Monday Night Live!

Monday Night Live! returns in April with new lead instructor Emily Friesen (supported and trained by Samantha Ginn) and musical inspiration from Paul Eddy! This sketch comedy experience is tailored for teens and young adults with neurodiversity and is a fun and community building event for all! Originally developed by NVA alumni Samantha Ginn, this one-of-a-kind program allows students to explore themes they love (anime, musicals, and more!) through various acting forms—stand-up, scene work, show hosting, movement, music, and beyond!

Under the guidance of experienced teaching artists Emily and Paul, students will gain confidence, collaboration skills, and new acting techniques in a fun, supportive environment. And of course, we’ll wrap it all up with our own live comedy sketch show—because what’s Monday Night Live! without a grand finale?

About the Instructors:

Emily Friesen is thrilled to be joining Monday Night Live! Graduating with a degree in Musical Theater, she has worked and performed all over the world including specialized classical acting training in London. She currently teaches theater to adults with neurodiversity at Teri Campus of Life where she helps lead the Teri Players as well as creating sensory theater experiences. She believes in endless creativity and finds joy in discovering new things with her students.

Paul Eddy is so happy to be back at NVA for another round of Monday Night Live! He is an actor and musician who may look familiar from that time he played Snoopy in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (NVA) or Buddy in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (NVA/Horton Grand). You may also recognize him from The Mechanicals or The Great, Smelly, Slobbery, Small-Toothed Dog. His favorite and most recent is getting to be Dad to his 2 amazing kids.