Joleen Ballendine
Co-writer for comedy series LUPITA
An actor, improvisor and writer, Joleen is based in Edmonton, Alberta where she is a main cast member of Rapid Fire Theatre - Canada’s third oldest improv company. She started with the company in 2007 and after running the Out-Reach program for almost a decade, Joleen is now the company’s Director of Education. She also is the co-director of the Sphinxes Outreach Program designed to empower and employ female, trans, and non-binary improvisers. Some of Joleen's most notable shows include "Improvised Dungeons and Dragon" directed by Mark Meer, “Colin Mochrie and Friends" a sell-out Edmonton fringe festival hit, and the popular "Off Book: The Improvised Musical” where she’s an original cast member.
Performing and teaching has taken Joleen all over Canada, the US, and Europe. She tours regularly with comedy partner Amy Shostak in their high energy, risk-taking improv duo Rä Power. Recently they've performed at The Sweden International Improv Festival, The Combustion Festival (Toronto), The Vancouver Improv Festival, Det Andre Teatret (Oslo), and The Ratibor Theatre (Berlin). As part of Rä Power, Joleen has most recently performed a social distance performance online which was part of Canada Performs series called 1159.
Improv isn't Joleen’s only passion, she also writes and acts. She is a two time Canadian Screen nominee for both her performance and writing in the Canadian sketch comedy show "Caution: May Contain Nuts" on APTN. She served as a writer and principal cast member for that show for two years. Joleen, Gordie and Joey Lucius are the writers behind the half-hour comedy pilot LUPITA developed by No Problem Productions with creator Eva Colmers.
Joleen loves Rock & Roll, lipsticks and her Pitbull, Homer. She is proud to be an artist in her home city of Edmonton.