Cast & Crew

The Real MVPs

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Matt Hooper

Host & Writer

Matt is a writer, comedian and entrepreneur. He hosts the original podcast and stage show Live! From Tomorrow, as well as the IBM Blockchain Pulse podcast.

Prior to all this, he was the first Vice President of Open Innovation at the Barclays Investment Bank where he launched Rise New York, the model for Barclays' global innovation programs. He was also the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at WeWork Labs, and continues to work with and occasionally invest in startups as a mentor for the NUMA accelerator and at Yale University’s Tsai CITY.

 
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Kelley Quinn

Actor

Kelley is a writer, actor, and Missy Elliott superfan whose work has been featured on Vulture, Viceland, Reductress, FastCompany, and elsewhere. She was a house improv and sketch comedy performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (RIP). Her web series Straight Marriage, co-created with Chris Burns, tells the story of two gay actors who decide to make a dramatic series about a straight relationship. Commercially, she has appeared in ads for Seagram's Gin, Lifetime Original Movies, and, tragically, Poo-Pourri.

 
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Anne Veal

Actor

Anne is a performer, teacher, and theatre maker who will happily espouse (at length) why she thinks improv is good for the soul. In the Before Times, she taught in NYC at The Greenhouse and Reckless Theatre, where she also served as Associate Artistic Director. Her stage work has been seen in DC; Prague; Kansas City; Chicago; Basin, MT; Louisville; and New York. Internationally, she has improvised at Rapid Fire Theatre, Der Andre Teatret, and the Vancouver International Improv Festival. She recently co-founded the non-profit organization The Which House to help support artists who are dreaming the future. Her pandemic goal is to finally read every book on her shelves.

 
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Matthew Walters-Bowens

Singer, Actor

Matthew is a New York City-based performer. He has appeared in countless musicals like “Ragtime,” “Shrek, The Musical,” “Parade,” and “The Wiz” as well as operas like “Carmen” and shows like “Suits.”

 
 

The Live! From Tomorrow Band

Academy Blues Project

ABP is a multi-genre quartet based in NYC, blending electric storytelling and elements of power pop, classic soul and psychedelia into an irresistibly singular sound.  ABP cuts its teeth performing live, averaging 40+ tour dates annually in the band’s hometown and beyond. Drawing from a diverse catalog of the band's songs and dozens of unexpected, crate-digging covers, the band's live shows have never featured the same setlist twice in eight years of performances.  ABP's latest trio of records, Let's Brunch Vol. I - III, were released progressively through 2019 via the band's own Witch Hat Recordings.  

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Ben Easton

Songwriter & Composer/Musical Score

Ben Easton is a composer, pianist, music director and producer.  He has recorded and produced five records with The Academy Blues Project, and performs in-residence at Sid Gold's Request Room, NYC's flagship contemporary piano bar.  Easton's original music has been featured in various independent TV, live theater and podcast productions.  He lives in Brooklyn, NY.

 
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Mark Levy

Songwriter

Mark Levy is a songwriter and musician living in New York City. He is the bandleader of and singer/guitarist for The Academy Blues Project. His original music has been featured in various independent TV, Live Theater, and Podcast productions in New York and San Francisco.