Music, improv, and communications learning, with a Jewish heart and soul.
We are longtime Chicago comedy + theater veterans who entertain and empower Jewish organizations and communities, virtually.
"a truly perfect evening of sophisticated entertainment"
Rabbi Leora Kaye, Director of Program, URJ:
"Working with Katie and T.J. made planning an evening dependent on hitting “just the right tone” a delight. Their impressive listening skills were only outdone by the way they integrated what we said into a truly perfect evening of sophisticated entertainment enjoyed by a wide range of audience members. Needing to please 5000 people is never easy, Katie and T.J. helped us do just that!"
FROM THE juf news
"Meet two Jewish comedians bringing laughter through virtual shows."
Judaism inspires Klein and Shanoff's performances in many ways. "Writing for the Jewish audience is something inside of both of us," Klein said, enthusing about the ability to use familiar Jewish jargon and traditions in sets. "It's easy and fun for us to do custom songs and scenes for a Jewish audience because it's our truth.
FUN FACT: JEWS INVENTED comedy
This has to be true, because, how can it not be?
Laughter is a towering pillar of Jewish life and culture. Laughter is also what we do; personally, professionally, and usually at completely inappropriate times. We are longtime alumni of Chicago’s comedy scene and Second City theater, where Katie was an ensemble cast member, and T.J. directed, wrote, and music directed for over twenty years, including Jewsical! The Musical. We're also longtime creative directors and facilitators for Second City Works, the theater’s corporate communications and learning arm. There, we created customized productions for several notable Jewish organizations, including the NFTY Convention, the Union for Reform Judaism's Biennial, and Jewish Family Services, Dallas.
Oh, and did we mention we’re Jewish? It’s true! (Why would we lie? We were raised better than that!) Our individual and shared life experiences as Jews have consistently informed our comedy and creative development work. We will collaborate with you to create customized, Jewish-themed entertainment and communications training for any sized organization, event, or fundraiser, with a budget appropriately tailored to the scale and scope of your organization's needs.
During these socially-distanced times, it's even more important to stay connected. We're here to help your community or organization continue to learn how to listen and be together in new ways that center the Jewish experience. Please do reach out, and we'll get started. We can’t wait to collaborate with you!
We are The Shalom Collaboration. Elevating Jewish Community And Chutzpah, One Laugh At A Time.
About Us
Katie Klein, co-founder
Katie Klein, co-founder
Katie Klein, co-founder
Katie Klein was born and raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio. After college, living in our nation's capital she fell in love with improv. She began performing in Washington DC, with iMusical at the Washington Improv Theater and with friends at the DC Improv. She then moved to Chicago and trained at iO and Second City.
She is a recent alumni of
Katie Klein was born and raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio. After college, living in our nation's capital she fell in love with improv. She began performing in Washington DC, with iMusical at the Washington Improv Theater and with friends at the DC Improv. She then moved to Chicago and trained at iO and Second City.
She is a recent alumni of the Second City e.t.c stage, writing and performing in two reviews: Fantastic Super Great Nation Numero Uno, and previously A Red Line Runs Through It. She performs improv with The Late 90’s, Virgin Daiquiri and Super Human and whenever she can with her incredible husband Neil in Ed and Kath.
You can catch her in a few TV shows and commercials (The Red Line, Shrink, Joe Pera Talks with You, Chicago Justice, Work in Progress). She has worked for many years as a writer, facilitator, and designer of corporate communication training for different organizations; and loves it. You can hire her. She's really available right now.
T.J. Shanoff, co-founder
Katie Klein, co-founder
Katie Klein, co-founder
A native Chicagoan, T.J. has worn many hats (including the occasional yarmulke) for The Second City since 1997. Credits there include Rod Blagojevich Superstar (music & lyrics), The Second City's 50th Anniversary: On Tour (director) and Jewsical! The Musical (music & lyrics/director). Other credits include co-creating Blank! The Musical
A native Chicagoan, T.J. has worn many hats (including the occasional yarmulke) for The Second City since 1997. Credits there include Rod Blagojevich Superstar (music & lyrics), The Second City's 50th Anniversary: On Tour (director) and Jewsical! The Musical (music & lyrics/director). Other credits include co-creating Blank! The Musical (New World Stages, NYC), performing at City Winery Chicago’s Downtown Passover Seder, composing songs/music directing Warner Brothers Theatre Ventures The Mad Show workshop, and co-hosting talk shows for CBS Radio and Sporting News Radio.
T.J. has creative directed, written, and emceed countless corporate productions and fundraisers both as a freelancer and through Second City Works, including creating customized shows and original songs for the NFTY Convention, the Union for Reform Judaism’s Biennial, and Jewish Family Services, Dallas.
T.J. is a Beatles fanatic, a dedicated Chicago sports fan, and has never not sobbed during act II of Fiddler On The Roof. T.J. is a proud alumnus of the Latin School of Chicago, Emerson College, and Harand Camp of the Theatre Arts.