Meet Gravy Shakes

Mike D'Alonzo has been a part of the improv comedy scene for the past 30 years, having performed all over the country and in Canada and Europe. He has trained with Second City and Impro Theater in Los Angeles, performed at Improv Olympic in Chicago and IO West in Los Angeles, as well as having taught at The Hideout and Fallout Theater in Austin. Mike is a founding member of Austin Theatresports, and has, for the past 20 years, been a member of The Knuckleball Now, 2-time B. Iden Payne winner for best improv troupe in Austin. He most recently performed as a cast member of "Ephemera" at Hyde Park Theater, and will be in "Godspell" at Inspired Minds in September, followed by "Waiting for Godot" at Hyde Park in November.

Mike Truesdale is an actor, comedian, producer, writer and host. He hosted over 500 episodes of the daily “pre-cap” show, What’s On for Pluto TV and was a series regular on the Pop TV series, Impress Me (which is now on Amazon!). He is an alum of The Groundlings Sunday Company where he also taught on the faculty. He has also been a performer on house sketch teams at Upright Citizens Brigade, iO West and performs at improv festivals across the country. Mike has appeared in national commercial campaigns for Geico, AT&T, Oscar Mayer, Pedigree, Citizens Bank, Nickelodeon, Hooters, Choice Hotels, Coke Zero, Scion and has lent his voice to commercials, movies, video games and the WWE.

Eileen Truesdale is from Boston, MA. She’s a graduate of Sanford Meisner’s Neighborhood Playhouse, and completed the conservatory programs at UCB and Magnet Theaters in NYC, as well as training at iO and Second City in Chicago. She was a founding member of The Magnets longest running team, The Boss, and her improv group, STAPLER was the all time cage match champion during its run at iO West (RIP). Her favorite role to date was playing Sheila Monkey in Fairy Tale Theater: 18 & over which enjoyed a successful run at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Eileen shares three beautiful daughters, four dwarf Nigerian goats, fourteen fancy chickens, two dogs, one cat, and one guinea pig with fellow Gravy Shaker Mike Truesdale.

Jessica started performing improv in 2013 at the Institution Theatre in Austin where she quickly fell in love with this artform that combined her passion of performing and storytelling. She co-founded the improv troupe, The Ladies Room, in 2014 which performed in comedy festivals in Seattle (Seattle Festival of Improv Theatre), New Orleans (NOLA Comedy and Art Festival), and Austin (Out of Bounds). Jessica received her BFA in Acting from Texas State University and studied abroad with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She has performed in countless theatrical productions, and for the past decade she has been a film and commercial actor represented by Acclaim Talent in Austin. She also teaches yoga, is a mom to a very tall and ginger teenager, and recently married the love of her life.  After a four year hiatus from improv she is very happy and grateful to be back on stage with such talented and kind humans. 

Alan Michnoff is here for your enjoyment. Much like your favorite cast iron pan, he’s well seasoned. You might recognize him as that one goofball, the obnoxious fella’, or that handsome devil you can’t stop thinking about. Which is all to say that he’s the type of dude you feel like you’ve been palling around with for years. If you happen to catch a show featuring Alan you can rest assured that you're in good hands. How much more am I supposed to write? This isn’t enough!? I should talk about my credits? Pish-posh! The proof is in the pudding, so loosen those belts because dessert is served.

Rob Novak is delighted to be performing with this incredible group. He has mostly been seen in scripted works around the Austin area. Favorite roles include Fennyman in Shakespeare in Love (Wimberley), Alan in God of Carnage (Lockhart), Bernard in Boeing Boeing (Buda), Mr. Paravicini in The Mousetrap (Wimberley), Scanlon in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Lockhart), Cassio in Othello (Austin), Eddie in The Happy Couple (Austin), and Hamlet (Austin). You may have also seen him yelling at Ricky Williams in promos for The Longhorn Network (RIP). Rob has a BFA in Acting from Texas State University where clowning and improvisation are major parts of the curriculum and studied abroad with the Royal Shakespeare Company one summer. He would like to thank his wife, Tiffany, and son, Jack, for lending him to the theater for a little while.

Molly McKee received her BFA in Acting from Texas State University where she was an Irene Ryan nominee. She also studied abroad with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Molly has performed Improv at the Seattle Festival of Improvised Theater, New Orleans Comedy and Art Festival, and Out of Bounds Comedy Festival (Austin). She has performed Improv in Austin at the Hideout Theatre, the Fallout Theater, and The Institution Theater. She was Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream with The Chambers Theatre (Buda), Ellida in The Lady From the Sea and Julia in Fefu and Her Friends with Filigree Theatre (Austin). Other favorite theatre roles include Elektra in Orestes, Viola in Twelfth Night, and Felicity in The Real Inspector Hound. She had also acted in over a dozen independent films. 

Julia Fae is from Oahu, Hawaii. She completed the improv conservatory program at UCB in Los Angeles before moving on to explore her passion for clowning. Engaging her love for physical theater at Dell’Arte International, The Clown School, The Idiot Workshop, The Celebration Barn, and in Chicago’s Physical Theatre Fest has been her greatest joy—besides her nine-year-old rabbit and pursuing adventure with her fiancé and fellow troupe member, Alan Michnoff. She also loves writing and painting and making bowls and toothbrush holders with hand-built ceramics. Bless up!

Ben Guerra is an emerging improv actor and junior at Hays High School. He has showcased his talent in musicals such as Beauty and the Beast, Shrek, and Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief. In addition to his acting roles, Ben has gained valuable experience working as a crew member for the Buda outdoor summer musical in both 2023 and 2024. Ben's dedication and passion for theater continue to drive his growth and success in the performing arts.