Sketchworks | Industrial Strength Comedy

John D. Babcock, III
Writing Coach

John's comedy career began when he was a kid. He and his friends would write and perform sketches for neighbors in his backyard. John joined Sketchworks Comedy in January 2017 as a cast member of LAUGHTER REHAB.

In addition to writing and performing for Sketchworks, John writes murder mystery plays for Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem at Petite Violette and the Mystery Café of Indianapolis. He also contributed on-air scripts to Turner Classic Movies - having written for the late Robert Osborne, and Ben Mankiewicz. His play INDEPENDENT, about filmmaker John Cassavetes, received its world premiere at Essential Theatre's 2017 Summer Festival.

John is a loving and dedicated husband and father who drives a sensible car and has no pets.

Sanna Erica
Head Acting Coach

Sanna has always had a special place in her heart for Sketch Comedy. Growing up watching Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, All That, The Amanda Show, The Muppet Show, and even Sesame Street made her a big fan of sketches early on.

Sanna has been performing and creating comedy for years, and enjoys performing sketch consistently with Sketchworks. Sanna started acting when she was 14 years old. She has been coaching acting since 2011, soon after she made the move to Atlanta, GA. Sanna loves teaching actors of all ages, and considers it a huge privilege to be able to teach every week! Along with Sketchworks, Sanna teaches acting for the camera at The Actor’s Scene in the greater Atlanta area. She holds her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Azusa Pacific University, studying Theatre/Acting, Film, Screenwriting, and Animation. Sanna also holds her Master of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from Brenau University.

Sanna’s previous credits include Alloy Entertainment, Coca-Cola, Tyler Perry Studios, Hulu, Netflix, and Warner Brothers. Sanna is a member of SAG-AFTRA in good standing and is represented by Houghton Talent.

Be sure to check out Sanna’s website at www.sannaerica.com and follow her shenanigans on Instagram (@SunnaErica)!

John Buisman
Youth and Adult Acting Coach

John has been doing sketch comedy since he was very young. He would invite friends over and pester them into creating a mini sketch show with him on the spot.

John pursued Theatre at the University of Georgia, where he acted in plays ranging from Thornton Wilder's Skin of Our Teeth to Sophie Treadwell's Machinal. In addition to his work with Sketchworks, John has participated at the Atlanta Fringe Festival as both actor and director.

Since graduating, John has lead summer camps for Sketchworks Education.

Kirsten Krehbiel
Youth and Adult Acting Coach

Kirsten Krehbiel was born and raised in small town Kansas. After graduating with a Performing Arts degree, she bounced around before settling down in Atlanta.

Kirsten did her master class with Sketchworks in 2016 and has done several shows with them since including: “From Russia with Sketch”, “Love, Family, Mars”, and “Vape”. Kirsten worked as the assistant teacher in this year's Sketchworks kids camps.

When she is not on stage, you can find her piddling around her house with her cat Dobby.

Sasha Keefer
Youth Acting Coach

Sasha fell in love with acting when she first appeared in the musical "Oliver" in 7th grade. She performed in many performance in high school and decided to enroll in the theatre program in UGA. After graduation, Sasha decided to also pursue her love of children and she received a K-5 certification to become an elementary school teacher. Sasha taught in Dekalb and Gwinnett County schools for 7 years where she won "Walmart Teacher of the Year Award."

Sasha also enjoyed her passion for theatre part time while she was teaching. Sasha's favorite roles include, Cleopatra in "Antony and Cleopatra," Sally Bowles in "Cabaret," Corie in "Barefoot in the Park," Eleanor in "Lion in Winter," Gwendolyn in "The Importance of Being Ernest," and Sunny in "Last Night of Ballyhoo." Sasha has also had various roles in independent films which have been seen in several film festivals.

Sasha performs with Sketchworks Comedy which she enjoys tremendously because loves making people laugh. She is so excited to join the Sketchworks educational team where she can combine her love for theatre and children!

Tom von Dohlen
Editing and Acting Coach

Tom originally hails from the hills of West Virginia, is a graduate of the University of Georgia, and is a current MFA candidate at SCAD. He's a face in the comedy community of Atlanta and is thrilled to be involved in another Sketchworks show! Recently he's competed with his improv team "Vibe Check" in the ATL Winter Improv League where they were finalists. He also plays Henry in "The Campaign", a D&D web series. Hope you enjoy the chuckles!

