Jess Lee

Jess Lee has been improvising since 2011, and can't believe it took her that long to find improv. She thinks she is a rebel, but she is a rule follower, and realizing this has been both stressful and relieving. She is usually the most awkward person at the after party. Talk to her about babka and noodles.

Jess Lee has been improvising since she took a beginner’s class in 2011 at The Brody Theater in Portland, Oregon. While on the West Coast, she was a part of the Brody Ensemble, Holy Trinity, ADMINISTRATION, Brainwaves, and JNAMES. She has performed at improv festivals across the country, and is usually the most awkward person at the after party.

Jess is a member of WIT ensemble King Bee. She competed in FIST with the improv quartet New World, performs regularly in a duo with John Windmuller (Ways and Means) and is a cast member of special WIT project, Citizens’ Watch.

When not on stage improvising, Jess can be found teaching improv, doing applied improv consulting for businesses and leaders, and doing a ridiculous impression of her dog. Because let’s be honest. That dog is HILARIOUS.

Personal motto

"You're playing small does not serve the world." - Marianne Williamson

Personal hero

Dogs.

Improv is the best. PERIOD.

Jess has been teaching improv since 2014, first on the West Coast, and on the East Coast since Fall 2016. Improv has been such a joy in her life, that passing it on is the least she can do. As a teacher, Jess is known by her students for running a tight ship, personalized feedback in real time, and admitting that she will break all the rules she teaches you in class when she performs. Because improv is about playing with constraints, and getting good enough to break the rules. Actually, improv is about human connection and play. But also – rule breaking can be fun.

Student feeback
“Jess gave great feedback, was engaging and got out of the way and let us play when it was time to play.”

“Jess taught everyone to punch up! I saw a lot of people (and myself) grow more than in any other improv class.”

“I learned more from this class and from Jess than I thought was possible in eight weeks.”

Patronus

Sea Lion

Personal Hero

Leslie Knope

Jess has been improvising since 2011, and has been doing corporate trainings since 2014. With WIT she has led workshops for World Bank, NPR, Goodwill International, and other organizations in the private and public sectors.

Jess is a trainer and facilitator by trade, and can nerd out about meeting management well past the point where most of the population cares to converse to.

Jess is an entrepreneur and spends her days doing project management, teaching businesses about improv, and facilitating meetings that don’t suck. She is a member of WIT ensemble King Bee, WIT project Citizens’ Watch, and a WIT faculty member.