about us
“In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too), those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”
our mission
Our mission is to empower people of all backgrounds to play, grow, and connect through inclusive, high-quality comedy and performance experiences—cultivating laughter, creativity, and community in a vibrant space where joy and personal growth thrive.
what we do
Through our workshops and programs, we aim to boost morale and improve the quality of life for all, using the power of improvisation as a dynamic tool for personal growth and enrichment. Our unique approach is grounded in the belief that everyone has the capacity to become more confident, creative, and adaptable.
We offer a diverse range of improvisation-based experiences, from corporate team, culture, and camaraderie-building workshops that enhance collaboration and communication, to adult improv classes, to high-quality live comedy shows, featuring established groups like Sharks Barksley, improv jams, musical improv, comedic competitions, and other community-produced events.
who we are
Haus of Comedy was founded in 2023 by Jessilee Windhaus under Empire Arts Collective’s artistic incubation program before transitioning into becoming its own independent entity in August of 2024.
We set ourselves apart through a distinct fusion of expertise, professionalism, and a dedicated commitment to fostering both personal and professional development. Our services are distinguished by their adaptability, inclusivity, and the transformative influence of improvisation. We prioritize inclusivity and a sense of belonging for all participants and staff.
Anchored in Sacramento, our founder and foundational values are deeply rooted in community investment, offering a comprehensive understanding of Sacramento's unique essence and values. We pride ourselves on being a driving force for positive change, helping individuals and organizations of all ages unlock their full potential and embrace the power of “yes, and…”
DEIA statement
At Haus of Comedy, our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) is a guiding principle in everything we do. We acknowledge that cultural bias, systemic racism, and inequity continue to shape experiences in Sacramento and beyond. Part of our mission is to actively work against those forces by embedding racially equitable practices into our operations and community engagement.
We are dedicated to reimagining systems, structures, and norms to better serve marginalized communities. This includes critically examining practices historically labeled as “professional” that have perpetuated exclusion—particularly for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)—and creating new ways forward that emphasize equity and belonging.
In all of our shows, classes, workshops, and community events, we strive to build inclusive and accessible environments with minimal barriers to participation, so that anyone can experience the joy, creativity, and connection that comedy brings.
We remain committed to offering programming that welcomes adults of all backgrounds—across race, ethnicity, nationality, ability, age, gender identity, and sexual identity—while continuing to expand opportunities for voices and perspectives that have been historically underrepresented in the arts.
meet the team
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Jessilee Windhaus
FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jessilee Windhaus (she/they) is an improviser, actor, producer, instructor, and entrepreneur born and raised in Sacramento. She brings over 10 years of experience in leadership in the performing arts and over 20 years of expertise in improv performance and instruction. She is the Founder of Haus of Comedy, Co-Founder of Empire Arts Collective, and Founder of That Plus Chips live sketch and improv comedy group. Jessilee has trained with the Upright Citizen's Brigade, The Groundlings, and many other esteemed improv instructors, and holds a Bachelor's in Theatre from CSU Sacramento. Jessilee has performed both nationwide and locally at comedy hubs like Sacramento Comedy Spot, STAB! Comedy, ComedySportz Sacramento, Empire Arts Collective, Dinner Detective, and Sutter Street Theatre. They served as the Director of High School League at ComedySportz Sacramento, Tour Actor/Director with the renowed Missoula Children's Theatre, and as a Teaching Artist at B Street Theater (current). Jessilee's experience also includes Project Manager at UC Davis Health's Early Psychosis Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTA), overseeing a $27+ million dollar project serving 42 California counties through a collaboration with UC Davis, Stanford, and UC San Francisco. -
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Andy Sarouhan
DIRECTOR OF DAYTIME OPERATIONS
Andy Sarouhan (he/him) has been a professional improviser and improv instructor for 25 years. His improvisation journey began in 1992 when he joined his high school improvisation team. That event started a chain reaction that eventually resulted in a BA in Theatre from UC San Diego and an MFA in Creative Writing from UC Riverside. From 2003-2019, Andy performed, directed, and coached extensively in San Francisco through BATS Improv, ImprovWorks, and Un-Scripted Theater Company. In 2019, he relocated to Sacramento and has been active in the local improvisation scene as an instructor at B Street Theatre and a performer and producer at STAB! Comedy Theater and Windhaus Improv. For 15 years, Andy has taken the practices and philosophies of improvisation to settings outside the theatre, facilitating skill-building workshops and corporate role-playing experiences for countless professional entities, ranging from public school districts to Fortune 500, and pretty much everything in-between. The dude just likes his work! -
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Nick Armstrong
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Nick Armstrong (he/him) is an accomplished actor, comedian, and improviser with a career spanning over two decades. Known for his boundless energy and quick wit, Nick has performed on stages and screens across the country, earning a reputation as a dynamic and versatile performer, teacher, and writer. As an improviser, Nick is one of the most recognizable names in the comedy community. He is the founder of Improv Utopia, co-owner of RISE Comedy, Haus of Comedy, and CrowdWork where he has helped shape the next generation of improvisers by fostering a supportive and inclusive comedy community. He has taught and performed improv at some of the most renowned comedy theaters in the world, including The Groundlings, iO, and Westside Comedy. Nick’s acting credits include roles in hit television shows like The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, Parks and Recreation, and Bulldozer which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025. Whether he’s on stage making audiences laugh, teaching students to embrace their creativity, or building a thriving comedy community, Nick Armstrong’s passion for comedy, community, and storytelling is at the heart of everything he does.
