Cast Bios

Awkward Silence Comedy Cast

Awkward Silence Comedy is now entering its third generation of cast members taking three new members in the Fall of 2007. Auditions to be in the group are held once per year usually in September. With each new wave of cast members comes a fresh outlook and new style for the group.

The group was founded in Fall of 2004 by Brian M. Frange. During multiple rounds of auditions that semester three long-standing members were introduced to the group; Justin Purcell, Andy Blastick, and Annie Kerkian. These founding members, along with Brian, laid down a solid foundation for the group for years to come relentlessly putting on shows each semester no matter how dire the circumstances. The group experimented with many different formats performing test shows in the basement of Read dormitory before moving to its current home in the Indiana Memorial Union. During this test period the group saw many members come and go including a short stint with music major Tom Stoffel as host. After two years of performing together, and picking up piano player Mike Raunick along the way, the group finally settled into a routine performing weekly short-form improv shows in the Union.

Two years into the groups existence, another round of auditions were held bringing with it the next generation. With Annie leaving to perform in plays and Mike leaving to become a musical director Andy, Brian and Justin were all that remained of the original cast. Joining them in 2006 would be Alex Young, Georgia Perry, Steve Thomas and Blake Thomas. This new generation continued performing short-form improv shows every week in the Union. Soon after realizing that the group could not feasibly have two Thomas', Blake left the group after a semester of performing to pursue a part-time job. His slot was filled by education major Katie Brody who stayed with the group for one semester before leaving to pursue paid work. After one year the group began to make a transition from short-form to the long-form/short-form hybrid the group has created. This new and original format was finally validated in the Fall of 2007 when Awkward Silence Comedy presented it at the 2007 Chicago College Comedy Tournament and won 2nd place.

Now, into its fourth year performing on campus, Awkward Silence Comedy is in its third generation cast. With the graduation of Justin Purcell and Andy Blastick, Brian M. Frange remains the only remaining founding cast member. Steve Thomas also retired from the group after becoming an acting phenom, wowing IU's theatre department and becoming a staple in IU's main stage productions. Brian, Alex, and Georgia would soon be joined by Grace Friedman, Sean Liston, and Ryan Brown. The group also welcomed the return of Mike Raunick for one last semester with the group after two years of teaching and directing. This third generation cast will premiere in Spring of 2008 with Awkward Silence Comedy's original long-form/short-form hybrid shows every Thursday night.