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PERFORMANCE

Improv, acting, puppetry and live performance

I’m an improviser who performs regularly at Chicago theaters including The Second City, Home Comedy Theater and iO Theater. I’m on the house team “Grief Circle” at Home Comedy Theater.

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I’ve completed conservatory programs at The Second City and Home Comedy Theater, studied the foundational work of Viola Spolin with Aretha Sills, trained in acting at Acting Studio Chicago and HB Studios in New York City, and completed the improv program at The People’s Improv Theater in New York City.

IMPROV + VIDEO

This is a compilation of clips from shows with an improv team I helped form.

More video work

Art imitating life.

A goofy video inspired by some of my daughter’s Netflix viewing habits.

I studied science journalism, so naturally when I had to produce a journalistic video, I made a tongue-in-cheek film about germs in the style of a 1950s PSA. (Thanks to CUNY for giving me plenty of room to experiment).

A spoof infomercial for CutliQ, the ridiculously over-engineered scissors you never knew you didn’t need.

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Grief Circle

I’m a member of the house team Grief Circle and perform regularly at Home Comedy Theater in Chicago.​

Conversations We Can’t Have
PUPPETRY + PERFORMANCE

I perform original puppet shows for museums, festivals and live events. My shows range from scripted to fully improvised — and I write all of my own material.

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I’ve toured my improvised puppet show, Conversations We Can’t Have, in Chicago and Amsterdam, and have performed at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago for World Puppetry Day.

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I’m actively seeking venues and festivals in Chicago and beyond.

Amy Kraft with her puppet Gum Gum at improvised puppet show Chicago

Amy + Gum Gum — IMPROAmsterdam
Photo courtesy of Gina Bjørgo, @notice.and.create

Amy Kraft and Phat Al (Second City Toronto) onstage at IMPROAmsterdam

Amy + Phatt Al — IMPROAmsterdam

Photo courtesy of Gina Bjørgo, @notice.and.create

Amy Kraft improvised puppet show IMPROAmsterdam

Amy + Gum Gum — IMPROAmsterdam

Photo courtesy of Gina Bjørgo, @notice.and.create

FEATURED SHOWS
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Conversations We Can’t Have

Improvised puppet show

An original improvised puppet show written and performed by Amy Kraft. Amy has toured Conversations We Can’t Have in Chicago and Amsterdam, bringing her mix of improv, puppetry and original characters to audiences at home and abroad.

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Condemned to a Life

Solo show with puppets

Condemned to a Life is a dark comedy told with puppets about surviving childhood trauma, addiction and a brother serving life in prison. At its heart, it’s a story about love, forgiveness and how humor can be the only way through.

TEACHING + WORKSHOPS

I teach improv to kids and adults in Chicago — in English and French. I founded the improv for kids program at Home Comedy Theater and have taught at the Lycée Français de Chicago.

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I also lead workshops for professionals, particularly journalists, healthcare communicators and brain injury survivors, using improv to sharpen listening, storytelling and on-the-spot thinking.

Amy Kraft kids improv program Home Comedy theater

Kids playing onstage after an improv class at Home Comedy Theater.

Photo courtesy of Amy Kraft.

Amy Kraft Klutz book The Science of Rainbows

Amy leads a workshop at the Lycee Francais de Chicago.

Photo courtesy of Amy Kraft.

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