Meet The Team

Player

Janet Atherton

Born in Burnley, Lancashire, North West England, and following her family's tradition of
"treading the boards", Janet's love of theatre and performing blossomed from an early age.
Her first professional gig was dancing Irish jigs on her grandad's "magic carpet". She explored
acting and singing in school productions, on Blackpool Theatre stage, with Burnley Light Opera
Company, and with a folk music group.
Upon fulfilling her dream of circumnavigating the world, she settled in Mendocino. Janet has
since enjoyed performing with the Mendocino Music Festival choir, acting in stage and radio
productions for Mendocino Theatre Company, and taking part in independent films.
Her Hit and Run Theater improv journey began in 2016, with lots of laughter and learning along
the way. Janet may be found several nights a week honing her improv skills on the Cafe
Beaujolais "stage".

Player & Producer

Mindy Ballentine

Mindy’s love of theater started in high school. Years later, she and her brother created a show that aired on local Atlanta, GA television. The Feature from the Black Lagoon was a forum for content creators to share their short films (pre YouTube) Mindy and her brother Jeff created comedy skits between the films. She is a graduate of the improv group Upright Citizens Brigade and joined Hit and Run around 2018.  She has coached The Mendocino High School Improv Club with Doug Nunn since 2019 and has taught Improv at Three Rivers Charter School for 5 years to students from 3rd grade to 8th grade.  “I am thrilled to be a part of the great institution of Hit and Run!" 

Player

Gabrielle Blanc

Gabrielle's short, sporadic and eclectic career includes a stint in the elementary school end-of-year performance in France, a role in a German-speaking play (she does not speak German), and a few improv sessions across the North American continent. After many years of refining her humour on unwilling relatives and friends she is happy to have found a home with Hit and Run.

Musical Director

Joshua Raoul Brody

Joshua Raoul Brody has been accompanying improv since 1979 when he was on Robin Williams’ first tour. He has been BATS Improv’s musical director for virtually its entire 40 years, and has worked with just about every other Bay Area improv group, as well as accompanying and teaching around the world. When asked to describe himself in one word, he replies “Unable to follow instructions."

Player

Joel Ginsberg

Joel Ginsberg is new to improv comedy, working out with Hit and Run Theater since 2023. Having grown up in Albion, he returned in 2020 after 40 years away. His theater career began with the role of Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Judy Mayhan in Mendocino in 1975. He played the role of Pippin and performed in a Rogers & Hart review in college productions, as well as performing classical voice in recitals. He has performed with many singing groups, from Renaissance music to barbershop to contemporary choirs, including the Mendocino Music Festival Chorale. He appeared in the Mendocino Theatre Company's production of In A Word in 2022. In addition to Hit & Run, Joel plays folk guitar and is always on the hunt for musicians to jam and sing with.

Lighting

Malik Ginsberg

Hit & Run is extremely grateful for Malik's lighting talent and comedic timing. Thank for you keeping our future bright, Malik!

Player

Jill Lemos

Jill's great grandfather came to Mendocino from the Azores in the 1850s. Six generations later, her family still lives on the Mendocino coast. Jill grew up singing and dancing and performed for many seasons with Gloriana Opera Company. She was a charter member of Nona Baker's Derby High Tap Troupe and can still be found today dancing with her Fosse grandkids. This retired Postmaster can't remember lines anymore, so she has enjoyed playing with the Hit and Run improv team for the past couple of decades.

Player & Producer

Doug Nunn

Doug Nunn has been part of Hit and Run Theater since 1979 and worked as one half of the comedy team, Burns (Tracy) and Nunn from 1985-92. Doug began coaching improv in the late ‘80s, working with actors and drama students in the western US and Europe, most extensively in Germany and Britain. He has coached the Improv Club at Mendocino High School in Northern California since 2000, has produced improv and comedy shows from Mendocino to L.A. to London, and worked as an animator on The Simpsons Movie in 2007. Since 2017 Doug has been interviewing artists and activists for SnapSessions! podcasts. First called “a knucklehead” by his Dad as a youth, he continues to hold the title proudly.

Player

Nicole Traber

Niki first joined Hit & Run onstage in 2025, though she started playing with the team for years before that. Niki has performed in many Mendocino Coast Theater shows and specializes in outlandish sound effects and pantomime.

Lighting

Sallie Werson

Sallie Werson originally is from Berkeley, CA. Her theater career began in the 4th grade when she had the lead role as the littlest angel in a play by the same name. She then took a break from the stage until her thirties, when she was part of the SF Women’s Street Theater, Lilith. After her move to Mendocino with her partner Eileen, she took a class from the notorious Burns and Nunn, and she was forever hooked on improv. Since the early 90s, she’s enjoyed lighting most of Hit & Run’s shows, being on stage for a few shows, and stage managing when needed, including the award winning The Boys of Hit & Run. She’s also been found at other venues—MMF, MTC, Gloriana in the tech booth or backstage. Sallie works as an addictions therapist and also at Arrowhead Ranch as a rehab specialist. She has a passion for swimming and singing (usually not at the same time).