Meet Our Team!
Zak Nelson
Artistic Director
Zak has been doing sketch comedy since 2008, and started performing in Seattle in 2011. He then became staff in 2014, and has been a part of making Seattle SketchFest happen since that point. One of his favorite parts about sketch comedy is building community with other comedians. In his spare time he can be found getting soundly beaten at Magic: The Gathering, watching soccer, or making an elaborate meal.
Cassia Ward
Stage Manager
Cassia has been living underground since right before you read this, and is finally emerging into the light to stage manage this festival. They started in sketch comedy in 2017 as a part of the "Responsible" "Adults", and are now an active member of the sketch team the Maple Daddies, who have been performing across the country at our sister festivals. Their favorite part of sketch is meeting other funny people and making a fool of themselves in front of a paying audience. Outside of the theater, Cassia enjoys rolling around, scrabbling, and scrangling.
Nick Kruger
Staff
Nick has been in the sketch comedy scene since 2013 beginning with the Ubiquitous They sketch comedy team at the University of Puget Sound. In 2017 he became one of the original members of the Maple Daddies sketch group and has been performing around Seattle and other places ever since. In 2024 Nick joined SketchFest Seattle and has been supporting the organization ever since. When he’s not stressing over some comedy thing he overextended himself on, he’s riding his bike, playing hockey, or fighting his phone addiction.
Courtney Heuer
Staff
Courtney got introduced to sketch comedy at Shoreline Community College, performing in a Sketch and Improv Show in 2017. Soon after, The “Responsible” “Adults” group was formed, more recently merging with the Maple Daddies in 2025. Her favorite part of SketchFest is making memories with friends from around the country. From her love of events and being Very Type A, she joined Seattle SketchFest staff in 2025 with the goal of making this fest stand out for its welcoming community and beautiful city. Outside of sketch she enjoys crafting, baking, crossword puzzles, and going to Woodland Park Zoo.
SaraJo Geiger
Staff
SaraJo has been performing sketch comedy for over a decade and has loved it since before she had a fully developed sense of object permanence. She once dressed as Matt Foley, inspirational speaker, for Halloween when she was a child (Thanks for everything, Chris). She teaches comedy, written and improvised, out and about the small big city of Seattle. Co-Founder of “Good Crash”, and solo character comedian, SaraJo has performed at Seattle Sketch Festival, Denver Sketch Festival, NYC Sketch Festival, and Chicago Sketch Festival. You might recognize her from a Smartsheet commercial on Apple+, Netflix’s “American Vandal” season 2 episode 5, or somewhere else in the world (she occasionally leaves her apartment). Outside of the beautiful wonderful world of sketch comedy, SaraJo enjoys yoga, boxing, and sitting on her couch.
Michael Henning
Tech
Michael joined the Seattle sketch comedy scene in 2020 to help the festival go virtual and stuck around after to become their resident A/V tech. While he’s not a performing sketch comedian, his knacks for timing, rhythm and computers have supported many Seattle sketch comedy shows, and have even aided tours to festivals in Portland, Denver and Chicago! When the other staff allow him out of the tech booth, you'll find him playing video games, organizing cables, or composing jazzy electronic music.
Abi Vederoff
Staff
Abi was introduced to sketch comedy via her partner (marital and otherwise), Steven of the Maple Daddies, back in 2017. While not a performer herself, she has spent every year since then attending shows, traveling the country to out-of-town fests, and occasionally contributing a top-tier bit to the mix. Bolstered by this love of comedy and a knack for administration she officially joined staff in 2025. When not fiddling with Canva or crashing a Maple Daddies rehearsal, you can find Abi knitting, making a recipe she found on TikTok, or bumping into the corner of every wall in her house.
Want to join in on the fun? Fill out Our Volunteer Form!