about the Eagle Theater
Haus of Comedy currently resides at the historic Eagle Theater
about the eagle
History: Owned by CA State Parks, the Eagle Theatre is a reconstruction of the first building erected in California as a theater. The original playhouse, built of wood frame and canvas, with a tin roof, provided Gold Rush Sacramentans with entertainment for a mere three months before being inundated in the flood of January 4, 1850 (source: CA State Parks). It now serves as a spacious theater venue with bench seating for 150 people.
Eagle Theater
California Historical Landmark #595
921 Front St, Sacramento, CA 95814
(Near the corner of Front St. and J St.)
accessibility
Because the Eagle Theater is a historic building, it has some limitations:
The audience area is wheelchair accessible, including ramped seating
The stage and dressing rooms are not wheelchair accessible
ADA-accessible restrooms are located across the street, not inside the theater
If you or someone in your cast needs accommodations, please reach out as early as possible. We are committed to inclusion and will work together to find solutions, including holding classes/workshops in the spacious Eagle lobby and finding alternate rehearsal spaces when needed.
We provide sensory gear (ear plugs, sunglasses, fidget toys, masks) for all classes for our participants. Students are also welcome and encouraged to sit or take additional breaks during classes.
parking near the eagle
SacPark
Book a guaranteed spot in advance at the downtown parking garage closest to your destination on reserve.sacpark.org
Parkmobile App
Download the Parkmobile app to pay for and even extend your metered parking.
Garages
Old Sacramento Parking Garage:
200 I St, Sacramento
Walk time to Eagle: ~3 min.
Pre-pay rate: Pre-pay dates and hours vary, depending on events (closing hours may vary). Please note: During Golden 1 events, ticket flat fees sometimes increase to $20. You can reserve and see what the cost will be here. Ticket is valid through 6 a.m. next day.
Hourly Rate: $2.00 each half hour or fraction thereof
24-hour Max or Lost Ticket Fee: $25
Daily Max (6 a.m. - 6 p.m.) $18
Evening Max (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) $7
Tower Bridge Garage:
135 Neasham Circle, Sacramento
Tower Bridge Garage does not move to a flat-rate pay scale during Golden 1 Center events.
Walk time to Eagle: ~6 minutes
You can’t pre-pay for this garage
24-hour Max or Lost Ticket Fee: $29
Day Max (6 a.m. - 6 p.m.) $20
Evening Max (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.) $9
Pre-pay rates: dates and hours vary, depending on events (closing hours may vary). Ticket is valid through 6 a.m. next day
Lots
All rates are subject to change. Daily rates are also subject to change during Special Events or Pre-pay Operations.
View parking map of locations. Front & L Street Lot
Walk time to Eagle: ~5 min
Daily rate: $1.50 each half hour
Max daily rate: $15.00 daily max rate
Night flat rate: $10
Wknd flat rate (Sat. & Sun., 6am-6am) $10
Lot 293 Sacramento Valley Station (401 I Street)
Spaces # 1 - 32 are located within a 2-hour max parking section. This is a separate section located near the entrance of the Amtrak Station. The two-hour limit is strictly enforced. Movement between any stalls within this section to avoid the two-hour time limit is prohibited. Parking citations will be issued for vehicles parked within this section for more than two hours. Parking stalls that allow longer parking sessions are located outside of this section. Daily rates are:
Walk time to Eagle: ~8 min.
Daily rate: $1.00 for per 20 minutes
Max day rate $14.00 valid 24 hrs from time of purchase
Street Parking
Max: 2 hours
Hours enforced: 10 am to 10 pm
Rates: ~$2.50/hour or ~$5 for 2 hours
Enforcement: Very strictly enforced. Parking tickets cost ~$75
public transit
Old Sacramento is well connected by public transit through the Sacramento Regional Transit District system, as well as regional rail services. Most transit options stop within a 3–8 minute walk of the Old Sacramento Waterfront and the Eagle Theater area.
Light Rail
The easiest transit option for many Sacramento-area residents is SacRT Light Rail.
Lines: Blue Line and Gold Line
Closest stop: Sacramento Valley Station
Walk to Old Sacramento: ~8 minutes
Where it connects: Downtown, Midtown, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and South Sacramento
Bus
Several SacRT bus routes stop within a short walk of Old Sacramento. Common routes serving the area include:
Route 11
Route 30
Route 31
Route 62
Route 86
Route 88
Many of these routes stop on 3rd Street near I–L Streets, about a 3–5 minute walk to the waterfront area.
Amtrak & Regional Rail
Regional rail service arrives at Sacramento Valley Station. From the station:
Walk to Old Sacramento: ~7–8 minutes
Services include:
Capitol Corridor (Bay Area ↔ Sacramento)
California Zephyr
Coast Starlight
The station is one of the main transit hubs in the region and connects directly to light rail and bus service.
