About Curious Comedy

About Hero

We're Curious People

Curious Comedy improves people’s lives through the art of comedy – with an emphasis on providing a platform for underserved voices, including those of the BIPOC, Women and Genderqueer, LQBTQIA+, differently-abled, and/or economically disadvantaged individuals of all ages.

Board

Nathan Loveless headshot

Nathan Loveless

Nathan has been a part of Curious Comedy since the early days. Nathan was an original cast member when Curious opened its doors and has consistently performed at Curious ever since. Nathan officially joined the Curious board in June 2011 and became the Board Chair in fall 2013. Nathan serves as Regional VP of Sales at Kryptiq and combines his marketing and business management skills with his perspective as a performer to bring incredible value to the Curious board.

Stacey Hallal (She/her) headshot

Stacey Hallal (She/her)

Artistic Director

Stacey founded Curious in 2008 – establishing the organization as well as acquiring and building out the space. She has served as Artistic Director ever since. She also served as Board Chair from 2008-2013. Stacey works closely with the Board, its committees, the Managing Director and the staff to develop and implement the theater’s five year strategic plan. Artistically, she is responsible for working with the theater’s teachers, performers, producers and tech team to develop the artistic voice of the theater’s classes, shows and outreach programs to ensure fulfillment of our mission and artistic satisfaction for performers, students and our audience.

Staff

Stacey Hallal (She/her) headshot

Stacey Hallal (She/her)

Artistic Director

Stacey founded Curious in 2008 – establishing the organization as well as acquiring and building out the space. She has served as Artistic Director ever since. She also served as Board Chair from 2008-2013. Stacey works closely with the Board, its committees, the Managing Director and the staff to develop and implement the theater’s five year strategic plan. Artistically, she is responsible for working with the theater’s teachers, performers, producers and tech team to develop the artistic voice of the theater’s classes, shows and outreach programs to ensure fulfillment of our mission and artistic satisfaction for performers, students and our audience.

Skelly Harrington (They/them) headshot

Skelly Harrington (They/them)

Director of Education and DEI

Skelly and Improv Comedy met in 2010 at a small intro class. Since then, Skel has performed short form and long form in states across the USA, improvising on formats based on everything from card games to Ken Burns documentaries. Their improv superpowers are all-out-enthusiasm, whimsical goofitude, and musical improv (which is their very favorite both to perform, teach, and produce.) They believe in improv as a craft that helps us bring out the best in ourselves, celebrate one another, and make the world a better place with new and better stories—together.

When not at Curious, Skel lives in a house at the end of a rainbow sidewalk, that they share with their two wives and a much-aggrieved black sphynx named ’Mo. They also illustrate the series “Little Dudes Have Feelings” which can be found online at skellyharrington.com, and are the author of the horror fantasy series “The Willful Instruments” at https://www.sooliebeetch.com/

Teaching at Curious

Stacey Hallal (She/her) headshot

Stacey Hallal (She/her)

Stacey founded Curious in 2008 – establishing the organization as well as acquiring and building out the space. She has served as Artistic Director ever since. She also served as Board Chair from 2008-2013. Stacey works closely with the Board, its committees, the Managing Director and the staff to develop and implement the theater’s five year strategic plan. Artistically, she is responsible for working with the theater’s teachers, performers, producers and tech team to develop the artistic voice of the theater’s classes, shows and outreach programs to ensure fulfillment of our mission and artistic satisfaction for performers, students and our audience.


Teaching: LEVEL 1 - LEVEL 6, Noir Genre Performance Class, FREE BIPOC IMPROV CLASS, Advanced Scenework, The Harold, and more.

Betse Green headshot

Betse Green

Betse Green has been a very active member of the Portland Improv scene since 2002. Currently, she is an ensemble member and teacher at Curious Comedy Theater and CSz (ComedySportz) Portland. She also performs regularly with the acclaimed indy teams B&B, B.A.B.E., Broad Selection and Unbreakable Chain. Her talents have been showcased performing and teaching at Improv Festivals and Theaters across the Globe. Her studies have included ComedySportz, IO Chicago and under Master Class instructors including Jill Bernard, Susan Messing, Joe Bill, Dave Razowsky and Tracy Burns. As a Certified Applied Improvisation Architect/Teacher she has created and facilitated applied improv curriculum in classrooms and corporate business.


Teaching: LEVEL 3 - LEVEL 5, The Harold, Yes And Family, To The Beat of a Different Drum: Rhythm Bonanza, and more.

