Theatre Momentum's 2011 Ensemble:

Peter Athans
Peter Athans is thrilled to be an ensemble member of Theatre Momentum. He was born in Rochester NY and raised in the Chicago area where he has studied Improvisation at The Second City and iO and can be seen performing stand-up comedy where ever anyone is crazy/stupid enough to hand him a microphone. In addition to Theatre momentum he is a former member of Trying Too Hard (attendees of the 2008 LA Comedy Fest) and current member of The Shelter. Peter has also appeared in various film and video projects that no one will probably ever see.

Laura Bloechl
Laura Bloechl is thrilled to be a part of Theatre Momentum’s ensemble. Laura grew up in Niceville, FL where she was a loser in the Little Miss Mullet Pageant and still isn’t over it. She is a recent graduate of The Second City’s conservatory program and currently studies at iO. Laura can be seen around town performing with the improv troupes Cake n’ Hatred and 92 Dream Team.

Julie Chereson
Julie joins Theatre Momentum from a small town in Ohio where she would be laughed off stage, if they actually had a stage (which they don’t). After graduating with a degree in Theatre from the University of Mount Union, Julie moved to Chicago where she has been training at the Profiles Theatre, and the Victory Gardens Theatre and Showcase. She wants to thank her loving boyfriend and crazy parents (who are so supportive that her friends have actually made offers to buy them from her).

Bente Engelstoft
Bente grew up in the tepid suburbs of Houston, TX. At the ripe age of 14 she was shipped off to Denmark for boarding school for undisclosed but surely lewd reasons. She received her BA in theatre at the University of Glasgow. While in Scotland, she formed her first company, I Must Admit Productions and had the pleasure of working and performing with Palazzo Theatre. Improvised and devised theatre beckoned her to Chicago where she has studied with Second City and IO. Bente can currently be seen performing with the improv troop High Sobriety. She is incredibly excited and honored to be part of the Theatre Momentum ensemble.
 

Erin Monahan
Erin received her BS in Theatre Arts from the University of Southern Indiana. Her greatest passions are theatre, writing, education, photography and sociology. Erin is a produced museum theatre writer, and published writer for USAA, LUSH Cosmetics, NUVO (Indianapolis) and The Caveman. Erin first worked as an educator with students in Kayamandi, South Africa as a drama coach and the experience continues to influence her daily life. Working with passionate young people is an inspiration that carries over both professionally and personally for Erin as an artist. She continues to take classes in education and performance, and considers herself a lifelong learner. Theatre Momentum has provided an opportunity to explore and learn with incredible artists as an ensemble member, and she's thrilled to be returning for her second year, as part of the 2011 season.
 

Theresa Ohanian
Theresa is a recent transplant from Boston and is very lost. An actor and improviser, she graduated from Emerson College in 2008, and was a cast member at ImprovBoston in the critically acclaimed Family Show. Since moving to Chicago in October, she has played Sunny Jacobs in The Exonerated, Grace Bradley in The Best Christmas Pagent Ever, and performed at this year's Chicago Sketch Fest. Thank you so much, Theatre Momentum, for letting me find what I have been looking for. Elephants.

 

Jon Sales

Jon is pleased to be a returning ensemble member on the heels of a great 2010 season! Jon is originally from Pennsylvania, where he was a founding member of the Philadelphia Improv Festival (now in its 7th year, submit and have a blast!) as well as performed various groups. Jon studied improv at the Magnet and People's Improv Theaters in NY. He works for a bank and that is all that needs to be said about that. Jon would like to thank his wife for her unending support. Thanks also to the awesome ensemble members present and past as, Henri for your direction and particularly Tony for your direction and dedication.

Ed Sanchez-Gomez
Ed Sánchez-Gómez is honored to be a part of the 2011 Theatre Momentum ensemble. Originally from Costa Rica, Ed moved to Chicago in 2008. Since then, he has graduated from the writing program at The Second City and the improv program at iO Theater. He performed in the much maligned “Throwing Heat” at the Athenaeum Theatre, took part in the performance of Joe Janes’ 365 Sketches, and performed with the mighty The Bird & The Bison at the 2010 Upright Citizens Brigade Del Close Marathon in New York. Presently, he is finishing the Conservatory program at The Second City. He is grateful for the opportunity to be playing with such an amazing group of people. Ed would like to thank Tiffany for her continuous support and love.
 

Harz Sondericker
Harz is excited to be part of such an amazing cast for the entire Theatre Momentum company. He is a graduate of both iO and the Second City conservatory. You can see more of him at iO playing on the Harold team Front Row, performing with the Shelter or sitting behind the Fox Valley Models booth at model train shows nation wide. His thanks goes out to Tony and the cast of Theatre Momentum and his friends ( and you know who you are) A special thanks to Jason Flowers for making him a better person.
 

Derek Van Barham
Derek is oh so excited to be a part of the Theatre Momentum ensemble. He is currently finishing his MFA in Acting at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He can be seen improvising around Chicago with The Baby Kings (iO), Blanket Jackson (The Playground), and the independent teams Glitterstache and Thora Birch. He has choreographed dance pieces for Brain Surgeon Theatre (Chicago) and Hinge Dance Company (MS). He received his BFA in Acting from the University of Mississippi and is a graduate of the iO Training Center. Air hugs, always.
 

Zach Zimmerman

Zach, a Virginia native, is excited to be a part of the 2011 Theater Momentum Ensemble. He graduated in 2010 from Princeton where he wrote for the Princeton Triangle Club and performed with Quipfire! improv comedy. He is currently training at iO and in the Second City Conservatory and performing with the improv and sketch group The Linebackers.

Directors

Tony Rielage

Artistic Director, Founder

Tony is the Artistic Director and Founder of Theatre Momentum, and has been performing, directing, and producing improv theatre for 18 years, notably with the Nothing Sacred Players, Trespassers Only, and International Stinger. He has trained at iO, the Playground, and Annoyance, and founded TM's precursor workshop, Workshop-in-Progress, and then TM.

Henri Dugas IV
Director, University

Assistant Director, Voyeur

Henri has been performing since 1995 and coaching since 2001. His focus is on acting THEN improv. He has studied at Second City and Annoyance, and runs Cult of the Stage Monkey Chicago.