For the 2026 festival, the Improv universe brought together alumni, active, and new producers to make things happen.
Marcus Sams
Marcus Sams has been in the film and TV industry for over 2 decades and has been improvising for over 26 years. In that time, he has been a co-owner and creative partner of Crux Jinx, has had professional representation through MDT Talent, and has sat on the board of the Improv Network. He is the co-founder of the Bay Area Film Mixer, where he received the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service for bringing the Bay Area filmmaking industry together since 2001. He is also the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Improv Festival and the founder of Moment Improv Theatre, one of the first African American owned improv theatres and training centers in the United States, established in 2014.
Sams has been in 70+ national improv festival shows, including the “Secret Show” at the Chicago Improv Festival, where he opened for BassProv with his duo Liss n’ Sams, featuring Joe Liss of Second City. He was a “Master Teacher” at the Alaska State Improv Festival in 2017 and has been a headlining act and instructor at the KC Improv Festival, Out of Bounds Comedy festival, and Seattle Festival of Improv Theatre, among others.
Michael J. Astrauskas
Michael J. Astrauskas is an improvisor based in the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States. He has studied at Endgames Improv, Camp Improv Utopia, as well as at festivals and with visiting teachers. He loves to take photos, and can be seen capturing moments at Bay Area festivals and shows, as well as officially for Leela improv in San Francisco.
Michael is a producer for the independent comedy show SFBarprov, as well as a producer for the San Francisco Improv Festival, InterCity Improv, Endgames Improv, and Improv in Action.
Making friends is what got Michael into improv, and the community is the number one reason he’s stuck around since 2013.
Clay Robeson
Clay Robeson owes nearly everything good in his life to Improv. He began playing improv games in college friends’ living rooms following Whoseline viewings way back in 1995. After moving to Boston, he began studying at Improv Asylum, and in 2001 he was cast in their Touring Company and started his improv teaching career.
In the intervening years, he performed and taught in theater, business, and educational settings, leveraging his skills to land jobs in the medical device industry, the nonprofit world, and currently in the absolutely essential senior services industry where he serves as Director of Communications for Sequoia Living while moonlighting as an instructor for Voice One, teaching improv skills to aspiring voice actors here in San Francisco.
Clay served as Associate Producer of the San Francisco Improv Festival for 2006, 2007, and 2008, taking charge of volunteers and festival photography. He’s thrilled to be returning to SFIF as it comes back from the edge of pandemic oblivion.
Also, puppets.
Alexander Devine
Bio coming soon.
Erika Ludwig
Erika Ludwig is a communications professional, voice actor, and educator who believes creativity has the power to bring people together. Drawing on her background in public relations, nonprofit communications, and community engagement, she supports the San Francisco Improv Festival through media relations, social media, and storytelling that celebrates the festival’s artists and community.
Erika loves how improv creates connection through creativity, collaboration, and play. Whether supporting artists, teaching, or working behind a microphone, she’s happiest helping people discover something new. Outside of work, you’ll likely find her hiking, making music, or saying “yes, and” whenever life gives her the opportunity.