Happy Valley Improv Company

Meet the founders, the performers, and everyone else who makes Happy Valley Improv tick!

Andrea McCloskey

Founder

Andrea’s improv journey began with a Google Search: “Is there such a thing as comedy camp for adults?” That search turned up Camp Improv Utopia, which Andrea attended in the summer of 2016. She realized that improv was what she needed in her life, even though her life was already full of very fun things such as her career in Curriculum and Instruction at Penn State, her family, and her friends. She’s mostly interested in improv as a way to get her husband to do all of the chores. Yes, and!

Nathan Rufo

Founder

Nate began his improv journey at Theatre 99 in Charleston, SC. He saw a show at the Charleston Comedy Festival and became immediately hooked. Now, he wants to provide an avenue for others to get involved.

In his non-improv time, Nate is a speechwriter for Penn State's Global Programs, and enjoys Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars, and Philadelphia Eagles football.

Andrea Boito

Company Member

Andrea Boito is an aspiring improv performer.  You can catch her shows daily in statistics classes throughout the buildings of Penn State Altoona, where she enjoys several rounds of mandatory laughs each semester.  Some days, she can even bring students to tears.

Rich De Luca

Company Member

Born and raised in State College, Rich De Luca went to Lock Haven University to learn Computer Science. But not long after, he arrived at the college's theatre department. There he was bitten by a radioactive acting-bug, and mild mannered geek Rich De Luca developed incredible improv powers. He uses these powers to entertain and amuse onlookers and mildly annoy his wife. 

James Tierney

Founder

James has been studying improv theatre since 2006 and has been part of teams in Massachusetts, California, New York, and now Pennsylvania.  James trained with Spectacles Improv Engine, iO West, and ImprovUtopia. Off stage, James teaches economics at Penn State and enjoys spending time with his wife and dog.

Sam Tanner

Founder

Sam Tanner is an assistant professor of literacy education at Penn State Altoona, and graduate faculty in Curriculum and Instruction at Penn State's University Park campus. Improvisation deeply informs Sam's scholarly agenda, and he has been directing and teaching improvisation for nearly 15 years. Sam was a high school English and drama teacher in the Twin Cities before moving to State College. The high school improv troupes that Sam directed grew out of the tradition of Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis. Sam likes doing improv. He's also a creative writer. Buy and read his work here: https://www.samjtanner.com/ 

Dawn Rosenbaum

Company Member

Dawn was raised in State College PA and gets most of their improv experience through their Collegiate experience in New England and acting in Harrisburg, PA. When not on the stage, Dawn spends time enjoying food, cooking, and outdoor activities with their significant other Brant, and their two amazing dogs, Watson and Ham.