1985: Relative Chaos!

Jason Schommer

Creator & Performer
"Jason is funny, clever, smart, and on his way to the big time!" - Louie Anderson, Emmy Award Winning Comedian and Legend. "Nobody tells a better story than Jason Schommer. A long-time opener for the legendary Louie Anderson, Schommer is a multi-layered talent who combines stand-up, storytelling, acting, and improv to create a unique experience every time he is on stage. Jason is a true performer in every sense of the word, and one of the most engaging personalities in all avenues of Twin Cities comedy." - Patrick Strait, MN Comedy. Jason Schommer is a stand up comedian and storyteller who spent two years as the opening act for comedy icon Louie Anderson in Las Vegas and toured with Louie regularly. As a stand up comic, Jason has performed all over the USA as well as Canada and for the US Military in Japan. Jason's sharp wit and spur of the moment playfulness keeps the audience on the edge of their seat with crazy and absurd "is-this-really-happening" stories to jokes with unexpected twists and turns and off-the-cuff refs. The laughs come fast and furious as Jason mines everyday life, turning the seemingly mundane and routine into comedy gold. A regular performer at The Moth, Jason has won numerous Story Slam competitions and was invited to perform at the GrandSlams at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul (2016, 2023) and the Guthrie Theater (2018) and at the Pantages Theater (2022). Jason has been heard nationally on The Moth Radio Hour numerous times as well as featured on the podcast. Jason has worked in New York City for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and has worked behind the scenes in Hollywood as a stand-in for Louie Anderson on the FX television series Baskets. In 2017, Jason released his first live comedy album "Confessions of a Local Celebrity". Most recently, Jason went viral on TikTok by starring in a video with Dave Ryan from KDWB and hitting over 5.4 million views. Previous Fringe Shows: 2002: Shameless 2003: Beer Goggles: The Musical 2006: Wonderland (Also Guthrie Encore) 2010: KRAP-FM 2012: Starf*cker 2017: Debacle 2022: Curtain Call: Letters to My Friend Louie Anderson 2023: 1992: Mistakes Were Made 2024: A Material Boy Living In A Madonna World 2025: 50: A Totally Rad Comedy About the Gnarly Reckoning of a Gen Xer!

JC Lippold

Music
With 20+ years experience as a gigging pianist and vocalist, JC Lippold is always smitten to underscore Jason Schommer's heartful storytelling and chuckle-inducing jokery. JC is proud to work with storytellers of all ages as a resident music director at Stages Theatre Company and Artistic Director of Alive & Kickin. You can also see JC bopping in as a regular guest on Channel 5 and MyTalk 107.1. 

Michelle Schwantes

Director
Michelle works internationally as a director, playwright, choreographer, actor, designer, and dramaturg. Representative credits include: The Children's Theatre Company, The Walker Art Center Out There Performance Series, The Jungle Theater, Minnesota Opera, Boston Repertory Theatre, Ananya Dance Theatre, St. Croix Festival Theatre (WI), The Phipps Center for the Arts (WI), Montford Park (Asheville, NC), and Center Stage Theatre (Fairhope, AL).   Her international work includes directing, performances, and artistic residencies in Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Peru, Venezuela, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Switzerland, Romania, and the Dominican Republic. 

Rebecca Jo Malmstrom

Production Guru
Becca and Jason have been collaborating on shows since their college days in the late 1900’s. Since then, she’s made the twin cities her home as well as the site of her upcycled material stuffed animal business Duckie Uglings. During the weekdays, she’s the shopper/buyer for the Guthrie’s props department.