For two decades, I’ve worked as a comedy producer, writer, mentor, and fierce advocate for Diversity and Inclusion at the infamous and legendary Second City comedy theatre. My former work title is a bit complex – Director of Diversity Talent and Inclusion Development. The key word is inclusion. I open doors, increase access and improve talent representation by producing 20+ sketch comedy revues, and festivals and recruiting talent from all over the fifty United States. My secret sauce? I teach, mentor, and build creative tribes, and thrive for community and transformation.
My inclusion work has been instituted at Second City comedy theatre in three locations – Chicago, Hollywood, and Toronto and was first inspired by a singular question and need: ” How can I improve the racial divide in comedy and change the perception that I work at a “whites only” institution?” As creator of Second City’s Bob Curry Fellowship, (now in it’s 12th year!), this training program represents some of my best core work to open doors to diverse underrepresented comics and performers and bridge the divide in how to break into the industry and get your talent seen. Empowering talent, professionals, and artists to remember their greatest truth, art and duty to be visible in spaces where there story and truth matters has been a part of my life’s work.
Improv Abroad
As a Second City Detroit alumna with 20+ years of experience as a performer, (yes, I’ve told “improv jokes” on stage) I’ve taught 200+ workshops at colleges, women’s shelters, corporate boardrooms and worked with the United States Embassy in Norway and Latvia (Yes, I’ve walked some massive hills in Northern Europe to teach Norwegians and Latvians about improv and community building) introducing improv as a tool for social change.
I bring a keen and seasoned eye to my teaching and consulting work from my years of casting for the stages and producing shows for a variety of audience. I firmly believe our best work is performed on the life stage!
Talent/Show Bragging
In my 20+year history at The Second City, I’ve produced and mentored hundreds of talented artists including Chris Redd (SNL), Lamorne Morris (New Girl), Danny Pudi (30 Rock), Robin Thede (A Black Lady Sketch Show, BET), and Christina Anthony (ABC Mixedish) very early in their careers before launching successful TV careers. Producer credits include WORDSFEST/DMGFreedom, Urban Twist, Second City’s Black History Month Show, WORDS, Deep Cuts, R.E.A.C.H, and The Break Out Comedy Festival in partnership with NBC.
My inclusion work has appeared in Diversity Journal publication, on NPR, ABC, NBC, and in American Theatre magazine (2019) along with numerous academic posts including a 2015 TEDx Talk at the University of Chicago. My first published work in 2014 can be found in Rowan/Littlefield’s anthology “Women, Writing and Prison”.
Social Justice Work
My social justice work includes teaching workshops to formerly incarcerated individuals at Illinois Prison Project, women survivors/thrivers who have been involved in human sex/drug trafficking in partnership with Salt and Light Organization, and storytelling for community healing in partnership with Chicago Public Library, Obama Foundation and Stories Matter Foundation.
Teaching Faculty Affiliations
I’m currently an adjunct professor at University Illinois Chicago, DePaul University and teaching faculty at Story Studio, Revival Theatre and my alumnus home The Second City in Chicago. I’ve worked with Yale university professors to teach improvisation to macro-biologists to build new ways of engagement and team collaboration in the lab!
@dionnagirons