Cathy Poley
Improv and Acting Coach

Cathy Poley, an award-winning writer/producer and comedian, has written/produced Emmy-winning videos and was once voted Funniest Person in Atlanta. She has been seen in TV series such as Eastbound and Down and Ozark and is proud to be a performer/writer/director with Sketchworks. Cathy has a keen sense of humor, a dazzling personality, and a VHS tape of the Princess Bride that belongs to her former roommate Brandi. If you see Brandi, tell her to come get her stuff!

Matt Metzger
Improv and Acting Coach

Matt Metzger's love for acting and improv began when he was a teen living in a small farm town in Ohio. Seeing his big sister perform with her college improv troupe inspired him to start a high school improv and drama club that he ran for three years.

At 17, he auditioned and received a grant to the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts for a summer program. Later that year, he auditioned, was accepted and given a full ride scholarship to the New York Film Academy for acting and improv.

While attending college, he performed regular improv shows around the NYC circuit and found himself interning for The Wooster Group as well as part time at UCB.

Matt has been teaching improv as well as the acting techniques Meisner, LaCoque, Stanislavski and Hagen off and on for 7 years now. Working with people in an open and creative environment for the goal of fun and art is a joy.

In the wonderful city of Atlanta, Matt continued to persue his dreams and passions performing improv all around the circuit, working in tv and film and as a regular sketch actor in Sketchworks Comedy. His previous credits include Halt & Catchfire, Manhunt: Unabomber, the Atlanta Winter Improv Olympics and more.

Currently, at several Cons or Renaissance Festival you can see his nerdtastic, thematic improv show 'Funyuns & Flagons'. You may also find him in his created web series 'The Campaign', which has released 2 Episodes and still in development going further.

Michael Stille
Acting Coach

Michael Stille has been a Sketchworks main stage cast member since 2018. Michael has performed in numerous Sketchworks shows including Moby Sketch, License to Sketch, and A Very Merry Sketchmas. In 2019, Michael made his Sketchworks directorial and writing debut with “The Sketchfast Club”, an ‘80s themed sketch show.

Michael Stille began acting and performing comedy in high school, when he was still but a wee lad. Michael graduated from the University of Georgia with his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. Michael has performed in theatre and film all over the Southeast and even across the pond at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In addition to performing and coaching with Sketchworks, Michael is also a main stage performer with Tipsy Tales in Atlanta. Be sure to catch Michael in “Tipsy Tales: Robin Hood” at The Village Theatre… eventually. You know, when the world reopens. *insert pandemic joke here.

Katie Wickline
Youth Acting Coach

Katie Wickline is an actor, educator, and Sort of Adult from Atlanta, GA. She grew up watching I Love Lucy and Saturday Night Live, so naturally being the center of attention became her one life goal. She has a degree in Theatre from Florida State University, where she got to study stage combat and physical theatre in London. In Atlanta, she’s known for her work at 7 Stages Theatre, playing Garth in Save the Video Store, and touring with the National Theatre for Children (just a tad OTP).

Some of her Atlanta training includes Dad’s Garage, Company Acting Studio, Vernal and Sere Theatre, and Havoc Movement. Passionate about creating safe, brave spaces, she’s an Artistic Mental Health Practioner and has trained with the Association of Mental Health Coordinators and Theatrical Intimacy Education.

She joined Sketchworks primarily to make new friends and happened to become a mainstage performer along the way! Now she’s writing sketches and coaching the comedians of tomorrow (or next Thursday? Forgot to update the Google Calendar). She’s super stoked to be a Cog and cause some chaos!

Matt Houchin
Youth Film & Acting Coach

Matt Houchin's comedy career began in a 4th grade talent show where he and his friend Dominic performed "Ice Ice Baby" as the SNL characters Hans and Franz. He has spent the past three decades vainly attempting to top that.

As a professional actor, veteran improvisor, and pretty chill video producer, Matt has worked with Funny Or Die, College Humor, ComedySportz, and now that he escaped to Atlanta... Sketchworks!

Besides his recent gig as a print model for some new lightweight and affordable vacuum cleaners, Matt is best known for his web series "The Bloomington Bros." which includes the definitive cover of Nickelback's "Photograph."

What he enjoys the most however is the work he does as an instructor for both improv and digital media, where he has coached everyone from junior high students to corporate executives.

He'd love for you to visit his website matthouchin.com so he can continue to justify the yearly Wix fee.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Prior to 48 hours before your registered class start date, you may cancel your registration and receive a 50% refund. Cancellations within those 48 hours will result in forfeiture of payment. Please email classes@sketchworkscomedy.com to cancel/inquire about a refund.

No refunds for shows. If you have an emergency, please let us know within 48 hours of show date for ticket purchased. We will exchange your ticket for a different date or hold for a different show, as long as seats are available.

Coaches