June is Pride Month, and we’re celebrating our LGBTQ community by introducing you to the Rainbow Rats, Stomping Ground’s queer improv team. Formed in late 2024, the team is the brainchild of Milo Wilder and Stephanie Bell, two Stomping Ground teachers and coaches who wanted to go even further in creating the inclusive community Stomping Ground strives to be. As members of the LGBTQ community themselves, they may have also just been wanting to make more friends.
But there’s more to these players than their sexualities and gender identities! Let’s find out more about the Rats!
Jared Hunte, he/him
Jared Hunte is an actor, vocalist, improviser and theatre artist. He holds a BFA in Theatre from Southern Arkansas University (2020), and an MA in Acting from the Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts (2022), Performance credits include The Importance Of Being Earnest (Jack Worthing), All My Sons (Jim Bayliss) and The Little Mermaid (Sebastian). At Southern Arkansas University, he founded an improv comedy troupe called Live @ SAU that focused on community engagement as well as performance, and he continues to hone his skills by doing improv today. In his spare time you can find Jared shamelessly playing Pokemon as a grown man, chatting with friends, and writing for plays, sketch and television, a skill set which he hopes to expand into in the coming years.
Dani Singleton, they/them
Dani Singleton is a stand-up comedian, improviser, and animator based in Dallas, Texas. They first started taking improv and stand-up classes one year ago at Stomping Ground and have fallen in love with performing. You can find them performing in the all-queer improv troupe called “Rainbow Rats” and performing stand up at various comedy clubs throughout the city. When they’re not on stage, they’re drawing and animating as Danithebluerecluse on instagram and Dani The Blue Recluse on Youtube.
Sarah Woynicz, she/her
Sarah is an architect, storyteller, connector, community shaper, and improviser. By day she leads HKS, Inc’s medical office building practice. Outside of the built environment, Sarah co-authored Out in Architecture and founded Pride by Design – sharing stories as an avenue to connect in community and amplify the voices of LGBTQIA+ architects and designers. Sarah has been improvising with Stomping Ground since October 2024 and is elated to spread (queer!) joy as a member of Rainbow Rats.
Siali Siosi, he/him
Siali joined Stomping Ground as a student in 2023. His Christmas traditions include seeing holiday decorations in rich neighborhoods and eating whipped cream straight from the can. Siali’s favorite holiday movies are the talent show scene in ‘Mean Girls’ and more recently the bathtub scene in ‘Saltburn.’ Besides performing in the Improvised Hallmark Christmas Movie, Siali can be seen on stage as a member of Rainbow Rats and in Now THAT’S What I Call TV! The Improvised 90s Sitcom.
Nan Kirkpatrick, they/them
The first time Nan Kirkpatrick’s spouse saw them put gas in their car, he said, “You know, you won’t have to get gas so frequently if you fill it up when you do get gas,” to which Nan responded, “Don’t tell me what to do.” Their friend William once described them as “my A-list art hoe.” They’re old enough to have a sense of humor rooted in irony and young enough to be in therapy for it. They once were involved in a political project built on the principle of “yes, and.” They’ve been subtweeted by a hater for being a clown. They have the film taste of an edgelord. By day they spend their time raising money to help Texans get abortions. They perform, teach, and produce improv at Stomping Ground.
Lupe Guzman, he/him
Lupe Guzman took his first improv class in 2017 in Seattle, mostly to make friends and thaw out the infamous Seattle Freeze. While the friendships didn’t exactly stick, he discovered a love for improv and turns out, he’s got a real talent for making things up (on stage, not on his résumé). After moving back to Dallas, Lupe dove headfirst into the local improv scene and has been performing for six years. He is currently part of two teams at Stomping Ground Comedy Theater: Rainbow Rats and Now THAT’s What I Call TV! The Improvised 90s Sitcom. Whether he’s playing a himbo jock or a talking toaster, Lupe brings big energy, bigger laughs, and the occasional dramatic death drop. When he’s not on stage, Lupe works in education, holding a Master’s in Higher Ed and over a decade of experience, which is impressive considering he’s “not even 25” (just go with it). He also plays dodgeball with Pride Sports, where he may not be the most athletic, but he’s definitely the most entertaining. Think less “team captain,” more “halftime show.” Lupe believes in the power of community, committing fully to the bit, and never missing a chance to make an entrance, even if it’s into a dodgeball court.
Victoria Hines, she/her
Despite her AMDA education and decades of improv and theater experience, Victoria proudly boasts being officially declared “not funny” by The Philadelphia Inquirer – a credential she displays on her refrigerator next to expired coupons and lotto tickets. After a comedy sabbatical spent exclusively making awkward small talk in elevators, Victoria has found her people at SG, returning to the stage last Thanksgiving in “It’s Giving Thanks” and eagerly joining the Rainbow Rats, where she continues her lifelong mission of turning awkward interactions and audience silence into an art form.
Will Holston, he/him
Will Holston craves attention, so letting him perform is really just enabling him. When he’s not hurling himself around the stage like a rag doll with an anxiety disorder, Will is a dog walker and professional cat observer. He enjoys chai tea lattes, bending his body into weirder and weirder positions, and losing his car keys every single morning. He has been training in and performing improv for the past three years and won the ‘Olivia Newton-John Award for Most Physical Performer’ two years in a row. The best reviews he’s ever received were for playing Lewis and Clark’s singing dog in the 6th grade.
Nik Malev, he/him
After moving to Dallas in 2023, the first thing that Nik did was sign up for an improv class after being a comedy nerd for many years. Quickly rising to become a soon-to-be-award-winning student at SG Awards, he has done many different productions, trying out things like duoprov, advanced classes, and the Improvised Inspirational Sports Movie. Now a part of the first ever all-LGBTQ+ Stomping Ground team Rainbow Rats, he is being silly on stage on a regular basis. Should you come see a show at some point? “I think it should be left up to the states to decide” -N.
Not pictured is member Javier Enriquez.
You can find Rainbow Rats performing monthly at Stomping Ground Comedy Theater and around DFW all year long. Catch them on Saturday, June 28 at 7:30PM as a part of OUTLOUD: Out, Loud & Outlawed Queer Comedy Variety Show at Stomping Ground.