Julie Basque is a performer and producer based in Portland with over a decade of improv experience. She started taking classes at Uprights Citizen Brigade Theatre NY after being told she has "a very expressive face". Improv has proven to be a good outlet for that and she found a home in 2018 at Kickstand Comedy. She co-directed and co-produced Loose Threads, an improv show that merges handmade garments and improv where clothes build character. You can find her performing around town with her indie improv team Breaking News.
Julie is excited to help students get in touch with their emotions and facial expressions. Outside of improv, you can find her trying to sew all her own clothes or exploring with her yappy lil dog Disco.

(He/Him)
Zack Poitras is a recently returned Portland native who has been doing comedy for twenty years. He wrote for and performed on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, The Kids Tonight Show, and made a comedy-science show for HBO Max and Discovery that he also co-starred in called High Science. Before that he was head writer of Funny or Die, a writer for The Onion, and taught sketch, performed and directed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theaters in New York City and Los Angeles. He’s got a great wife, kids, dog, and cat. In his free tim,e he makes lamps where the on/off switch is a urinal flush lever. 

Board Treasurer

Rachelle Cochran (she/her) is an accountant, standup comedian, and the head of the finance committee for Kickstand Comedy. With over ten years of experience performing in Portland, Oregon, she brings a unique combination of financial expertise and creative passion to the comedy scene. As co-host of Kickstand's Comedy in the Park, Rachelle aims to help create a vibrant, inclusive environment that brings laughter to thousands each week. All the while she is dedicated to supporting Kickstand Comedy’s growth while fostering the local comedy community.

Lauren is an improviser and artist with over a decade of experience performing in Portland. Originally from the Midwest, Lauren’s style is very supportive and listening-based, with lots of room for organic moves and games. She is currently on the teams Hopes n Prayers, Sinner & Williams, and Tuesday the 13th Part III (an improvised slasher show). Other highlights include performing in the Del Close Marathon (NYC), Vancouver International Improv Festival, Loose Threads, as well as the sketch show, Show Ridiculous. She is the founder and host of Night Cheese—an absurd & chaotic art/food/comedy variety show. Outside of comedy, Lauren is an editor, writer, mentor, teacher, and critic who focuses on contemporary fiber and textile work. When it comes to fun, non-comedy stuff, she loves reading horror, playing video games, and thrifting.

Jhordan began her comedy and improv journey at Chaos Bloom theatre in Denver, CO. 
Since moving to Portland, she has performed on Kickstand’s Harold teams, in various sketch productions, Velodrome, and Secret Aardvark. She has also performed at Curious Comedy’s Friday Night Fights and numerous Sunday School events.
She believes in seeing the whole performer and leaning in on the strengths and abilities we carry as individuals to build us up on stage. Education through empathy is a value she has carried with her from her time as a school teacher into her new role as a teacher with Kickstand Comedy. 
You can see Jhordan performing with the indie team No Pockets, as a cast member on Kickstand's Mosaic nights, or simply reading on her patio with her two cats, or trying to remember where she set things down or why she came into a room.