Karen Volpe
KAREN VOLPE - Karen got her first taste of improvisational comedy while attending Jamestown Community College (as if that isn’t comedic enough). It was during a choir trip to Toronto that she saw The Second City for the first time. After that she was hooked.
She transferred to Fredonia State University where she graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Musical Theatre. While at Fredonia, she met up with her comedy partner and future husband, Paul. They began performing their own two person sketch/improvisational shows and studying at The Second City in Toronto. Together they were hired by The Beechwood Theatre Company in Rhode Island and The Pocono Renaissance Faire and eventually moved to Chicago to continue their study of improvisation at The Second City and Improv Olympic.
In Chicago, Karen played a bridesmaid in Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding and "Unpacked her Adjectives" in Schoolhouse Rock Live! Karen has also performed with Second City Communications and Disney Cruise Line. More recently, Karen performed at the Cinegrill in the famous Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard in the three-girl singing group musical 'The Taffetas' as well as the long-running original musical “Bark!”. She has provided voices for the audio dramatization of the best-selling novel 'Tribulation Force'.
One project Karen is most proud of is producing, and playing Gilda in Bunny Bunny: Gilda Radner, a Sort of Romantic Comedy, raising $2700 for Gilda's Club. See the link below for more about the show.
Karen's biggest accomplishment on stage was her recent run at Downey Civic Light Opera as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl", which played to rave reviews and full houses! Some pics:
Other previous roles have included Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Diana Morales in A Chorus Line and Sr. Robert Anne in Nunsense.
When Karen is not busy making other people laugh, you can find her laughing at her husband.