STEPHANIE THORESON is a comedian, actor, writer, voiceover artist, and producer best known for sketch and improv comedy. The award-winning performer recently closed a run of her second solo character showcase Fishbowl which partnered with the Yeah, But Are You Happy? podcast and Capital Area Counseling to advocate for mental health awareness within artists' communities.
Stephanie is one half of the team behind Baby Lion Studios, an independent production company currently working on Wind-Ups, a new sitcom project written by and starring some of Austin’s most talented comedic actors and creators.
You can see Stephanie every Friday night at ColdTowne Theater performing with the critically acclaimed improv team Loverboy, named by Thrillist as one of the best comedy shows in Austin. She plays the lead in the feature Good Feels on Wheels which received multiple awards during its festival run, including three “Best Actress” wins for Stephanie’s portrayal of Opal in the film. You can catch her debut as a scream queen in the Horror anthology Scare Package which was recently featured on The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs and is currently streaming on Shudder.
PRESS AND AWARDS
"Hilarious ... and performed with 100% commitment. Like genius-buffoon Melissa McCarthy, Thoreson is a determined participant in her world ... What I most enjoy about Thoreson is the quiet intelligence underlying all her jokes. She's witty, yes, and that's what we want, but she's smart, too. Smart enough to know that it's okay to be pathetic, if you remember to laugh about it later. Especially if you can bravely open up about it all onstage and bring others along for the (very funny) ride."
- Laura Jones, The Austin Chronicle
(full article) https://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/2019-07-12/fishbowl-at-coldtowne-theater/
“Stephanie is a goddamn character actor genius who will kick you right in the feels.”
- Dave Buckman, Executive Producer of ColdTowne Theater and Austin Sketch Fest
"Thoreson’s quietly implosive performance makes Opal’s longing our own. She captures the simultaneous joy and anxiety of having your whole life ahead of you."
- Sam Watermeier, Midwest Film Journal
"Best Texas Actress" - Austin Revolution Film Fest (Winner 2019)
"Best Actress" - Hill Country Film Fest (Winner 2019)
"Best Actress" - Reel East Texas Film Fest (Winner 2019)
"Best Actor” - ColdTowne Theater Awards (Winner 2019)
"Best Character Actor” - ColdTowne Theater Awards (Winner 2017, 2019)
"Best Actress" - Austin Chronicle Best of Austin Awards (Nomination 2019)
"Best Actor” - ColdTowne Theater Awards (Winner 2019 & Nomination 2017, 2018)
"Best Absurd Character Performer" - ColdTowne Theater Awards (Nomination 2017, 2018)
LOVERBOY
"Don't miss Loverboy"
- Thrillist, The Best Comedy Theaters and Shows In Austin
"[The stories] were a gold mine of details, it was delicious seeing how many of them the Loverboy women could extract and set in their own scenes, like gems in a crown...Loverboy's members built [scenes] together, in quick, deft strokes."
- Robert Faires, The Austin Chronicle
“ColdTowne's small space, Loverboy's super-high energy, and the personal nature of the guests' stories preserve the show's spontaneity and closeness...a fun show with solid laughs…”
- Ashley Moreno, The Austin Chronicle
“Best Troupe" - ColdTowne Theater Awards (Winner 2016, 2017, 2018)
"Rudy Kloptic Award for Outstanding Improvisational Troupe" - B. Iden Payne Awards (Nomination 2015, 2016, 2017)
"Best Improv Troupe" - Austin Chronicle Best of Austin Awards (Nomination 2016, 2017)
"Best New Troupe" - ColdTowne Theater Awards (Winner 2015)
FESTIVAL APPEARANCES
Loverboy Comedy - Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, Del Close Marathon, Austin Sketch Fest,
BettyFest, Babes Fest, Waffle Fest
Good Feels on Wheels - Lone Star Film Fest (Winner "Best Texas Film"), San Francisco Indie Fest, Hill Country Film Fest (Winner "Best Actress"), Indy Film Fest (Winner "Best Feature" Audience Award), International Cannabis & Hemp Film Festival, Austin Revolution Film Fest (Winner "Best Texas Actress"), Hell's Half Mile Festival, Reel East Texas Film Fest (Winner "Best Actress")
Fishbowl - Austin Sketch Fest
Secret Mountain - Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, Austin Sketch Fest
Shattered Dreams (and Other Positive Experiences) - Out of Bounds Comedy Festival
The Just for Tonight Show - Austin Sketch Fest