Skelly Harrington (They/Them) headshot

Skelly Harrington (They/Them)

Skelly and Improv Comedy met in 2010 at a small intro class. Since then, Skel has performed short form and long form in states across the USA, improvising on formats based on everything from card games to Ken Burns documentaries. Their improv superpowers are all-out-enthusiasm, whimsical goofitude, and musical improv (which is their very favorite both to perform, teach, and produce.) They believe in improv as a craft that helps us bring out the best in ourselves, celebrate one another, and make the world a better place with new and better stories—together.


Teaching: LEVEL 1 - LEVEL 6, Team v. Team Performance Class, Advanced Short-Form, Intro to Musical Improv, and more.

Nick Medina headshot

Nick Medina

Nick Medina is an actor, director, and educator with a decade of experience working at the intersection of theater and education. Originally an actor from the SF Bay Area, Nick started his improv journey at this very training center. He is a regular performer on the Curious Comedy stage, specializing in intense characters and witty Game-driven scenes. His classes are fast paced and energetic, drawing on clowning, classical theater training, and 20th century acting technique. Nick aims to create emotionally intelligent, confident, stage-ready performers.


Teaching: LEVEL 1 - LEVEL 6, Shakespeare Genre Performance, The Movie Genre Performance, and more.

Alex Disney headshot

Alex Disney

Alex Disney has been performing short & long form improvisational comedy for over 10 years. She started performing at Curious Comedy Theater in 2017 and has been a member of Mainstage team Rogue and the Curious Showdown ensemble. She performs regularly with indie team Press Conference and her drag king boyband group XXXY (triple XY). When she's not onstage, she is hanging out with her dog Monty and watching reality TV shows on Netflix.


Teaching: LEVEL 1

Ndem Nkem headshot

Ndem Nkem

Ndem Nkem is an actor/comedian based out in Portland, Oregon. He started improv in 2020 and has taken classes with kickstand comedy and curious comedy. He performs stand-up, improv, and clowning and loves teaching folks the beauty of improv comedy. He believes improv comedy can improve our lives and would love to show you how.


Teaching: LEVEL 2 - LEVEL 4, BIPOC Drop-In Workshop and Improv Class

Dave Moore (He/him) headshot

Dave Moore (He/him)

Dave took his first improv class in 2017 because he wanted to do something fun and scary. He quickly realized that improv provided so much more, and has dedicated himself to learning, playing and teaching every chance he gets. He started playing at Curious Comedy in 2022 and has been a member of the Gauntlet ensemble. He will willingly hop into any improv group if invited, but can usually be seen playing with the indie team, Julius Polonius, and the silent group, Score!. Dave 100% believes that improv can fix humanity, and is excited to help others discover, and find their voice in this art-form.


Teaching: LEVEL 1

Nate Smith headshot

Nate Smith

Nate Smith began his improv career in 2000 with ComedySportz STL. In 2008 he was part of the original ensemble that helped open Curious Comedy Theater and has been teaching for Curious for over 10 years.


Teaching: LEVEL 1

Audrey Butler headshot

Audrey Butler

Audrey Butler fell in love with improv comedy in 2007 when she joined her college improv troupe Ubiquitous They. Though to be perfectly honest, as the youngest in her family, Audrey has been using comedy as a coping mechanism for years! Joining Curious Comedy in 2015, she quickly became a regular main stage Showdown performer and has been a member of various house/main stage & indie teams across PDX. With a background in creative facilitation and education, she believes deeply in creating a safe & fun space for her students to take risks, hone their comedic voice, and build a creative community.



Teaching: LEVEL 1 - LEVEL 4 and more.

Jamie Carbone headshot

Jamie Carbone

Jamie Carbone is a comedian whose lifetime of awkward experiences and faking adulthood have helped them find a voice for themselves, originally in West Virginia, then Chicago, now Portland. They have been a featured performer for festivals such as Austin’s Altercation Comedy Fest and Phoenix’s Bird City, are a regular performer at Portland’s Helium Comedy Club, and was named one of the Portland Mercury’s Undisputable Geniuses of Comedy. They also co-produce Hear You Loud & Queer, a PNW showcase that focusing on highlighting LGBTQIA+ voices. When they’re not struggling with their anxiety in front of strangers, they spend their free time making fake Seinfeld scripts on Instagram and Twitter @AJamieCarbone



Teaching: INTRO TO STAND UP COMEDY

Scriven Bernard (He/They) headshot

Scriven Bernard (He/They)

Since stepping into his first improv class in 2014, Scriven has fully immersed himself in the world of improvisation. He's not only performed in improv, sketch, and storytelling formats, but has also taught both long-form and short-form improv classes. Scriven hosted a recurring LGBTQ2IA+ charity show in drag for several years, among other eclectic endeavors. By day, he applies improv principles within the corporate social responsibility sphere, fostering team building and leadership skills.

