MICK S. ADAMS is a freshman at HCC, and is thrilled to be a part of the YMC improv family! He was last seen on stage playing a toy piano as Schroeder in SAArts’ production of YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN.  Mick is in his second semester at HCC.  He graduated from Centennial High School, where he won the Maryland Distinguished Scholarship for the Arts and Best Lead Actor Award from Cappies. He has been in such shows as NOISES OFF (Gary), RUMORS (Lenny), and YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU (Tony). He is elated to be a part of YMC, and would like to thank Nicholson, Pacino, Maddy-Patty, Klima, Jenny, Sue G!, friends and family, and SAARTS for being home.

LAURA BLASI is a big DRAMA GEEK with a wall in her room dedicated to her theatre and dance performances.  Laura has treasured each and every YMC rehearsal thus far (with her identical twin sister, Ellen, who’s taken her place once or twice - shh, don't tell Jenny), and looks forward to giving every audience a phenomenal, outstanding, fantastic, show.  Laura thanks Ellen for always, always, always being there supporting, cheering, and loving, Joe and Tim for being the two greatest brothers they are, Dad for being her hero, and Mom for never giving up and never letting her do it either. I love you all - LETS GET COOKIN' YMC!!!

KRISTEN BURKE is oober mundo excited to be back with YMC and working with such an awesome and talented cast. She is a proud HCC alumnus and spent last semester as Jenny's TA in the Improv I class. Along with past YMC shows, you may have seen Kristen kickin' butt in last year's SAArts stage combat production, LOVE HURTS. Kristen would like to thank her amazing family, friends, and Kyle for all their love and support. And a special thanks to Jenny for believing in her, challenging her and inspiring her in this improv we call life.

LINDSAY HALL is delightfully excited about her third season with good ol' YMC! She is currently pursuing a degree is Nursing and is MORE THAN EXCITED to finish! As always, she is honored to be a part of such an amazing cast! WHAT A YEAR THIS WILL BE!!!

MELISSA IVESTER is thrilled to be a part of something so positive at HCC once again. With a great first experience on stage being Sally Brown in SAArts’ production of YOURE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN, she is confident that this coming season will be a great one for YMC. In the past, she spent the summer figure skating for the Baltimore based skating company, THE NEXT ICE AGE, at the Carousel hotel. She gives thanks to family and friends for their support!

GAVIN SHOWN, a double-major student with Theatre-Performance and Computer Support Technology is happy to be apart of Yo Mama's Cookin' for a third year in a row. Gavin is no stranger to SAArts, having been in various productions - his latest: YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. Gavin would like to thank his friends for their constant support, the cast of YMC for being so stupendous, his family for their never-ending love and putting up with his decision to act, and to his littlest fan Austin, Gavin's nephew, his Godson, and his greatest joy. Thank you all so much.

ludaCHRIS SISSON is thrilled to return to a second season of YMC. Chris was most recently seen playing Pig-Pen in SAArts’ production of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN and is also involved in SAArts’ OurSpace: A Dance Theatre Performance... You should come see it... it's like the internet but without buffering. Madd Props to Jenny, Sue, and their respective entourages. “Shout out to my boy Stinky Diver.  Everybody do the SQUADAMS!”

DANNY TOWNSEND is muy muy excited to be performing in his first season of YMC. You might have recently seen Danny as Snoopy in SAArts’ fall production of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN. He would like to thank his wacky family for their never-ending support and of course, Bonjuk, for showing Danny the way to live.

MARK WEBB is a student at HCC working towards his AA in Secondary Education and is hoping to transfer to the University of Maryland in the near future. This is his first season with YMC and has loved every moment of it. Mark has appeared in two SAArts productions: LETTERS TO S.A.N.T.A., in 2005 and LOVE HURTS, in 2006. Mark would like to thank his friends and family for their continued support and everyone involved in YMC for making it so memorable.

JENNY MALE (Director) is thrilled to be back with YMC for her fourth consecutive season!  Previous HCC directing credits include LOVE HURTS and A CHRISTMAS CAROL with Student-Alumni Arts, and PETER PAN and THE HOBBIT with Rep Stage Actors' Institute.  Jenny currently serves as Howard Community College’s Coordinator of the Dance Department and teaches Movement, Voice, Improvisation, and Musical Theatre Dance.  Jenny would like to thank her amazing YMC group for all the hard work, laughter, and great discoveries throughout the rehearsal process. 

MADISON BAHR (Stage Manager) is studying Theatre Performance at HCC.  She is very excited to be a member of the YMC family.  Previously, she has been seen on stage in Student-Alumni Arts productions as Peppermint Patty in YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN and as Mrs. Fezziwig in A CHRISTMAS CAROL.  Madison would like to thank Jenny, the remarkable Cast, and especially Sue for making this an amazing experience.

JEFFREY S. KLIMA (Light and Sound Board Operator/ Technician) is a simple man with a simple plan.  He enjoys the sunset, the company of friends, protest songs, the rain, inner strength, good people, hard work, seemingly worthless attempts to make life better for the rest of humanity, and hope.

■   YO' MAMA'S COOKIN' is SAArts' extremely successful (and hilariously fun) 8 year-old performance group directed by Jenny Male. 
     
■   YMC auditions new improv talent each year - auditions are open to all current and past HCC students and staff. 
 
■   YMC's Seasons usually include 5 shows each Spring.  Performances take place various Friday Nights in HCC theatres.
    
■   HCC offers YMC as a credit course for those who wish to partake; however, registering is not a requirement. 
 
■   HCC also offers IMPROV I (basic improv) during the fall and spring semesters.  No Audition necessary to register for IMPROV I.

More about YO' MAMA'S COOKIN':
YMC’s mission is to maintain an on-campus comedy/ improv group at HCC and is committed to high-quality on-campus performances for paying audiences.  To be an effective member of YMC one must maintain the following: Respect, Truth, Teamwork, Listening, Commitment and Trust and the directors will be looking for these elements in your audition.  During the audition and in class the following subject matters are off-limits:  Extreme sex references/ content, violence/ killing references, drug references, extreme bathroom humor, religion bashing, extreme political views, racially charged words, and extreme language.

Need more YMC Info?  studentarts@howardcc.edu 

Associate Artistic Director

Assistant Production Manager received Associates degrees in Music and Theatre from HCC in 2001 and continued to UMBC where she completed her undergraduate studies.  As an active SAArts participant since the turn of the millennium, Janelle has held multiple on and off-stage roles such as actor, Stage Manager, Props Designer, and Vocal Coach for more than a dozen SAArts productions.  Favorite SAArts roles include Catherine in PIPPIN, Brooke in NOISES OFF, and Stella in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE.  As an actor, Janelle enjoys working with other regional theatre companies, including Shadow Block Productions, Rockville Musical Theatre and September Song, but HCC is home.

WILLIAM YARBROUGH: