
Nifer Honeycutt
A native Topekan, Nifer moved to the Kansas City area in 2006 and was excited to find such a diverse improv community. She also performs with several troupes at the Roving Imp, and has, in the past, performed with and directed the Hypothetical 7. When she\'s not onstage, Nifer can usually be found baking cakes, vacuuming someone\'s carpet, or shopping at Target. She also recently discovered the joys of DVR, and is slowly catching up on the last five years of television. Her favorite snack is pretzels dipped in vanilla frosting.
Nifer has trained at the Second City in Chicago and the Roving Imp Theater in Bonner Springs. She\'s been fortunate to study under some of the most talented teachers/nicest people in the business, including Jill Bernard, Trish Berrong, Corey Rittmaster, John Robison, and IA\'s own Tim Marks.";
bioContent['mikej']="
Mike Jimmerson
From his first unabashedly off-key note as a child in a church musical, Mike Jimerson has been in love with performance. Growing up in St Louis, Missouri, Mike was a staple in the school play circuit until he graduated. After a brief stint in Kansas City taking himself seriously as a graphic designer he has returned to performance in the now-beloved form of improv comedy. A proud member of Improv-Abilities, he also performs with Comedy City, Your Mother Called, and some other hacks.
Mike has had the pleasure of learning from such brilliant people as Jill Bernard, Eric Davis, Trish Berrong, Ed Doris, and Improv-Abilities’ own Tim Marks and Aron Carlson. He hopes to sponge off many others in the near future.";
bioContent['tim']="
Timmy Marks
Timmy started improv comedy in 2000 to become a better public speaker and to have fun. Now he is co-director of the troupe and performs improv because he loves it. His entertainment resume has expanded since then, as he has acted in six short films, two local movies, and one national T.V. commercial, and performed some stand-up comedy as well. His specialty remains improv comedy, and he has been lucky to play with local mini-groups Babel Fish and Type O Positive.
Tim has improved his acting through instruction from: Second City (Chicago), the i.O. Theater (Chicago, L.A.), the Annoyance Theatre (Chicago), Saturday Night Live cast member (New York), the Upright Citizens Brigade (New York), and The Actor\'s Craft Studio (K.C.). Individual instructors have included: Dave Razowsky, Charna Halpern, Joe Bill, Dan Izzo, Eli Newell, Jason Sudeikis, Susan Messing, Richard Alan Nichols, and others.";
bioContent['nathan']="
Nathan Stewart
Nathan Stewart began attempting improv in 1997 at Winnetonka High School, with the group known as the 48th Street Players. Upon graduation, and his arrival at Mizzou, he quickly joined up with Comedy Wars: MU\'s Official Improv Team. Bear in mind that Comedy Wars was MU\'s only improv team, however it is important to quickly set up \"barriers to entry\" in any industry. Upon graduation, and his return to Kansas City in January 2007, he was able to trick Improv-Abilities into believing he was a talented improvisor, and he has been riding their coat tails ever since. If you are wondering were you stack up compared to Nathan, here are a few facts. Things Nathan is probably better than you at: Guitar Hero, useless knowledge about Japan, and cuddling. Things that you are probably better than Nathan at: being socially accepted, maintaining a relationship, and improv comedy.
";
bioContent['jim']="
Jim Sturgill
Jim \"Bad Idea\" Sturgill got his start in Improv with the Mizzou collegiate comedy troupe Comedy Wars. Having relocated to Kansas City he has been a member of Improv-Abilities since early 2008. In addition to Improv-Abilities Jim lends his talents to Babelfish with troupe-mates Nathan Stewart and Joe Henley.
";
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document.title=document.titlestring;
}
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isWorking = true;
var url="/content.php";
var params = "page="+page;
http.open("POST", url , true);
http.setRequestHeader("Content-type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
http.setRequestHeader("Content-length", params.length);
http.setRequestHeader("Connection", "close");
http.onreadystatechange = handleHttpContentResponse;
http.send(params);
document.calledpage=page;
if(toTop == 1)
window.scrollTo(0,0);
}
else
setTimeout("getContent('"+page+"')",200);
}
var http = getHTTPObject(); // We create an HTTP Object
var isWorking = false;
/*///////////////
BIO PAGE
/////////////// */
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function preloadImages(perf)
{
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