ABOUT SPARK

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strong roots

Spark Creative was founded in 1995 at the Stanford Graduate School of Business to teach MBA students the Improvisational Mindset. Since then, Spark Creative has trained, entertained, and inspired over 250,000 people in over 2500 performances, workshops, and corporate events.

smart solutions 

Our solutions are smart, engaging, and increasingly relevant. All content is produced by an award-winning team of writers and actors from shows such as SNL, 30 Rock, Colbert Report, and dozens of others. The training is designed and taught by MBAs and PhDs from Stanford, Kellogg, and Harvard.

MEET THE TEAM

MBA at Stanford, BA at DartmouthVisiting professor at Princeton University and Notre Dame's Mendoza School of BusinessMember of Second City MainstageCo-creator and co-star of NBC's Sports Action TeamCo-wrote and directed 50 Shades! The Musical, Thr…

  • MBA at Stanford, BA at Dartmouth

  • Visiting professor at Princeton University and Notre Dame's Mendoza School of Business

  • Member of Second City Mainstage

  • Co-creator and co-star of NBC's Sports Action Team

  • Co-wrote and directed 50 Shades! The Musical, Thrones! The Musical

  • Co-founded Baby Wants Candy, the award-winning musical improv team that has performed around the world for 20+ years

ALBERT SAMUELS

FOUNDER, CEO, LEAD FACILITATOR

  • Currently a writer on DANGER FORCE (Nickelodeon).

  • Other writing credits include “Kevin Can F**K Himself” (AMC), “Black Card Revoked” (BET), narrative podcasts for Broadway Video & Audible, and the CBS Showcase.

  • Named a New Face of Comedy by the Just For Laughs Festival in 2019

  • Acting credits include “United We Fall” (ABC), “Adam Ruins Everything” (TruTV), and several absurd interactive videos for Buzzfeed/EKO.

SHUKRI ABDI

WORKSHOP DESIGN, ACTOR, WRITER

PhD at Stanford, MA at NYUEducation Director at University of Wisconsin Madison School of EducationTaught at Stanford, SUNY, and Towson

  • PhD at Stanford, MA at NYU

  • Education Director at University of Wisconsin Madison School of Education

  • Taught at Stanford, SUNY, and Towson

LISA BARKER

FACILITATOR, WORKSHOP DESIGN

Lead facilitator at Spark Creative for twelve years in the United States, Europe, and ChinaMember of Second City's National Touring Company and resident on the Etc stage in Chicago Writer on Showtime’s “Work in Progress”

  • Lead facilitator at Spark Creative for twelve years in the United States, Europe, and China

  • Member of Second City's National Touring Company and resident on the Etc stage in Chicago

  • Writer on Showtime’s “Work in Progress”

AMANDA DAVIS

FACILITATOR, WRITER, ACTOR

Writer and performer with Spark Creative for eight yearsLead role in nationally touring productions of 50 Shades! The Musical ParodyDirected Spark’s production of Thrones! The Musical Parody at the Sydney Opera HousePlays Jerry on NBC's “Superstore”

  • Writer and performer with Spark Creative for eight years

  • Lead role in nationally touring productions of 50 Shades! The Musical Parody

  • Directed Spark’s production of Thrones! The Musical Parody at the Sydney Opera House

  • Plays Jerry on NBC's “Superstore”

CHRIS GRACE

FACILITATOR, ACTOR, WRITER

BA in Architecture at Princeton Video editor and graphic designer for Spark CreativePursuing acting and writing in LA

  • BA in Architecture at Princeton

  • Video editor and graphic designer for Spark Creative

  • Pursuing acting and writing in LA

SONYA ISENBERG

ACTOR, WRITER, DESIGNER

Lecturer of Management at the Graduate School of Business at StanfordLecturer in the Department of Theater and Performance Studies at StanfordNamed '“Stanford Teacher of the Year” by the Student's Association

  • Lecturer of Management at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford

  • Lecturer in the Department of Theater and Performance Studies at Stanford

  • Named '“Stanford Teacher of the Year” by the Student's Association

DAN KLEIN

FACILITATOR, WORKSHOP DESIGN

Writer for “A.P. Bio” (Peacock)Acting credits include “Take My Wife” and “The Good Place”Performs at UCB with his house improv team "Cardinal Redbird" as well as his all-black, all-male comedy group "White Women”

  • Writer for “A.P. Bio” (Peacock)

  • Acting credits include “Take My Wife” and “The Good Place”

  • Performs at UCB with his house improv team "Cardinal Redbird" as well as his all-black, all-male comedy group "White Women”

ZEKE NICHOLSON

WRITER, ACTOR

PhD in Learning Sciences at Northwestern UniversityMBA at the Stanford University Graduate School of BusinessEvaluation and research professional with 25+ years of experience

  • PhD in Learning Sciences at Northwestern University

  • MBA at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business

  • Evaluation and research professional with 25+ years of experience

RICK ORLINA

LEARNING DESIGN, EVALUATION

Performed with Spark for over ten yearsContributing comedy writer on “Live From Here With Chris Thiele” on NPR Published several pieces in The New Yorker Currently writing for Showtime’s “Work in Progress”

  • Performed with Spark for over ten years

  • Contributing comedy writer on “Live From Here With Chris Thiele” on NPR

  • Published several pieces in The New Yorker

  • Currently writing for Showtime’s “Work in Progress”

TIM SNIFFEN

FACILITATOR, WRITER, ACTOR

MICHAEL TOEDMAN

PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT, ADVISOR

BA in Musical Theatre at Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaPerformed with the improv / a cappella team "Live! On Fire" and had a residency at ComedySportz Los AngelesTrained at Second City in Hollywood

  • BA in Musical Theatre at Vanguard University of Southern California

  • Performed with the improv / a cappella team "Live! On Fire" and had a residency at ComedySportz Los Angeles

  • Trained at Second City in Hollywood

DEKONTEE TUCRKILE

FACILITATOR, WRITER, ACTOR