cast of characters
TRUDY IS
TRUDY CARMICHAEL (Portrayed by Robin Rothman) made her first NYC stage appearance in the Las Vegas-inspired musical improv revue, The Royal Flushes at The Upright Citizens Brigade in 2005.
Trudy continued to perform in both improv comedy and cabaret venues around NYC before landing a permanent gig at the Magnet Theater as the host of the Musical Magnet Mixer in 2009 for The First Annual New York Musical Improv Festival. In addition to hosting the Musical Mixer, she has served as Mistress of Ceremonies for a variety of private and charitable events including Covenant House International, Upper West Side Campaign Against Hunger and The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Marching Band.
Ms. Carmichael can be seen frequenting any number of NYC Cabaret venues such as The Duplex Cabaret Theater, Sid Gold's Request Room, Don't Tell Mama's, The Slipper Room and Birdland. She proudly garnered the titles of First Runner-Up in The New York Soul Sensation Competition at New World Stages and First Place winner of The Cabaret Showdown and The Cabaret Showdown All-Stars at the Kraine Theater.
Trudy Carmichael Presents The Improvised One-Woman Show has received critical acclaim at dozens of comedy and Cabaret venues including The Duplex, Sid Gold's, The Kraine in NYC, and Majestic Repertory Theater in Las Vegas and is an official selection of SOLOCOM, (People's Improv Theater, NYC,) Providence Improv Festival, Third Coast Improv Festival (Nashville, TN), Alaska Improv Festival, Impro Amsterdam, Downtown Las Vegas Improv Festival, LIT Fest (DC), We The People Improv Festival (Philadelphia) The 20th Annual Del Close Marathon (UCB NY), The New York International Fringe Festival, Baltimore Improv Festival, Steel City Improv Festival (Pittsburgh), Impro En Seine (Paris), Out of Bounds Comedy Festival (Austin, TX), Chicago Musical Improv Festival (iO Chicago), The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2020 (deferred), The (Virtual) New York Musical Improv Festival, Women In Comedy Festival (Boston), Minnesota Fringe Virtual Festival, FringeLiveStrem Series, Edinburgh Horror Festival, Virtual Rogue Festival (Fresno), Pittsburgh (Virtual) Fringe, and (Virtual) Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
SEAN TAYLOR (Shane Taymor) is a multi-hyphenate writer, storyteller, actor, producer, host, and Co-owner of the Magnet Theater, NYC. Sean has studied at all major New York City improv theaters under the guidance of improv luminaries Armando Diaz, Ed Herbstman, David Razowsky, Amy Pohler, Ian Roberts, Matt Besser, Tara Copeland, Jason Mantzoukas, and Adam Wade to name nine. Sean proudly performed weekly on the veteran house improv team, Junior Varsity for a record-breaking 12 years until its retirement in 2017. Now, he is fully devoted to the order and operations of the Magnet Theater where he came aboard as co-owner alongside his mentor, Armando Diaz in 2019. When he's not at the Magnet, Sean can be found playing softball player with one of his five recreational leagues around Brooklyn and Manhattan. Another FUN FACT about Sean, is that he has observed National Pizza Month every October by eating at least one slice of pizza every day with at least one other guest. You can read more about his exploits over the past 21 years on his blog 31daysofpizza.com.
the t.c. orchestra
FRANK SPITZNAGEL (Frankey Keys) Frank is a highly skilled musical director and piano accompanist based in New York City. He is best known for his work with numerous musical improv groups, such as Premiere, The Musical Magnet Mixer, Baby Wants Candy, and all eight musical improv House Teams at Magnet Theater.
Frank's music has also been featured on several studio recordings, as well as on shows like Comedy Central and the Aspen Comedy Festival. With his extensive experience and talent, Frank has accompanied legendary musicians such as Itzhak Perlman in an original jazz composition by Benny Golson at Lincoln Center. He has also served as a musical director for various productions including Nunsense, A Chorus Line, Chicago City Limits, and several original musicals. Frank holds a degree in piano performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music and is proud to be part of the Magnet Theater community in NYC.
STEVEY SKINS (Portrayed by Steve Whyte) is a drummer, Moth GrandSlam champion and three-time StorySlam winner as well as a member of the musical improv house team, Goats at the Magnet Theater. In addition to performing with past ensembles, BEEES! College, DAVID! and The Stragglers, he has also performed improvised percussion for Choral Rage, The Made Up Musical and Baby Wants Candy.
DAN THE BRASS MAN (Portrayed by Dan Reitz) is the musical director of the musical improv shows Baby Wants Candy, Your Love Our Musical, Vern, and Blank! the Musical. His credits include Off Book, North Coast, Premiere: The Improvised Musical and Musical Megawatt. He has taught musical improv comedy around the world including at Princeton University, The New York Film Academy, Sarah Lawrence College and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.