Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Work Availability
Hobbies
Timeline
Onyi Okoli

Onyi Okoli

Improviser * Writer * Comedienne
Long Island City,NY
There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality.
Tony Robbins

Summary

Expressive Actor and Writer with 7 plus years of hands on experience in improvisational theater, sketch comedy, writing, and singing. Motivated and talented worker specializing in both stage and tv commercials. Dedicated to best-in-class performances with skills for memorization and collaboration.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Actress

Posche Models
New York, New York
01.2016 - Current
  • Researched roles by reading material or shadowing people similar to portrayed character.
  • Learned about characters in scripts and relationships to each other to develop role interpretations.
  • Wrote original materials for comedic sketch performances and character performances.
  • Acted in several local, regional, and national commercials & print advertisements.

Improviser

Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater
New York, New York
06.2013 - 03.2020
  • Captured audience by making audience laugh, cry and become excited, shocked and scared.
  • Performed humorous and serious interpretations of emotional actions and situations, using body movements and gestures of the top of my mind.
  • Improvised a set alongside my teammates every other Sunday at the theater.
  • Trained in both Improvisation and Sketch writing at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater since 2013.

Podcaster

Street Class Podcast
New York, New York
06.2015 - 04.2018
  • Recorded Weekly episodes about popculture and interviewed celebrity guests including members of Netflix's The Astronomy Club.
  • Created fun games & themes for listeners to participate in weekly.
  • Transformed video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing and archiving.
  • Mixed and mastered vocal arrangements and music compositions.
  • Used NCH Suites and Wavepad Sound Editor to mix and edit tracks.
  • Developed team communications and information for weekly meetings.

Sketch Performer

Boogie Manja
New York, New York
01.2016 - 03.2018
  • Performed multiple characters per monthly show.
  • Pitched Sketch ideas and materials to the writers in order to generate characters that I could best perform and deliver funny ideas to the audience.
  • Studied scripts to successfully portray over 4 different characters in comedic productions through speech, body language and movement.
  • Ability to memorize lines within 2 days for an entire show.
  • Collaborated with directors, producers, writing staff and performance teams to determine optimal performance strategies and perfect approaches.

Acting & Modeling Instructor

Barbizon Modeling School
Baltimore, Maryland
07.2011 - 07.2012
  • Kept students on-task with proactive behavior modification and positive reinforcement strategies during individual talent presentations.
  • Fostered team collaboration between students through group projects for the acting or modeling activity of the day.
  • Revised lesson plans and course content to facilitate and moderate classroom discussions and student centered learning for professional growth in the arts.
  • Promoted physical, mental and social development by implementing classroom talent showcases and runway presentations.

Solo Performer & Writer

OCI Entertainment, LLC
Baltimore, Maryland
04.2009 - 04.2011
  • Wrote, performed, and toured my one woman show in Baltimore, MD, Atlanta, GA, North Hollywood, CA, and New York, NY.
  • Coordinated production schedules and activities for 11 theaterical shows.
  • Prepared contracts and finalized paperwork for tech, photographer, & videographer hires.
  • Identified target audience and developed a marketing campaigned that led to sold out performances.
  • Garnered several press coverages and acclaims from Broadway World, The Baltimore Times, The City Paper, etc.

Actress

Children's Theater Association
Baltimore, Maryland
11.2009 - 07.2010
  • Toured, sang and acted as part of a 5 member creative ensembles for dramatic and comedic performances for elementary & middle school students along the east coast.
  • Met with production director to discuss required poses, movements and persona to be portrayed.
  • Supported production needs by setting up and breaking down stages, moving props and distributing supplies.
  • Conducted interviews with media professionals, bloggers, and online personalities to promote performances.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Theater

University Of Southern California, Los Angeles
08.2003 - 05.2008

Minored in Communication and Entertaiment

Skills

Improvisation

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Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Hobbies

Roller Blading, Boxing, Crocheting

Timeline

Actress - Posche Models
01.2016 - Current
Sketch Performer - Boogie Manja
01.2016 - 03.2018
Podcaster - Street Class Podcast
06.2015 - 04.2018
Improviser - Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater
06.2013 - 03.2020
Acting & Modeling Instructor - Barbizon Modeling School
07.2011 - 07.2012
Actress - Children's Theater Association
11.2009 - 07.2010
Solo Performer & Writer - OCI Entertainment, LLC
04.2009 - 04.2011
University Of Southern California - Bachelor of Arts, Theater
08.2003 - 05.2008
Onyi OkoliImproviser * Writer * Comedienne