On stage, Scriven is known for his commitment to bold characters and finding ways to make audacious choices work. Offstage, he's drawn to witchy tunes, the allure of dark fantasy, and the simple pleasure of a great bowl of ramen. Above all, Scriven champions improv as a powerful tool for connecting with one's authentic self.


Teaching: LEVEL 1

FAQ

Your calendar says there are two shows happening at the same time. How can that be?

We have two venues in the same building. We have the Curious Main Stage which is a cabaret style venue (with tables and chairs), a full bar and food options. We also have the Annex Theater which is an intimate white box theater with beer, wine, and snacks available.

Are your venues all ages?

Yes! Both of our venues are all ages! However, not all of our shows are family friendly. We estimate that most of our shows are similar to a film rating of PG-13. We use some adult language and adult themes, but no nudity, graphic violence, etc. So, it's up to you!

Do you have parking?

There is ample parking at and around the theater. We have a parking lot in back of the building that you can access from either Emerson or Sumner street. There is also a lot of street parking on MLK and the side streets around us.

Do you have food and drink?

The Main Stage venue has a full bar and food.

The Annex has beer, wine, cider, and snacks.

What is your COVID policy? Are masks required or looked down upon?

We follow the CDC recommendations for our theater. Currently, we are not requiring either masks or vaccinations. However, we encourage both! There are many people who still choose to wear masks for a variety of reasons. We would never discourage or make anyone feel bad for doing so!

Can you accommodate groups?

Yes! We can! If you would like us to reserve a table for you, please email info@curiouscomedy.org to make arrangements.

Policies & Procedures

Mission

Curious Comedy improves people’s lives through the art of comedy – with an emphasis on providing a platform for underserved voices, including those of the BIPOC, Women and Genderqueer, LQBTQIA+, differently-abled, and/or economically disadvantaged individuals of all ages.

Vision

We accomplish our mission through:

Quality Comedy Programming

We strive for the best, most consistently excellent programs possible.

Fostering Community

We build strong, supportive, healthy relationships within the theater, in the comedy community, as well as in the greater Portland community and beyond.

Unique and Courageous Approach

We take risks and push boundaries in all aspects of our artistic programs as well as in the growth and development of our organization.

Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion

We examine and evaluate ourselves – our policies, programming, curriculum, and practices – on a regular basis to ensure we are constantly improving our DEI efforts, eliminating blind spots, and making a safe and welcoming environment for all.

Anti-Racist Ethos

Curious Comedy Theater acknowledges the pervasive and inherent racism that underlies every intersection of discrimination and harassment. We understand that our policies must be assessed through an anti-racist lens and ethos.

Our working ethos is as follows: We aim to center our community’s most vulnerable by prioritizing BIPOC voices and experiences. We strive to create social, performance, and teaching spaces that are intentionally structured to support BIPOC and marginalized people.

Acknowledgement of Indigenous Peoples

We acknowledge that Curious Comedy occupies the unceded lands of the Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tumwater, Tualatin Kalapuya, Wasco, Molalla, Cowlitz, Watlala bands of the Chinook people, and many other tribes. This place would not exist without the ongoing genius, care, and resilience of these diverse communities.

We acknowledge the historically embedded and ongoing colonial project we live in. We recognize that we are here because of the oppression, genocide, and assimilation enforced upon this place’s ancestors and their descendants. We strive to put our theater’s settler community into right relationship with indigenous people of the past, present, and future. We respect the deep knowledge, courage, and strength of these people, and their stewardship of this region since time immemorial.

Support local indigenous organizers! Wisdom of the Elders is a nonprofit that records and preserves traditional values, history and prophecy of indigenous elders from the Pacific Northwest community. You can find their website HERE, and you can donate HERE.

Acknowledgement of Black Neighbors

We acknowledge that our theater is nestled in Portland’s Albina neighborhood, a historically Black area. This neighborhood was built on generations of Black brilliance, work, creativity, and care. We are forever indebted to our Black neighbors for their cultural and structural inventions, without which we wouldn’t have this vibrant city to live in.

We acknowledge that the Black people of this place have endured decades of gentrification and displacement at the hands of white people. We recognize that our theater sits in Vanport Plaza, a reference to the segregated city that housed Black residents in the 1940s. The wealth of knowledge and innovation that came out of Vanport’s Black community has made Portland the place it is today. Curious is committed to an active and ongoing alliance with our Black neighbors.

Support local Black activists! Spirited Justice is a Portland nonprofit led by a powerful Black mother. They organize and facilitate mindfulness trainings for Black liberation. You can check out their Instagram HERE.

Policies and Resources
Class Waivers
Company Handbooks