Monster Improv founder and artistic director, Jose Gonzalez (he/him/él), is a native of Phoenix, Arizona (O’odham Jeveḍ land) who studied acting, movement, and performance with bree valle (Oceanquest Acting Studio / ASU School of Music, Dance, and Theatre / Cuesta College) from 1998 to 2001. Since 2001, he has been studying and performing improv comedy all across North America and parts of Europe. In 2003, Jose was a founding member of Galapagos, one of the pioneering troupes of longform improv in Phoenix who for nearly 20 years, relentlessly performed around the valley and in dozens of improv festivals across the country/world. Jose was a co-founder and producer for the Phoenix Improv Festival (2002-2021) and a co-founder of Arizona’s first nonprofit improv theater, The Torch Theatre (2007-2022, RIP). He also founded the vaguely Halloween-inspired GHOSTFEST Improv Marathon in 2011, which still happens every October.
Currently, Jose Gonzalez performs regularly at the wonderful Bridge Improv Theater; around town as a guest (at sweet venues like the NCT Phoenix and Second Beat Improv Theater); and via Monster Improv shows like The Neighborhood (which he established in 2004, inspired by iO Chicago’s whimsically named show, The Armando Diaz Experience, Hootenanny, and Theatrical Movement). Specifically, you can see Jose perform around town in the valley improv supergroup, The Collaboratory; with the Harold team, SUPERLOOP at the Bridge; with all the amazing performers of Drag Me To Improv; and the festival touring groups, VerizonQwest with Marisol Chavez, Loretta Ocelot with Marisol and Franny, and Minnesota Public Radio with Marisol, Caitlin Rogers, and Meredith Howell.
Outside of improv (but somewhat related), Jose is a published writer who contributes remotely to the live sketch comedy news show, This Week This Week (Open Fist Theater, Los Angeles) and “The Dump with Rebecca Barnard” podcast. Jose is also a co-host of the “Sweet Podtato” podcast and was a cast member of Austin, Texas’s ColdTowne Theater-based comedy podcast, “Victrola.” As a storyteller, Jose hosts Vinyl Voices, a storytelling/music-sharing show (currently on hiatus) with DJ Elle MNOP and is the frequently appearing swing host for the Phoenix chapter of The Moth StorySLAM, monthly at the Crescent Ballroom in Downtown Phoenix. He’s also very proud to be a board member of the all-ages arts and music venue, The Trunk Space, where he’s been a fan, friend, volunteer, and performer since it started in 2004.
Jose loves the life he shares with his hilarious, talented, and wonderfully supportive wife, Nina Miller, and their two cats, Penny and Zipper.