The Comedy Artist Makers’ Program (CAMP) provides an eclectic group of theatrical comedy creators with peer support and artistic mentorship as they develop an original comedy show over the course of the season. CAMPers meet weekly for shares of work and feedback sessions facilitated by Program Co-Directors Mahayla Laurence and Matt Gehring, and have opportunities to perform on the Ars Nova stage throughout the season.
Nicole Adsit is a writer/actor originally from Seattle, WA. After studying theater at Loyola Marymount University and Western Washington University, she moved to New York City in 2013 to pursue comedy. Nicole completed the improv, sketch, and characters programs at UCB and has been writing and performing her own work ever since.
Fernanda Brigneti is a writer and performer based in Brooklyn, NY. Born and raised in Peru, where she was first introduced to comedy through improv, Fernanda has written and performed in various sketch shows, from Second City to BCC. She recently participated in Ars Nova’s ANT Fest, for which she co-wrote, produced, and performed an original sketch play, Night TV. She continues her improv journey as a member of improv teams “¿Qué?” and “God’s Website” and has performed in multiple festivals including New York Comedy Festival, iO Fest Chicago, and Fun & Dumb Fest. In her free time she reads, she yearns, she laughs.
Andrea Cárdenas is a queer actor, writer, and comedian who can’t remember her password. She loves exploring the intersection between sexuality and spirituality and has created deranged projects to prove it. She cowrote and regularly performs in Divine Perversions: a sapphic mass, and co-created UNHINGED, featured at NewFest. You can also see her in Dumb Money, now on Netflix. Please share your password with her at andreaccardenas.com.
Allisha Edwards is a performer and creator based in Brooklyn. Raised in a military family, she originally hails from the diverse stripmall that is Northern Virginia. Since graduating with a BFA she has landed on the 2024 UCB Maude Sketch Team “Villain!”, was on the all black improv team “PWI” (NYCF), Produces and hosts the monthly love advice improv show “Shoulda/Coulda/Woulda” (BCC), among others. Outside of comedy, Allisha has assistant directed (Whitney White; Summer L Williams), been a literary intern (Vineyard Theatre), Story consulted, performed about town and workshopped her writing. She has been a finalist for the UCB/SNL mentorship, A mentee in the Bleecker Street Studios acquisitions department, A Space on Ryder Farm Greenhouse Residency finalist, and a Hillman Grad Acting finalist. Her work leans toward bringing humor and absurdity out of the mundane and the devastating in an effort to invite acceptance and release shame. She’s sooo silly for that.
Sila Puhl is a Brooklyn based writer, comedian, and producer. She has produced pieces on the Emmy-winning The Daily Show and writes scripts for a variety of Youtube channels including What If. She performs stand-up all around New York, including at The Bell House, Union Hall, and at her show Monog Á Trois.
Mahayla Laurence is a multi-disciplinary artist engaging in work that creates space for conversations around mental and spiritual health, joy, humor, stewardship, and community. Credits include: HBO Max, Clubbed Thumb, Gimlet Media. MahaylaLaurence.com.
Matt Gehring is a performer, writer and director of comedy. He’s been on Amazon, Netflix, Comedy Central and has spent years on the UCB stage. Check out the Broadway-Meets-Sketch show, SHIZ he created with Shaina Taub.
Participation in CAMP is by invitation only. Check our Work With Us page for more information on how to introduce Ars Nova to your work.
2023-2024
Sarah Adelman; Kurt Cruz; Lida Darmian; Emily Dayton Evans, Marina Gasparyan & Maarit Hara; SMJ & Anne-Marie Pietersma
2022-2023
Michelle Chan Bennett & Josh Nasser; Catherine Bloom & Sofia Dobrushin; Natalya Samee; Chet Siegel
2021-2022
Jonathan Cohall; Chase Doggett, Makasha Copeland & Gabrielle Silva; Sam Kebede; Preston Martin; Emily Olcott; Sabrina Wang
2020-2021
Niccolo Aeed & Marina Tempelsman, Joél Pérez, Ely Kreimendahl, Gus Laughlin; Ái Vy Luu; Chase Doggett, Makasha Copeland & Gabrielle Silva; Eleanor Philips & Jessica Cannizzaro; Kuhoo Verma
The CAMP program at Ars Nova is made possible by the generous support of the Richenthal Foundation.
We’re always looking for partners to support our development programs! Learn more by reaching out to Ben Lasser, Development Director, at blasser@arsnovanyc.com.
