RISE Comedy Festival – Summer 2023

Drew Droege is an alum of The Groundlings Sunday Company and has been teaching at the school since 2006. He’s also taught improv workshops at University of Southern California, Indiana University, and Wake Forest University, where he obtained a BA in theatre. Drew occasionally performs in The Crazy Uncle Joe Show, The Gale, and Cookin With Gas. He has created 5 solo shows, including Bright Colors And Bold Patterns (Best Performance- Outfest 2018, directed by Michael Urie and streaming on BroadwayHD) and Happy Birthday Doug, both Off-Broadway. His film/TV credits include Me Time, Your Honor, Poolman, Cora Bora, The Comedians, The Goldbergs, Search Party, Q-Force, Bob’s Burgers, The Extinction of Fireflies, The Great North, Drunk History, Heathers, Teachers, IdiotSitter, Transparent, Life In Pieces, Key & Peele, Bajillion Dollar Properties, Ideal Home, Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse, 2 Broke Girls, Kroll Show, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Happy Endings, House Of Lies, Hot In Cleveland, How I Met Your Mother, and New Girl. He’s best known on the internet for playing Chloe Sevigny, hosting his podcasts Minor Revelations and Glitter In The Garbage, and lots of web series. Drew has written for Netflix’s AJ And The Queen and Big Mouth.

Nick Armstrong is an Actor, Improvisor, Director and Writer. On TV, Nick has been on the Emmy-Award winning shows The Office and Grey’s Anatomy. He has also made appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, New Girl, Stan Against Evil, Young Sheldon, Brooklyn Nine Nine and Parks and Recreation.

While in Los Angeles, Nick trained at the World-famous Groundlings Theater where he was a member of the prestigious Sunday Company who’s alumni include Will Ferrell, Heidi Gardner, Phil Hartman and many more. There he would study and teach improv and sketch comedy. He also studied at iO where he learned and taught Long Form Improvisation and performed on the critically acclaimed teams King Ten, COG and Kind Strangers. He was also former Artistic Director of M.I’s Westside Comedy Theater. where he taught and performed as well. Nick has taught workshops all over the world and has performed and headlined in over 60 festivals throughout the world.

Currently, Nick is the Co-Owner and Artistic Director of RISE Comedy in Denver, Colorado and Founder and Executive Director of Improv Utopia a Non-profit improv camp for adults held annually that gives back to the improv community and other arts related charities.