History
Formally, The Nerdist School, most recently helmed by Jen Curran (Harvard Sailing Team), Lindsey Barrow (Casual), and Randy Thompson (Loose Canon Collective), was sick and tired of business as usual. As the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements gained momentum, these Nerdist School higher ups decided to take a different approach. With an intersectional, feminist mindset leading the charge, inspired by values like equality, diversity, and inclusion, The Ruby is trashing the old-white-guys- at-the-top idea. They're bringing in women, people of color, and queer voices to round out leadership and faculty positions, while also creating and producing shows by underrepresented voices. The Ruby aims to reflect the fundamental shift happening in America right now; it is a creative community for everyone, brought to you by feminist women and men who believe it's long since time for a change in the comedy scene.
Specialties
The Ruby LA, an inclusive comedy theater and school, openly founded on the principles of intersectional feminism. The Ruby's co-founders, Barrow, Curran, and Thompson, are actors, comedians and writers in their own right; and join The Ruby LA from previous faculty and administrative positions at places like Nerdist School, UCB LA, The PIT NYC, and NYU Tisch. Faculty at The Ruby will include veteran comedians and creators in the industry, like Dwayne Colbert (Silicon Valley), Rebekka Johnson (G.L.O.W.), Muriel Montgomery (Quick & Funny Musicals), Melissa Pryor (Big Little Lies), Ashley Ward (Baby Wants Candy), Patricia Villetto (Dreamworks TV), Bill Posley (G.L.O.W.), Steph Garcia (The Catch), Ptolemy Slocum (Westworld), and more. The Ruby offers an updated course curriculum to support comedians with more of the tools they need to be well-rounded creators.