{{Short description|Canadian actor, writer and improvisor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox author | birth_date = {{birth-date and age|24 December 1980}} | nationality = Canadian | occupation = Actor, writer and improviser }}
'''Kevin Gillese''' (born 24 December 1980)<ref name="loafing" /> is a Canadian actor, writer and improvisor from Edmonton, Alberta.
==Career== Gillese started as a performer with the improv company Rapid Fire Theatre and also works regularly with the Atomic Improv and performs annually at the Die-Nasty Soap-A-Thon. He was the Associate Artistic Director of Rapid Fire Theatre from 2005-2007, then Artistic Director until December 2009. In January 2010, Gillese began his term as Artistic Director of Dad's Garage Theatre Company in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref name=loafing>{{cite news|url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-195724-speakeasy-with-kevin-gillese|title=Speakeasy with Kevin Gillese|last=Holman|first=Curt|date=24 October 2009|work=Creative Loafing Atlanta|access-date=10 February 2011}}</ref><ref name=access>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-events/kevin-gillese-brings-energy-274430.html|title=Kevin Gillese brings energy to Dad's Garage|last=Brock|first=Wendell|date=13 January 2010|work=Access Atlanta|accessdate=10 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075903/http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-events/kevin-gillese-brings-energy-274430.html|archive-date=7 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Gillese left college to take up improv.<ref name=access/> In 2004, he was nominated for an AMPIA award for best director for his first film ''Turnbuckle''.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} He performed a spoken-word show "Wisdom Teeth" directed by Chris Craddock at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival in 2009<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/fringe/reviews/Wisdom-Teeth-50771517.html|title=Wisdom Teeth|last=Mayes|first=Alison|date=19 July 2009|work=Winnipeg Free Press|accessdate=9 February 2011}}</ref> and hosted a cabaret night at the fringe with Amy Shostak.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/entertainment/fringe/2009/08/18/10494436-sun.html|title=A mixed bag of mixed nuts nightly|last=Ross|first=Mike|date=18 August 2009|work=Edmonton Sun|accessdate=10 February 2011}}</ref>
Gillese has toured across Canada and internationally with the show Hip Hop 101,{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} as well as with his improv show, Scratch, which played twice weekly in Edmonton when not touring. He appeared with Arlen Konopaki in Scratch at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival in 2008,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/david-maida/news/article.cfm?a_id=298&objectid=10506928|title=Comedy career more than a laugh|last=Maida|first=David|date=30 April 2008|work=The New Zealand Herald|accessdate=9 February 2011}}</ref> and they toured Europe for six weeks at the end of 2009.<ref name=loafing/> In 2010, they wrote "Fairy Tales Scratched", a modern surreal take on fairy tales.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/entertainment/fringe/2010/08/18/15063421.html|title=Fairy Tales Scratched – 4 out of 5|last=MacLean|first=Colin|date=18 August 2010|work=Edmonton Sun|accessdate=10 February 2011}}</ref>
Gillese is the co-writer, co-creator, and executive producer of the short series ''Hart of America''.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Home|url = http://www.hartofamerica.com|website = Hart of America|accessdate = 2015-11-19}}</ref> The series was a product of Gillese's long time collaboration with Arlen Konopaki, and was based on their long-form improv format developed through their show Scratch. ''Hart of America'' also stars his wife, Amber Nash.<ref>{{Cite web|title = 'Hart of America' Showcases 3 Dad's Garage Talents|url = http://www.backstage.com/interview/hart-america-showcases-3-dads-garage-talents/|website = Backstage.com|accessdate = 2015-11-19}}</ref> Additionally, Gillese co-wrote and directed the show Battle Space Wars, also based on his Scratch shows, in February 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title = battle-space-wars_dads-garage|url = http://www.americantheatre.org/2015/03/02/onstage-this-week-mar-2-9/battle-space-wars_dads-garage/|website = AMERICAN THEATRE|date = 2 March 2015|accessdate = 2015-11-19}}</ref>
Gillese is known as an arts leader who promotes diversity initiatives in theatre, specifically those that empower women.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dad's Garage's Kevin Gillese and Lara Smith talk all things funny |url=http://buskingseams.com/2013/03/11/dads-garages-kevin-gillese-and-lara-smith-talk-all-things-funny/ |website=Busking at the Seams |accessdate=2015-11-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120054247/http://buskingseams.com/2013/03/11/dads-garages-kevin-gillese-and-lara-smith-talk-all-things-funny/ |archivedate=20 November 2015 }}</ref>
When Dad's Garage lost its long-term base in 2013, Gillese led the search for and acquisition of a new home for the company.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|title = Born Again: Dad's Garage Theater converts a church - Atlanta Magazine|url = http://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/born-again-dads-garage-theater-converts-a-church/|website = Atlanta Magazine|date = 26 May 2015|accessdate = 2015-11-19|language = en-US}}</ref> The initiative coalesced around the renovation and rezoning of an old church. Part of the funding for the move and renovations was derived from a successful Crowdfunding campaign that mobilized Dad's Garage's fanbase and supporters.<ref name="auto"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gillese, Kevin}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian male comedians Category:Canadian male stage actors Category:Male actors from Edmonton Category:Canadian artistic directors Category:Comedians from Edmonton