Matthew Van Colton Matthew Van Colton is a Chicago-based performer, teacher and director. He has worked with Chicago Dramatists, Northlight, Annoyance, Porchlight, Playground, Victory Gardens, iO, Royal George and TUTA theaters among others. He is a faculty member at The Second City Training Center, where he teaches and directs in the music conservatory; he has also recently taught or coached for Evanston Township High School, Acting Studio Chicago, Happy Karaoke Fun Time and Clown Car to Sicily. A veteran of music improv, he has performed with the SCTC Musical Improv House Ensemble, Musical! the Musical, Best Musical and most recently in One Night Only, which enjoyed both Chicago and New York runs. This winter he will be performing for the Second City aboard the Norwegian Gem. Matt is a member of Actor’s Equity.

Christopher DeRose originally hails from western Pennsylvania, Chris moved to Chicago after getting his BA in Theatre Arts from McDaniel College. He has studied improv at iO, Second City, Comedy Sportz, and Annoyance theatres. Chris is a proud member of the main stage cast at Comedy Sportz Chicago and a rotating member of Infinite Sundaes and performed in The Dude Abides Musical Tribute at The iO Theatre. You can also see him periodically on WCIU's morning show, You and Me This Morning as an on air contributor.

Brian Finlay is pleased as punch to be a member of Mansical.  Brian was born in St. Louis, MO and graduated from Truman State University in 2003 wondering what to do with his BA in English.   Brian has studied improv at iO , Second City and Annoyance theatres.  Brian can currently be seen most Wednesdays at ComedySportz in Battleprov.  Just like every other member of Mansical Brian has performed with Infinite Sundaes at the Second City Training Center.  Among other things, Brian is known for inventing his own nickname (DICE), and creating the slogan 'loving it', eventually adopted by McDonald's and changed to "lovin' it".

Michael Girts has performed for The Second City in Rod Blagojevich Superstar, Rush Limbaugh! The Musical and Fair and Unbalanced. He has also performed for The Second City aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines, during which time he traveled to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Central America and Mexico. Other credits include the Chicago Improv Festival, Chicago Sketchfest, Laugh Out Loud Theater (Schaumburg, IL) and ImprovAcadia (Bar Harbor, ME). Michael is half of the award-winning improvised musical Kate & Mike: The Musical. He earned his BFA in acting from Syracuse University and his MBA from the University of Notre Dame. Michael teaches improvisation and runs workshops for various universities and professional organizations.

Zephian Michaels could not be happier Mansical is a thing. When he isn’t carrying on and cutting up with the other men folk of Mansical. Zephian can also be seen performing with Infinite Sundaes, Storytown, Formal Apology, Bo Problems, Dark Triad, FDR and !Lacisum, The Improvised Backwards Musical. He has been lucky enough to do musical comedy in the past at Gorilla Tango, Comedysportz and The Annoyance. He is thankful to be part of such a wonderfully talented and giving community.  Also thank you to the many loved ones in his life who inspire and support.  

Israel Pederson is thrilled to be a part of Mansical! A Purdue University graduate, Israel has studied at ComedySportz Chicago, the Second City Musical Conservatory, and iO Chicago. He can also be seen around town performing with Comedysportz, the Cupid Players, The Process Theater Group, his improvised rock band - Reset List and in Schaumburg at the Laugh Out Loud Theater.  Also, this group is the most fun in the world. Seriously.

Andrew Ritter has been seen in many improv shows, sketch shows and plays including RIPPED! (American Blues Thetare), Jewsical! The Musical (The Second City Theatricals), Finding Eleusis (The Chicago Fringe Fest), The Best* Church of God, Big News, Too Soon? A 9-11 Sketch Revue, Infinite Sundaes, Angerstein Street, Forte, and Democracy Burlesque.  He directs Storytown at iO and has directed many sketch and improv shows like: A Very Successful Musical Revue, Improviser! A Musical Sketch Comedy Revue, Infinite Sundaes, The Mundames, Cindy Sunday Explains Everything, !Lacisum (The Backwards Improvised Musical), and Actions Speak Louder Then Kurds.  Andrew teaches at The Second City Training Center and The Emerald City Theatre School.  Some years ago he received a BA in Theatre & Psychology from Middlebury College in Vermont.