Spotlight On: Lori Leigh
Lori Leigh has a PhD from Victoria University of Wellington and a MFA in in Theatre from Sarah Lawrence College (New York). Originally from the United States, Lori has been studying, performing, teaching, and directing improv for over a decade. In the USA, she studied at iO Chicago Theater (Charna Halpern) and performed in the St. Louis Comedy Festival, the Memphis Comedy Festival, New York Comedy Festival, Louisville Improvapalooza; and her troupe, One Hand Clapping (Nashville, TN), was an official Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Festival Comedy Selection.
Since moving to New Zealand, Lori has been a member of PlayShop Performance Company and has appeared in PlayShop LIVE, Riddiford Street, Game of Things, and 13 The Soap. She directed the acclaimed This Fair Verona, an improvised adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, Grimm Bedtime Stories, and the award-winning 10 Things I Hate About Us (“Best Improv” 2015 New Zealand Fringe Festival).
Lori currently lectures in Theatre at VUW and is Artistic Director for PlayShop. Here's some quickfire questions for her!
Why are you excited about coming to NZIF?
I love the community of improvisers from across New Zealand and the rest of the world: getting to socialise with them, share, learn, and enjoy diverse improv work.
What do you get out of festivals like NZIF (or NZIF specifically)?
Community, inspiration, laughter, fuel.
Best thing about improv is:
Being present.