Be Kind To Strangers Alumni
Over the years Be Kind To Strangers has had the pleasure of working with many skilled actors, writers, and stalkers. Here is an ever growing list of who has worked with us.
The Original Troupe
The following six people were present from the earliest days of Be Kind To Strangers and helped established the ideals we continue to this day.
Dustin Tannahill
Dustin co-founded Be Kind to Strangers with Aaron Garrett in his living room at Holly Hall. Dustin was present for the majority of the shows and decided to leave the group when half of the members graduated college in 2015. He currently works as a lighting designer in Houston
Dennis Budde
Dennis Budde is the sometimes perplexing mind behind the original versions of Real Coffee and Icebreaker. Along with writing partner Andrew Stout he wrote some of the most ludicrous sketches in BKTS like Fear of the Dentist. After a short departure in 2015 Dennis returned to BKTS to help co-write many of the BKTS and Blue Shift shows of 2016 and 2017. He currently lives in Austin and works for the scriptwriting software WriterDuet.
Andrew Stout
Like his writing partner Dennis Andrew tended towards high-concept, high energy sketches and wrote such hits as Grocery Noir, Feudal Media, and Freezing to Death. His last production with Be Kind To Strangers was the highly lauded Life of Bertie. He is currently studying for his master’s degree at Tufts University.
Allison Parker
Allison was always available to insert the just the right kind of creepiness into a sketch and to remind us of our own mortality. Although she only wrote two full sketches during her tenure: Itty Bitty Titty Comitty and Bayeroine, she was a constant presence in the cast onstage and a script she began later made it to stage in a revised version (Johnson and Johnson.) After her graduation in 2015 she moved to Dallas to study the elderly and was never heard from again.
Liz Castillo
Although not a writer Liz was invaluable in the editing process of most scripts and an incomparable performer onstage. The only member of the troupe besides Aaron to remain without interruption past 2015 she moved away in the summer of 2017, after originating the roles of Jacquelyn (Bertie) and Gail (Face the Muzak) when the team switched to more ambitious productions.
She maintains contested writing credit on “Holding for Laughs”
Meghan Hammonds
The only member of the group to never write a sketch proper Meghan was nevertheless an amazing cast member who always lifted spirits in rehearsals and brought life to every part she played. She was the first cast member to leave, having not appeared in a show since March 2014.
Not Original Cast But Pretty Damn Important
The following three people were not in the original cast of Be Kind To Strangers but were enormously important in its development and some continue working with the group to this day.
Katy Manning
Katy Manning was a full member of the cast from October 2013-December 2014 before stepping back to focus on other projects. During her time she was as instrumental as anyone else in setting the tone and fervor of the group, and could play a straight woman like nobody else.
Ben Seidensticker
Ben Seidensticker was actually a member of the original writing team of Be Kind Strangers during the podcast year, but left the group before our first live performance. BKTS continued to perform his work over the years, and in 2018 BKTS collaborated with his Madison sketch group, Lucid Dreaming, to create the show United by Cows.
Ruth Hirsch
We never could pin Ruth down to join the group permanently, but not for lack of trying! Although her schedule kept her from joining fully, Ruth was a wonderful addition to any cast she could take part in. She continues to act and perform improv in Houston.
BKTS Alumni
The following people have appeared in, written for, or helped out with a Be Kind To Strangers show.
Kacie Adams, Jeffrey Anderson, Roger Anderson, Justin Bernard, Rebecca Bernstein, Dustin Blanton, Buddy Brown, Audrey Burkhart, Autumn Clack, Chism Cornelison, Mikey Devine, Susannah Eig, Alex Garrett, Ned Gayle, Daniel Golod, Ben Griesinger, Yasna Haghsdoost, David Hallman, Ben Hudson, Brian Jones, Kelly Juneau, Sarah Keller, Jessica Kelly Garrett, John Kenward, Rachel Landsman, Monica Marcha, Meg McDonald, Amechi Ngwe, Ruth McCleskey, Ronnie McLaren, Nicole Nodarse, Sheri Oster, Daniel Potter, Cassie Randall, Melissa (McFeeters) Rodriguez, Steven Saltsman, Gino Sandoval, Sriparna Sen, Riley Smith, Abraham Younges, Antoine W.B., Blaire Wesson, Sarah Willett, and Kaitlyn Zoeller
Special Thanks to the Madison, WI cast of United by Cows: Sean Cairns, Nina Davis, Desmond Hawkins, Stacey Garbarksi, Annie Jay, Joe Malloy, Ben Seidensticker, Turner Smith, and Mary Wallin!