Staff and Presenters
For ComCon 2019 we are SUPER excited to announce all of presenters and performers will be hilarious women or non-binary lovely humans! We're excited to dive into funny from different perspectives!
Allison Broeren is the director of ComCon, founder of Strike Theater, Story Slam Master of Poetry & Story SlamMN!. She's been on the Moth mainstage and lead a storytelling trip through Greece for MPR with Kevin Kling.
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Mike Fotis is a founder of Strike Theater, the former Director of the Brave New Workshop Student Union, and a story and sketch Fringe Festival All-Star. He has taught improv and sketch classes to hundreds of students .
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Shanan Custer
Shanan Custer is a veteran of the Brave New Workshop (where she performed from the reign of Jesse Ventura to the Bush and Kerry election). A writer, actor, teaching artist, director as well as an improviser, Shanan’s original work includes: 2 Sugars, Room for Cream (with Carolyn Pool), which won an Ivey Award for Best Ensemble in 2013, Mick Sterling Presents: At Christmas (with Jim Robinson) and From Here to Maternity (with Joshua English Scrimshaw). Shanan has performed with Park Square Theatre, History Theatre, Frank Theater, Theatre Pro Rata, Comedy Suitcase, Mu Performing Arts and The Mystery Café as well as directed productions at Theatre in the Round (Love, Loss and What I Wore; The Underpants) and Artistry of Bloomington Center for the Arts (God of Carnage). Shanan is also an improviser with the Theater of Public Policy (www.T2P2.net) and performs in Eric Webster’s original radio drama Shades Brigade. (www.shadesbrigade.com) 
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Heather Meyer
Heather Meyer is a playwright, humor writer and improvisor. Her work has been seen on Reductress.com, The Belladonna Comedy, The Cooper Review, Emphasis, The Brave New Workshop and stages across the country. She is also a writer for the animated children' show, Uma and Devan: Namaste. Frequent themes in her work are unsuspecting historical subjects, the modern west, corporate environments, women’s issues, wordplay and her formative years in her home state of North Dakota which was before oil was discovered there, so it wasn't famous for anything other than Louis L'Amour and 1995 number one MLB draft pick Darin Erstad (I went to high school with his lower draft pick brother). Heather has been artist-in-residence at the Akumal Artist Residency in Akumal, Mexico, National Winter Playwrights Retreat in Creede, CO and Proof Public in Minneapolis, MN. She is the creator of the annual sketch comedy game show, Women's History Month: The Historical Comedybration (with fabulous prizes). She made the short film Zombie Sweater out of spite. |
Laura Packer
Laura Packer knows that the best way to the truth is through a good story. With a degree in folklore and mythology, she has told, taught, ranted, raved, consulted and considered storytelling around the world. When she isn’t telling, she runs venues, coaches, writes, and helps people and organizations find their stories, hone their vision and use their voices to make the world a better place. She is the winner of the 2010 National Storytelling Network Oracle Award, the 2012 League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling Brother Blue Award, 2016 Best in Fringe Kansas City, the 2017 Best New Producer Indy Fringe, as well as semi-finalist in three Boston Story Slam series and the Best Slammers in the Nation.
Laura is also the sole proprietor of thinkstory llc, one of the foremost organizational storytelling groups in the United States. She has helped for- and non-profit organizations around the world identify, hone, capitalize upon and celebrate their stories. Previous clients include NASA, iRobot Corporation, Quest Diagnostics, Dreamfar, Unbound, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and others.
Laura Packer knows that the best way to the truth is through a good story. With a degree in folklore and mythology, she has told, taught, ranted, raved, consulted and considered storytelling around the world. When she isn’t telling, she runs venues, coaches, writes, and helps people and organizations find their stories, hone their vision and use their voices to make the world a better place. She is the winner of the 2010 National Storytelling Network Oracle Award, the 2012 League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling Brother Blue Award, 2016 Best in Fringe Kansas City, the 2017 Best New Producer Indy Fringe, as well as semi-finalist in three Boston Story Slam series and the Best Slammers in the Nation.
Laura is also the sole proprietor of thinkstory llc, one of the foremost organizational storytelling groups in the United States. She has helped for- and non-profit organizations around the world identify, hone, capitalize upon and celebrate their stories. Previous clients include NASA, iRobot Corporation, Quest Diagnostics, Dreamfar, Unbound, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and others.
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Ollie Schminkey is a non-binary transgender poet/activist/musician/artist. They facilitate, direct, and coach many organizations, including Well-Placed Commas (a weekly poetry workshop with Word Sprout, Inc.). They have also represented the Twin Cities in numerous national poetry competitions, and they are the author of two chapbooks. They create functional ceramics under the name Sick Kitty Ceramics.
You can find more of their work on UpWorthy or Button Poetry. |
Sam Baker Harris is an actress, improviser, writer, performance educator, and academic advisor. She can often be seen at HUGE theater and being hilarious in the Fringe Festival!
Shea Roberts is an arts educator, improviser, storytelling, and jack of all theater trades! She is excited to bring hospitality and fun to ComCon!