Staff
Thank you to all the members of our staff, who work to continuously make WICF better.
MICHELLE BARBERA
Co-Producer
Michelle has performed, written, and produced comedy in Boston for almost two decades. She was a member of ImprovBoston’s mainstage for over four years and co-directed the Tribe Theatre. Michelle has directed numerous improv troupes, sketch shows, and has taught improv master classes and workshops. She founded and co-produces the award-winning WMAM films, which screened short films nationally at the Independent Television Festival, Boston Film Festival, Filmapalooza, and her personal favorite, the Zompire Film Festival. A graduate of Smith College with a BA in studio art, Michelle is also an illustrator and graphic designer and has had her work featured in children’s books, advertising, branding , packaging, editorial, and educational materials. Michelle created the WICF comedy robot you may have seen on our t-shirts and other promotional materials. She lives just outside Boston with her husband and four (yes, she does have her hands full) children.
CHRISTINE CANNAVO
Co-Producer
Christine has been performing improvisational comedy for over 20 years. She is an alumni member of ImprovBoston, Improv Asylum, The Boston Musical Company, Musical! The Musical! and has performed with The U.S. Improvisational Theater League. Christine was one of six improvisers chosen to represent the United States at the “Just For Laughs Improv Championship” in Montreal. She was a founding member and Creative Director of Boston Comedy Theatre, a troupe that specialized in corporate performances and training. Her clients included Advid Technology, Pfizer and Rath & Strong Management Consultants.
EAFAT NEWTON
Co-Producer
After working in market research, Eafat finally learned why four out of five dentists agree. She then turned to creative writing and now writes short plays, screenplays and television pilots including a Bronze Prize winner for TV Sitcom Pilot in the 2018 Page International Screenwriting Competition. In addition to an MBA from Vanderbilt, Eafat holds a Screenwriting Certificate from Emerson. When she’s not making up interesting characters, she loves meeting them in real life.
ELYSE SCHUERMAN
Co-Producer
Elyse has been a performer, director, instructor, and managing director. She has performed in a number of ImprovBoston shows: Bluescreen, Comedia d’ell High School, Boston Creem, ImprovBoston Holiday Spectacular, George and Martha, Writer’s Block, BackStory, and Gorefest I-V. She also directed Micetro, UnNatural Selection, Trail Mix, and created/directed Radio Hour and Misunderstood: An Improvised Rock Opera. She performed in the Del Close Longform festival and The Scene, both in New York and at the Chicago Improv Festival. Elyse has studied under Master instructors such as Joe Bill, Susan Messing, Mick Napier, Todd Stashwick, and Keith Johnstone. Elyse has taught adults at ImprovBoston and ImprovNashville and young students throughout Massachusetts. Elyse graduated with a BA in Theatre and Education from Flagler College in Florida.
MARIA CIAMPA
Associate Producer
Based in LA after several years of comedy, acting, and voice work in Boston and New York, Maria is a graduate of Groundlings, UCB, and too many other improv schools to list. She currently does live shows and video sketch with Radcliffe Comedy.
Maria plays mob mistress “Skinnie Minnie” in indie film Sharkskin. She’s been featured on Lifetime’s “My Crazy Ex”, MTV’s “Girl Code”, National Geographic’s “The Numbers Game”, and several comedic web series. Also she plays an easy-going banker and/or a shrugging mom in a ton of commercials. She’s performed at Groundlings, UCB NY and LA, PIT NY, Comedy Central Stage, Comedy Studio, and colleges, clubs, and festivals nation-wide.
ELSA MCLAUGHLIN
Director of Social Media
A lover of creativity in all its forms, Elsa has been involved Boston’s art scene for years and is very excited to join the Women in Comedy Festival for a second year! A project manager at a digital marketing agency by day, she is also the Director of Media Relations for the Boston Science Fiction Film Festival. When she’s not at the movies or Tweeting about comedy, she is eating her way through Boston in search of the best vegetarian food, and chronicling the journey on her website, www.vocalveggie.com
COLETTE GREENSTEIN
Director of Public Relations
Colette has worked as an entertainment publicist for more than twenty years. The Boston native began her career in radio as Promotions Director for urban contemporary radio station WILD-AM. From there she transitioned to the world of stand-up comedy and independent cinema handling publicity, marketing and branding for The Comedy Connection in Boston, Showcase Live in Foxboro, Massachusetts, as well as the Roxbury International Film Festival. Colette is also a contributing arts & entertainment writer for the Bay State Banner.
PAMELA ROSS
Editor In Chief, WICF Daily
Pamela Ross is a Boston-based writer, comedian, and producer. She’s performed stand up in the Boston Comedy Festival, The Women in Comedy Festival, Thunderfest, and Hell Yes Fest. Her writing has appeared on xoJane, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, The Higgs Weldon, and Points in Case. She co-produces a weekly show called The Mendoza Line.
Margie Zohn
Director of Performance Development
Margie’s mission is to midwife brilliant performances into the world and create groundbreaking work with inspiring people. She works with performers of all kinds and in a variety of mediums. She has collaborated with established artists including Faith Soloway, Lisa Loeb, JoBeth Williams, Josh Hamilton and the musician Bitch, and has also coached plenty of rising stars. Margie meets artists where they are and creates a process to help them surpass their highest goals. She is adept at directing full-blown scripts as well as helping people develop new work from the germ of an idea. Margie also has 25 years of experience teaching leaders in the corporate and nonprofit worlds how to influence through storytelling and persuasive speech. A former professional actor, improviser and creator numerous solo shows, Margie also held a faculty appointment at Harvard University from 2011 to 2021. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Brown University and an Ed.M in Arts in Education from Harvard University.