Page 9 - Summer 2015 FF
P. 9
Humor Me
Alumni Give Back to Community Through Improv
Comedy Troupe — Teachers Lounge Mafa
Story by Danielle LeBlanc ’08
Photos by Bob Bailie
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early fve years ago, graduates of improvisatonal comedy (or “improv”) teams from Mt. Blue High
School’s Curtain Raisers, UMF’s Lawn Chair Pirates and Jef Bailey (an unsuspectng friend of member Dan Ryder’s)
combined forces to take their humor to the professional stage. They call themselves Teachers Lounge Mafa.
Since that frst beneft show for Sandy River Players community theater, the Mafa has been performing regularly
in shows, compettons, fundraisers and workshops. Farmington First had the opportunity to catch up with
founding members Dan Ryder ’98, Jef Bailey ’98, Natalie (Bean) Simmons ’07 and Kyla Wheeler. Jef and Natalie
work at Mountain Valley High School, where he teaches technology and she teaches English and theater arts.
Dan teaches English at Mt. Blue High School. Kyla is an administrator with the Farmington-based nonproft LEAP
(Learning Enrichment Advancing People).
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