# 16 Comedy Director Jessica Mitolo on Taboo Comedy, When "Yes And" is Bad, and More

Jessica Mitolo is a brilliant sketch Comedy director who has worked at The Second City, The Nursery, and on 40 plus productions all over the world. Jonny Nelson and Jess talk about comedy theaters post pandemic, taboo comedy, when "yes and" is bad, people who are too nice, and needing something new and fresh in live entertainment.

Jessica Mitolo is a performer, director, and teaching artist based in Chicago Illinois where she teaches improvisation and comedy writing to students of all ages and skill levels at The Second City. Independent of Second City, Jessica has trained comedians in over 10 different countries and leads corporate improv and idea-generating workshops. Jessica is also a performer and director (and the Education Manager at The Nursery!). She has directed more than 40 productions and was a participant in LaMama International’s 2017 Directing Symposium as well as The Lincoln Center’s 2018 Directors Lab. She is proud to have directed one of The Second City's National Touring Companies and to have worked as Assistant to the Director on Second City's Mainstage production, South Side of Heaven.

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