The Troupe – Michael Hochman

Michael Hochman hated improv once. Seems like a long, long time ago. But there was a time when Hochman thought improv was just that thing you did on Fridays in theater class ’cause the teacher didn’t have a lesson plan. Most of the time, Michael would end up being stuck playing games and scenes with people he didn’t like, and it just sucked the fun out of it.

Then Hochman discovered something: If you play with people you like, then improv is awesome. Michael has helped start two groups, first at college, the Backstage Players Improv Thingie, and then Death By Improv, both with people he loves playing with. Since the middle of 2010, Michael has also been playing with Mayor Karen, a house team at the Philly Improv Theater.

Over the last couple years, Hochman has been fortunate enough to take some great classes with amazing instructors such as:
In New Jersey, at Improv Jam, with Pete Capella and Mike O’Keefe.
In NYC, at the Magnet Theater, with Armando Diaz and James Eason.
In Philadelphia, at the Philly Improv Theater with Alexis Simpson, Mark Bringhurst, Kristen Schier, Amie Roe, and Nathan Edmondson.
And workshops at festivals with the likes of: Johnathan Pitts, Karen Wight-Greenberg, Asaf Ronen, Zach Ward, Jill Bernard, Alex Marino, Topher Bellavia, and many others.