Web Site:  http://www.jesseparent.com/

Sample Performance:
"JoKyR and Jesster at Out of Bounds," performed at the Out of Bounds Improv Festival and Miniature Golf Tournament in Austin, TX - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DOgchu2o2QY

Short Bio:
Jesse Parent first started performing improv in 1992 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He has performed consistently since 2001, travelling to dozens of improv festivals mostly with the duo, JoKyR and Jesster. He is the creator of the poetry improv fusion format, The Hook, is an artistic associate of the prestigious Chicago Improv Festival, and is a current cast member of Utah’s longest running improv show, Laughing Stock.

Long Bio:

In 1992, Jesse started college at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and became involved in Chain Link Fence, which was WPI's improvisational acting troupe. After graduation, Jesse moved to Utah and took a long break from acting and improv to focus on work and family. In 2001, Jesse took a class with the Skinny Lincoln's Lincoln Hoppe because he missed improv and was reintroduced to the art form he loved. He then took workshops with Quick Wits' Bob Bedore and Knock Your Socks Off's (KYSOff's) Joseph Kyle Rogan and was asked to join KYSOff in November of 2001.

In September of 2003, Joseph Kyle Rogan and Jesse Parent formed an improv duo called JoKyR and Jesster, based off of their respective nicknames. They had our festival debut at the Phoenix Improv Festival and have since performed and taught in the Toronto Improv Festival, Chicago Improv Festival, and dozens more. In 2005, while conducting an experimental workshop series called "Four Weeks a Form," Jesse created an improvised show using a combination of improvised poetry, music, and scenework called "The Hook" and brought that show to the Phoenix Improv Festival, Denver Improv Festival, Chicago Improv Festival, and the Del Close Marathon in New York City. In 2006, Jesse was named an artistic associate of the prestigious Chicago improv Festival.

Jesse has taken workshops with Andy Eninger, Charna Halpern, Joe Bill, Mark Sutton, Todd Stashwick, Gary Austin, Ross White, Zach Ward, Matt Elwell, Peter Gwinn, Noah Gregoropoulos, Craig Cackowski, Dave Razowsky, Shaun Landry, Nick Johne, Dina Facklis, Asaf Ronen, Liz Allen, Jimmy Carrane, TJ Jagadowski and Mick Napier. He has taught improv classes locally in Utah for the University of Utah, Laughing Stock, KYSOff, Quick Wits Clearfield, ComedySportz Provo, TBA – In No Particular Order, Off the Cuff, and Off the Wall. He has also taught and coached groups in Washington, Arizona, Texas, Massachusetts, Chicago, Florida, North Carolina and in several other locations.

In addition to improv, Jesse is also a world ranked slam poet, finishing as a semi finalist in the 2011 and 2012 National Poetry Slams, a finalist in the Ontario International Poetry Slam, and 2nd place in both the 2010 and 2011 Individual World Poetry Slams.