Who Are The Minneapples?

Hannah Wydeven hails from the great binge-drinking state of Wisconsin. She attended Macalester college where she learned about the art of hipsterdom and sketch comedy. She now works as a Crossfit trainer, Director of Youth Improv at HUGE theater, and Producer of the Twin Cities Youth Improv Festival. Hannah has performed in shows such as “Family Dinner”, “Star Trek: The Next Improvisation”, and many more at HUGE Theater. She directs youth improv stars, The Wunder Kidz, as well as “Rom Com: The improvised romantic Comedy” and “SPORTS!”. However, her most important and cherished role is the one of Pink Lady in The Minneapples. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys using power tools, lifting weights, doing circus tricks and hanging out with her tiny dog.

Legend has it that Madde Gibba was born half-human and half-mermaid in the state of California 20-some years ago. Her parents made the difficult, Jamie Lee Curtis-esque decision, whether or not to send her to the sea where she would surely rule a coral reef, or keep her on land, where she might do improvisational comedy for land people. Here she is today, dry on land and in humor. When not improvising on land with The Minneapples, Madde performs and teaches make ‘em ups all over Minneapolis at places like the Brave New Workshop, Comedy Sportz, and Huge Theater. Her solo improvised concert series “Madde Gibba: Does Not Play Well With Others” has been performed all over the Twin Cities, as well as the New York Musical Improv Festival at The Magnet Theater. She also co-hosts the Saturday radio show “Mike and Madde” on MyTalk107.1. When not performing, Madde spends her time brushing her hair with a fork, collecting thingamabobs, and thanking the sea gods for her legs.

Taj Ruler is the only apple who originates from the actual Mini Apple.  After 18 years of freezing, she thought she had enough of the ice and snow and moved out to California. She attended Pitzer College where she learned hippies drive beamers, no one wears shoes, and  you can buy booze on Sundays.  After 4 years of sweating, Taj returned to Minnehappiness where she works as an actor, improviser, voice over artist, and teacher. She has also studied at the Guthrie Theatre, the Brave New Workshop, and The London Dramatic Academy.  Any chance she gets, Taj loves to go to the movies, play her ukulele, make mix CDs, put together puzzles, collect postcards, climb trees, and make reservations under fake names.

Meg Linafelter is originally from the rolling plains of Sioux City, Iowa. Not surprisingly, they built Sioux City on Rock n' Roll. If you haven't seen the YouTube video, expand your cultural knowledge with: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj7_E5Tpdhs After an awkward childhood of looking like a Hanson brother, she packed her bags for the Mini Apple. A graphic designer by day and an amateur improviser by night, Meg has always had an untamable lust for the creative outlets. Meg is the 2010 Minneapolis Regional Air Guitar Champion, which took her all the way to the Big Apple to compete against the nation’s toughest, and nerdiest competitors at the 2010 U.S. Air Guitar Championships. At the end of the day, Meg likes to curl up to Skype to say hello to her Kentucky lover and her two furry children.