SideQuest Theater is Philadelphia’s home for adventurous unscripted theater, collaborative storytelling, and creative expression– on and off the stage. Come see our one-of-a-kind live shows, where you’ll shout out suggestions and share an evening of laughter with your favorite people. Or, take one of our classes, where you’ll meet new friends and learn to create spontaneous stories of your own!

Josh Holober-Ward (he/him) is an improvised theater producer, director, instructor, and performer. In 2017, Josh founded Roll Play: An Improvised Adventure, which has grown into one of the most successful improv shows in Philadelphia. Over the past decade he has taught and performed improv professionally at several institutions such as CSz Philadelphia and The Unscripted Project– a local non-profit which brings improv to Philly’s public schools. Josh is a lifelong advocate of the theatrical arts, and believes in the transformative power of creative expression, community, laughter, and stories. He is passionate about bringing the joys and benefits of improv to as wide an audience as possible, bringing creative visions to life, and welcoming new adventurers to the stage.

Kelsey Hébert (she/her) is a theater artist from Abita Springs, Louisiana. She joined the Philly community after graduating with a BFA in performance from the University of Southern Mississippi. Kelsey has worked with multiple theaters in the region including the Arden Theatre Company, Act II Playhouse, and Hedgerow Theatre; she currently performs with ComedySportz, Roll Play: An Improvised Adventure, and KDM. With a foot in both scripted theater and improv, Kelsey is no stranger to collaborative storytelling, and has seen first-hand the power it holds. She hopes that SideQuest Theater will be a hub for stories and storytellers, where creatives, audiences, and adventurers converge to revel in the joy a great story can bring.

Dominick “Dom” Arp (he/him) has been an improviser in the Philly community for over 10 years. He is currently performing with Roll Play, Show and Tell Live, and KDM. He is also the producer and director of 3-2-1 and Be Kind: A Rewind Show. He has experience as an improv teacher at a number of institutions including Drexel University, the Franklin Institute, and the Philly Improv Theater. Currently he is also the president of the Philadelphia Improv Social Club. Having additionally trained in public speaking, theater, & business administration, he is passionate about the power of combining theory, theatrics, and policy in order to grow the Philly improv community.

When SideQuest became the new stewards of the Adrienne Mainstage, it was clear this beautiful space needed a lot of love. The chairs were worn out, dirty, and broken. Every wall, pillar, and ceiling was full of 20 years worth of holes, tears, staples, and screws. From January to April, our core renovation team invested over a combined 1000+ hours of work to make this theater what it is now.

Cara Hammer – Project Management & Reupholstery
Alex Tallarico – Risers & Seating Installation
Josh Holober-Ward – Patching & Painting
Kelsey Hébert – Reupholstery & Painting
Dominick Arp – Cleaning

We'd also like to thank our incredible volunteers who jumped in to help tear up carpet, remove staples, sand, clean, and countless other tasks:

Mike Cornish, Kevin Regan, Isabel Beck-Roe, Jimmy O’Donnell, Abbie Roberts, Mykey Carpenter, Mary Carpenter, Sam Miller, Yona Yurwit, Marly Logue, Ramya Sivakumar, Leticia Viloria, Joey Tucker, Elm DeMong, Lisa Palfy, Jessie Preisendorfer, Emily Davis, Sofya Piro, Christine Shaw, and Francesca Martin. Thank you!

Thank you to Brian McCann for his fantastic work with our front door design!

Special extra thanks to former SideQuest team member & co-founder Cara Hammer for her contributions to the theater's launch and renovations.