Boom Chicago - Actors

Who's Who in the Show

Boom Chicago has a cast of actors, musicians, technicians, video directors who work together to make our tradmark improv and sketch comedy shows. Get to know your favorite Boomer a bit better here. Starting this fall, the actors will be uploading content and recommendations and creating video blogs and comedy videos. Enjoy!

Since 1996
Rob AndristPlourde
Actor-Writer-Improviser

Thanks for reading Rob's bio. Rob is unable to come to his bio, so please see him perform in his 13th season at Boom Chicago. If reading from a rotary phone, know that your input is important. Stay on line, another bio will help you shortly.

Since 2006
Lolu Ajayi
Actor-Writer-Improviser

Lolu started his improv career with "House of Mangoes," an improv group which he founded in 2001 in Groningen. In Lolu's artistic journey on this planet, he has taken the form of actor, writer, cartoonist, playwright, singer, rapper,

Since 2006 (officially)
Michael Diederich
Actor-Writer-Improviser

Michael arrived in Amsterdam the same year as Boom Chicago in 1993, but instead co-founded sketch comedy group Down Stage West. He became famous performing in major Dutch musicals including Joe, Jesus Christ Superstar , and Chicago . Later he

Since 1994
Greg Shapiro
Actor-Writer-Improviser

Greg Shapiro is enjoying his role as 'The American Nederlander'. An expatriate of Chicago, Greg was the anchorman for Comedy Central News , and he still reports Dutch news in English in TimeOut Amsterdam and on his weblog thedailygreg.com .

Since 2009
Jessica Lowe
Actor-Writer-Improviser

Jessica Lowe is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her father is a large Norwegian vascular surgeon and her mama is a tiny attorney. At Northwestern University, she participated in a variety of performance groups, including a filmed sketch

Since 2007
James Kirkland
Actor-Writer-Improviser

James was born in Portland, Oregon on October 25th, 1980. He attended Boise-Elliot elementary school and Middle school before going to

Since 2003
Amber Ruffin
Actor-Writer-Improviser

This is Amber's 2nd stint at Boom Chicago. In between, she was an actor, writer, improviser at the Second City in Chicago . After three shows on the Second City mainstage, she came back to

Since 1993
Andrew Moskos
Owner - Producer

One of the original founders of Boom Chicago, Andrew starred in Boom's productions from 1993-2000. He can still be seen on stage for special events and when nobody better is available. These days he develops creative projects across many areas

Since 1993
Saskia Maas
Owner - Producer

Under Saskia's direction, Boom Chicago’s corporate programs, trainings and videos have grown into an essential part of Boom Chicago with more than 100 projects a year with some of the biggest brands. She also runs the sales department and

1993-8, and since 2001
Jon "Pep" Rosenfeld
Owner - Artistic Director

One of Boom’s founders, 'Pep' grew up in Evanston, Illinois and lived in Chicago before moving to Amsterdam. He took a break from Boom in 1999, moving to LA and then to New York to write for Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update. In 2001, his

Since 2008
Shane Oman
Assistant Artistic Director

W. Shane Oman comes from a theatrical family and has been working in show business since he was old enough to hold a hammer. He grew up in Michigan and moved to Chicago to attend Columbia College. After graduating with a degree in stage

Since 2003
David Schmoll
Musical Director

A 40-year veteran of the music industry, keyboardist, guitarist and recording engineer David Schmoll has been specializing in music for improvisational comedy since 1996. In addition to performing live with the cast of Boom Chicago, Schmoll

Since 1997
Steven Svymbersky
Head Technician

Steven came to work for Boom Chicago in 1997 after selling Quimby’s, Chicago’s infamous underground bookstore which he founded in 1991. After working as a promoter and boat captain for one season, he went on to rise through the ranks

Since 2005
Neil Towsey
Technician

This hairy Scotsman from Edinburgh spent the past six years DJing all over the U.K. He is part of a team who organize one of Edinburgh's most successful (still running) Techno/Electro nightclubs. While Neil's night-time excursions have been

Since 2008
Brian Tjon Ajong
Technician

Brian calls himself Aruban. Yes he was born in Tilburg, but if his parents waited just a couple of more years to relocate to Holland, he would have been born in Aruba. Being the son of a musician and founding member of the band Green Lizard (with

Since 2005
Matt Chapman
Video Director - Actor - Improviser

Matt has been directing, editing, producing and shooting videos for years. Although he started out with a Canon XL1, a "lite" Video Factory from Sony, and a simple single track editing system, he likes working on the state of the art