More Joy. Guaranteed!


Finest City Improv was founded in 2011 as a way to entertain, inspire and bring joy and laughter to the community of San Diego. From performers, to students, to loyal fans, and first time visitors, we promise a playful and return-worthy experience with our commitment to sharing, teaching and connecting people with laughter.

Performances are weekly in our theater in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. Classes are available for all levels of improv students and instructed by an experienced teaching staff. Our corporate workshops help teams of all sizes collaborate more creatively and effectively, resulting in a more engaged workforce and a better bottom line.

Contact us

Phone:  (619) 306-6047
Email: Info@finestcityimprov.com
Address:  3746 6th Ave Hillcrest, San Diego 92103

Team Members

Amy Lisewski — Founder & Artistic Director

amy lisewski

Amy captains the Finest City Improv ship and keeps everyone focused on our core mission of bringing more joy to everyone's lives with improvisation. READ MORE.

  • What are your other hobbies? Sailing, yoga, camping and reading
  • If you weren't doing improv, where would you be? On a boat in the Virgin Islands
  • What is your favorite improv scene you've been in? Once i played someone stuck in a dryer and i just kept doing somersaults in place. That was fun.
  • Who is your comedy idol? Lucille Ball - a pioneer for funny women! i grew up watching her.
  • 10 words or less of what improv means to you? The freedom to play, take fun risks, and comment on the world.
  • Where will you be in 10 years? On a boat in the Virgin Islands
  • Anything else we should know? My dog Captain Louie is really in charge.

See Amy's Full Bio

Skyler Lee - Assistant Artistic Director & General Manager

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Skyler is a graduate of FCI and a current house team performer.  As Assistant Artistic Director and General Manager his focus is on producing fantastic shows every week, growing and supporting our student community, and helping us grow FCI and improv in San Diego.

  • What are your other hobbies? Acting, filmmaking, frisbee, fitness but mostly talking my way out of trouble. 
  • If you weren't doing improv, where would you be? Building some sort of business somewhere and thinking to myself every day “I should have just stayed in Drama class in high school and followed my dream.”
  • What is your favorite improv scene you've been in? You mean choose my favorite child?… Ok, I know which one. I played in a scene with Angellyne where we were fraternal twins and I was trying to convince her that we need each other by spewing alternative labels for us being a dizygotic pair(fetus friends, placenta pals, prenatal partners.)
  • Who is your comedy idol? Chad Damiani because “Every performance is the World Series.” -Chad Damiani
  • 10 words or less of what improv means to you? The community that listens and supports better than your therapist.
  • Where will you be in 10 years? On a movie set somewhere being told to go to my mark and stop helping with tech.
  • Anything else we should know? I’ve been analyzing your micro expressions this entire time. You should’ve seen your face when I said placenta pals.

Jesse Suphan - Assistant Artistic Director

jesse suphan

Jesse is an Assistant Artistic Director. He is also the founder of our annual IMPRIDE festival.

  • What are your other hobbies? Hiking, Happy Hours, avoiding long term incarceration.
  • If you weren't doing improv, where would you be? That is a terrible question to think about, but probably doing stand-up on a cruise ship. I am not talking a nice one either, one of the cruise lines that is constantly having breakouts of rare diseases and the shrimp cocktail has a warning sign.
  • What is your favorite improv scene you've been in? I would have to say my personal favorite was a with Minor Suspension, my musical improv team. I was playing with Kasey and I kept singing the opposite of what she was saying. It felt great, people really loved it and I am pretty sure we got a standing ovation (if you count two people out of 20, and I do)
  • Who is your comedy idol? If I had to pick one I would say Margaret Cho I have been obsessed with her from the age of 16 until… well just the other day when I drove by her house.
  • 10 words or less of what improv means to you? Experiencing joy daily through playtime with some amazing people. Purple! (I get ten)
  • Where will you be in 10 years? I will be an attorney fighting for the rights of the less than fortunate. That or a truck driver you never know how life turns out. Accept it and say “Yes And”.
  • Anything else we should know? I genuinely want you to be happy.

tara johansen

Tara is our Marketing Coordinator and Show Producer. She is the voice behind all of our communications! Tara is a graduate and house team performer, as well as an instructor here at FCI. 

  • What are your other hobbies? Writing, hitting the beach with my dog children, rollerskating, and all manner of woo-woo activities
  • If you weren't doing improv, where would you be? Making the world my improv stage, still trying to make people laugh, only without the side support and probably like...way less funny.
  • What is your favorite improv scene you've been in? Bold of you to assume I can even remember what I ate yesterday, let alone scenes from the distant past? When I look back, it's just a sea of ridiculousness, lost forever to the perfect NOW that was lived but is no more.  WOW that was beautiful. This is why they pay me the big bucks. But more seriously, the artist in me loves a good organic group game. The kind that just evolves out of exploration and pure trust with your team members- No words or context, just pure observing and response.  The kind that usually leaves the audience saying "Wtf did I just watch?" Yeahhh I live for that. 
  • Who is your comedy idol? RIP Betty White <3 
  • 10 words or less of what improv means to you? Being seen in authentic connection that brings joy to everyone involved
  • Where will you be in 10 years? At the Oscars, baby! Either making my acceptance speech or serving as part of the wait staff. Only time will tell
  • Anything else we should know? You should probably know that Blue Whales are the largest living creature and that their veins are so large that a human could swim through them. I would know.

tara johansen

Alex is our House Manager and all around superstar. He makes sure everything is running smoothly at all all times!  Huzzah!

  • What are your other hobbies? I love to hike, rock climb and go cycling around town.
  • If you weren't doing improv, where would you be? I'd probably be working full time at Walmart!
  • Who is your comedy idol? - Paul F. Tompkins  
  • 10 words or less of what improv means to you? Being seen in authentic connection that brings joy to everyone involved
  • Where will you be in 10 years? Somewhere in a National Forest fighting fires!

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