WE ARE THE SHALOM COLLABORATION
OUR MISSION
T.J. Shanoff, Co-Founder
Katie Klein, Co-Founder
Fun fact: Jews invented laughter.
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 en
Fun fact: Jews invented laughter.
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.
As longtime creative directors and facilitators for Second City Works, 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 unfathomable times, it's more important than ever to stay connected, engaged, energized. We're here to help your community or organization laugh, and 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!
Katie Klein, Co-Founder
T.J. Shanoff, Co-Founder
Katie Klein, Co-Founder
Katie Klein was born and raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio and graduated from Indiana University with a very practical degree in film and media studies and a minor in psychology.
She then moved to our nation's capital and fell in love with improv. She began performing in Washington DC, with iMusical at the Washington Improv Theater and with f
Katie Klein was born and raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio and graduated from Indiana University with a very practical degree in film and media studies and a minor in psychology.
She then moved to our nation's capital and 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. Wanting more of this creative art form, she moved to Chicago! She trained at iO and Second City and now finds herself lucky enough to make a career out of this.
She loves performing and teaching improv around the country and also on the internet. She is an 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 also performed every Wednesday at iO with her pals in The Late 90’s and Virgin Daiquiri and at the Annoyance Theatre on Tuesday nights with her sisters in Super Human until March 2020 when things went…virtual? Luckily she spends her days and nights with her incredible husband Neil so they can still work on their two person improv show 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. She co-owns and operates The Shalom Collaboration and Super Human Collective where you can hire her (she would love it!). She is also working on a new project called Lantern Comedy Collective, check it out!
T.J. Shanoff, Co-Founder
T.J. Shanoff, Co-Founder
T.J. Shanoff, Co-Founder
A native Chicagoan, T.J. has worn many hats (including the occasional yarmulke) for The Second City since 1997. Select 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 and direct
A native Chicagoan, T.J. has worn many hats (including the occasional yarmulke) for The Second City since 1997. Select 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 and directing Blank! The Musical (New World Stages), co-founding the Chicago comedy and media collective Chicago4Real, co-hosting The Untitled Beatles Podcast, performing at City Winery Chicago’s Downtown Passover Seder, musically directing the Chicago Emmy Awards, 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, Gilda's Club Chicago, the Union for Reform Judaism’s Biennial, and Jewish Family Services, Dallas.
T.J. is a Beatles fanatic, a dedicated NBA 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.