The Team

Johnny DiSciascio (he/him) has been involved in performing, writing and sometimes teaching both Musical Theater and Improv since childhood. He had the often rare opportunity of formally studying Improv for 2 additional years as a collegiate level course while in Conservatory, which gave him the unique academic perspective of a beloved art form that is often underrepresented in the Performing Arts Community.  It was during this time that he realized that these two loves could actually be forged together to create the absolutely perfect and magical amalgamation that is “Musical Improv”, and he’s never looked back! He joined and performed with various NYC based Improv and Sketch groups before taking a hiatus to focus on other Performing Arts and “Being a Struggling New Yorker” endeavours. He now resides in Philly, where he teaches Improv as part of the completely new and improved faculty at the recently revitalized Philly Improv Theater. Johnny also LOVES to travel and explore the world as much and as often as he can! And he is SUPER STOKED to join the highly esteemed Thank You Places  team and to be able to learn from and perform alongside some of the most talented and kind folks the entire Philadelphia Improv Community. 

Gabby Formica (she/her) is a musical improviser and Licensed Social Worker in Philadelphia working in the public health sector. She found a community of fellow silly weirdos in musical theater as a young child and has not looked back since. She is thrilled to be performing alongside such talent team members on Thank You, Places! When not making up musical nonsense you can often find her cooking, frolicking at the dog park, playing ukulele or playing board games with her nerdy friends.

Paul Hazen (he/him) began improvising music as a jazz saxophonist in high school and went on to earn his Bachelor’s of Music degree from Temple University. A lifelong musical theatre fan, Paul has also played and conducted in many pit orchestras over the years and is one of the founding members of The Good Kids musical improv team. Paul is thrilled to join the cast of Thank You, Places to have even more opportunities to combine his loves of comedy, theatre, and making up songs. In addition to performing, Paul is also an amateur cocktail enthusiast known for making his own syrups and super juices and wearing an obnoxious hipster bartender’s apron at both appropriate and inappropriate occasions. And although he loves musical improv with his whole heart, Paul’s favorite and most important role will always be husband and father.

Claire Holm (she/her) is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Musical Improviser and Cat Mom. She was part of the Philly musical improv duo/trio Suggestical and has made up songs on stages for about 13 years. In addition to living her best life with Thank You Places, Claire coaches and teaches musical improv in and around Philly.

Chris Newcomer (he/him) is a Philadelphia based actor and singer.  Chris originated the role of Jacob Chicken in The Visit on Broadway alongside Chita Rivera and Roger Rees and also appears on the original cast album of that Musical.  He has performed on Broadway and all over the world with Chicago The Musical and is very happy he gets to play whatever role he wants with his beloved Thank You, Places team.  

Austin Satinsky (he/him) is a South Jersey-based performer, improviser, and social media manager. When he isn’t attempting to churn out a spicy riff, he can be found spending time with his wife and their three horrid cats or obsessing over his terrarium. Austin is so excited to be performing with TYP as it allows him to mix his love of musical theatre and improv together.

Alanna Shaffer (she/they) is a Philadelphia-based improviser and- in another life- public historian. She has been a member of ‘Thank You, Places!’ since the team first began performing together in 2017, where she gets to joyously combine her two favorite things in the world- musical theatre and comedy.

Leticia Viloria (she\they) was born and raised in NYC. They’ve been performing professionally for 20 years in a variety of genres. Leticia started with poetry and singing then comedy and improv until arriving at a combination of all of the above! 

Ross Weisman (he/him) is a comedian, community organizer, and former theater kid (shoutout to Colonial Players). He also hosts Kidflix, a podcast where he and comedian friends review kids films. You can catch him regularly performing improv with The N Crowd. He has non-comedy interests, but that’s less relevant to you reading this.

Michael C. Raab (he/him)

Dan Perlman (he/him) has been playing piano for over 20 years in various genres of music including classical, jazz, rock, pop, and comedy. After graduating from Drexel University’s computer science program, he spent five years performing with the wedding and club dance band, The Seven Band. Currently, Dan is an active member of the tribute bands Born to Run Down a Dream and the Jagged Little Pills, and accompanies various musical improv groups in Philadelphia. During his free time, Dan enjoys indulging in songwriting, city walks, vegan cuisine, and showering his ragdoll cat, Aspen, with love.

Sue Taney (she/her) has a BA in Theatre from Rowan University and a MA in Education from Montclair State University. She has been teaching preschool for 12 years and loves every minute of it. She also adores improv. She’s had the absolute pleasure of performing with Thank You, Places since their inception in 2016.  She’s been performing with the delightful CSz Philly for over a decade. CSz Philly has also allowed her to share the joy of improv by teaching it to kids, teens, and adults of every ability both in person and virtually. She’s also toured the east coast teaching and performing as half of the silliest improv duo, #puppies. When she isn’t teaching or performing, Sue enjoys spending time with her wonderful and supportive husband, family, friends, and dachshund pups.

Ina E. Farrell (she/her) is a formally trained actress, playwright, director, producer, speaker and coach. She is founder and CEO of Two Fish Five Loaves Productions, which creates, directs and produces content for theater, television and film. Her industry expertise has allowed her to collaborate with Emmy and Grammy award-winning artists. Despite legal blindness, Ina’s most  exhilarating , sometimes self-deprecating, rewarding, challenging, and fun times has been taking the stage performing made up on-the-spot musicals with her talented Thank You Places improv family. 

Scott Hinners (he/him) is a Philadelphia based improviser and digital marketer. He’s trained at the Philly Improv Theater and been a part of several amazing comedy groups over the years including house team ZaoGao and Reasonable Doubt. Since 2017, Scott has performed with Thank You, Places: An Improvised Musical, where he routinely makes up brand new musicals on the spot alongside an exceptionally talented cast.

Kirk Stevens (he/him) is an actor, musician, filmmaker & improviser originally from Rochester, NY. He has been doing improv for 20 years and has trained at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre. He previously performed on the New York musical improv team, Good Catch and the PHIT Harold Team, Remain Calm. He has released several albums of original music that are available on Bandcamp and many other streaming platforms. He is a Blu-ray & DVD enthusiast and a father to a misbehaved, but very sweet beagle.

Joe Gates (he/him) is a veteran Philly performer and is most well-known as producer and director of The Comedy Show Gates, a monthly comedy and cabaret show at L’Etage.  Joe majored in Drama at Washington College and has trained at various theaters in Philadelphia, New York and at iO out in Chicago. He’s been doing improv for 19 years and has been a part of award-winning teams such as Sabotage, Scary Mofos, and the musical improv group Thank You, Places.  He has taught and coached in Philly for the past few years and is part of the virtual improv group, Hot Switch. In addition to comedy, Joe has also been involved in numerous Renaissance Faires in PA and NJ, stage combat, Shakespearean plays, and he has written and produced countless Gothic Horror RPGs for Live Action Role Plays..