Keisha Zollar

Keisha Zollar is an American writer, comedian, and actress. She is a founding member of Upright Citizen Brigade Theatre's first all-black team Astronomy Club and is co-head writer for the group's Netflix series. Zollar was on the writing staff of Busy Tonight, and The Opposition with Jordan Klepper.[1]

Career

Zollar began performing improv comedy in college.[2] After receiving her MFA in acting from The New School, she started taking classes at UCB in New York.[2] She names Lucille Ball, Moms Mabley, and Whoopi Goldberg as her comedic inspirations.[3]

In 2013, Zollar and several other Black performers at UCB in Los Angeles formed the Astronomy Club.[1] The group is known as the theater's first all-Black house team.[1] In 2019, Netflix ordered a variety sketch series centered around the Astronomy Club, produced by Kenya Barris. The show premiered on December 6, 2019.[4] Zollar and team member Jonathan Braylock are the show's co-head writers.[1]

She acted in a supporting role as Grace on the HBO series Divorce and has also acted in Orange is the New Black and Human Kind Of.[5] She was a staff writer for The Opposition with Jordan Klepper and Busy Tonight.[4]

Diversity work

Zollar's weaves the topic of race into her work.[5] She used Kickstarter to fund and host a panel discussion called "An Uncomfortable Conversation About Race."[2] She and her husband, Andrew Kimler, hosted an improv show about their interracial marriage.[6] They also co-host a podcast, Applying it Liberally, where they discuss their political beliefs.[6]

Zollar was hired as diversity coordinator at UCB in New York in 2010 and held the position for four years.[7] The position was unpaid and included the cost of two classes every six months. She has spoken about systemic reasons for the lack of non-white performers in improv comedy.[7] She briefly left the theater before returning, citing isolation as one of the few women of color performers.[7] Zollar has spoken about issues related to the recruitment and retention of non-white performers at UCB and in mainstream comedy.[8]

Personal life

Zollar is married to Andrew Kimler.[3]

References
  1. Tingley, Anna; Tingley, Anna (2019-07-16). "Astronomy Club Sets Netflix Sketch Comedy Series With Kenya Barris Producing (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  2. "On The Couch with Keisha Zollar". IMPOSE Magazine. 2015-03-12. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  3. "Interview: Keisha Zollar". BanterGirl. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  4. "Astronomy Club Is the Crown Jewel of a Groundbreaking Year for Black Sketch Comedy | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  5. "'OITNB's' Keisha Zollar Wants to Have 'an Uncomfortable Conversation About Race' (Video)". TheWrap. 2014-09-08. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  6. Pilat, Kasia (2018-04-05). "6 Comedy Shows to Catch in NYC This Weekend". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  7. "Why 'SNL' May Never Be This White Again". TheWrap. 2013-11-08. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  8. McDonald, Soraya Nadia. "Diversity problems persist for Upright Citizens Brigade comedy troupe, students say". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
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