Meet the Team
Nathan Hartswick (Co-Founder)
Nathan Hartswick is a performer, educator, producer, and the co-founder and co-owner of Vermont Comedy Club, a world class standup, improv and sketch comedy theater in Burlington, VT. Opened in 2015, VCC quickly became one of the most well-regarded comedy venues in the country, attracting the likes of such legendary comedians as Marc Maron, Tig Notaro and Maria Bamford.
Nathan performed for many years with VCC’s mainstage improv team. As a member of “The Unmentionables” and “Kingdom Kids,” he has performed on festivals in Montreal, New York, California, Florida and more.
A teacher of standup and improv classes, Nathan has studied extensively with instructors from Upright Citizens Brigade, The Second City and iO, and taught workshops at many improv theaters and festivals. He was twice voted “Best VT Standup Comedian” by readers of Seven Days, was a recipient of VT Business Magazine’s “Rising Stars” award, and is the producer of “Corporations Are People Too” (an improvised satire podcast).
Natalie Miller (Co-Founder)
Natalie Miller is a performer, educator, producer, and the co-founder and co-owner of Vermont Comedy Club, a world class standup, improv and sketch comedy theater in Burlington, VT. Opened in 2015, VCC quickly became one of the most well-regarded comedy venues in the country, attracting the likes of such legendary comedians as Marc Maron, Tig Notaro, and Maria Bamford.
Natalie performed for many years with VCC’s mainstage improv team. As a member of “The Unmentionables” and “Kingdom Kids,” she has performed on festivals in Montreal, New York, California, Florida and more.
A teacher of improv and sketch classes, Natalie has studied extensively with instructors at Upright Citizens Brigade, The Second City, and iO, and taught workshops at many theaters and festivals. She trained in voice, theater and dance at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and has performed in national and regional theater productions, films and commercials. Natalie was a recipient of VT Business Magazine’s “Rising Stars” award.
Mo Doukhi (Kitchen Manager)
Mo Doukhi is a good-natured guy with an easy laugh who has worked in many roles at the comedy club over the past 2+ years.
Currently he is the kitchen manager, and is responsible for the development and execution of the food menus at Happy Place Cafe and Vermont Comedy Club. (A few of his family recipes from the Middle East have even made it onto the menus recently!)
Mo is also an extremely funny local standup comedian. He pairs a wickedly dark sense of humor with a charming smile, so you don’t realize what you’re laughing at until it’s too late.
Bonnie Hiliadis (Marketing & Assistant Manager)
Bonnie Hiliadis is a jack-of-all trades that you can find doing just about everything at VCC, from running the show and seating the room on a Friday night, to fixing broken equipment in the building, to planning and executing marketing campaigns and booking private and corporate events for the business.
Honestly, just typing that made us tired. Sounds like Bonnie needs to calm down and stop being so productive all the time.
Anyway, if you see her around the club, ask Bonnie about her adorable dog! Or her adorable Airbnb! Or both!
Sam Kurnit (Technical Director)
Sam Kurnit is an actor, voiceover artist, improviser and educator. He has studied at The Second City in Chicago, as well as iO and The Annoyance Theatre. He has acted in films, TV and commercials, and provided voiceover for film narration, audio books, and video games.
Sam has worked for VCC since its opening in 2015. He served for many years as Box Office Manager, transitioning to producer of VCC live stream shows during the pandemic. Currently, he is responsible for technical production on all of VCC shows. Sam performs and teaches improv classes at VCC, and is a member of the VCC Touring Company.
Jared Hall (Cafe Manager/Barista)
Jared Hall is the daytime manager of Happy Place Cafe, the coffee shop that operates out of the Vermont Comedy Club lounge Wed-Sun, 8am-3pm.
In addition to his duties slinging lattes at 101 Main, Jared is a standup comedian, actor, improviser and writer.
He was the 2022 winner of the VT’s Funniest Comedian contest, and if that weren’t enough, he and his girlfriend Kaitie won the “March Madness” two-person improv competition the same year. He produced several long-running comedy shows in Burlington, and is currently a member of the improv team “Alice.”
Brian DeLaBruere (Marketing/Social Media Manager)
Brian DeLaBruere is a multitalented performer and filmmaker who manages all aspects of Vermont Comedy Club’s social media presence and marketing strategy. An accomplished photographer and videographer, he creates fun, visually appealing content that gets more eyes on VCC (and more butts in VCC seats).
Brian also performed improv with “The Unmentionables” and “Kingdom Kids” at VCC and festivals throughout the country. His wild style and reverence for the art form is well-known, and make him a popular teacher at VCC. Brian also co-wrote, co-directed and performed in VCC’s first sketch revue in 2019.
Tina Fey (Co-Mascot)
Yes, she is named for that Tina. Adopted in 2015, Tina is a sassy, three-legged mutt from the south who is believed to have beagle and dachshund heritage.
When allowed into the empty showroom at the comedy club, her keen nose can find microscopic crumbs the mop may have missed. In her spare time, she hates the UPS driver.
Ellen (Co-Mascot)
No, she is not named for that Ellen. Adopted in 2019, Ellen is a bundle of energy with the canter of a racehorse and the disposition of a teddy bear.
She hails from the south, and gets lots of compliments on the street due to her brindle markings and permanently cocked ear. One day she hopes to be strong enough to play tug-of-war with a Mack truck.
Penny (Co-Mascot)
Nobody has spent more time at Happy Place Cafe than Penny. In fact, she’s such a staple in our daytime coffee stop that she’s been given her own green leather throne.
She loves people, is soft as heck, and has only three feet.
Her owner, Holly, owns Wild Perennial Jewelry!
Night night, see you soon