Karen Baughn

Karen Baughn is a seasoned educator, writer, and performer with eighteen years of experience in comedy and education. She currently serves as a faculty member at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, where she teaches improvisation and screenwriting, helping to shape the next generation of comedic voices. She also teaches improv in community outreach classes at Pasadena City College and Glendale Community College. 

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Karen holds a B.A. in Theater from Occidental College, a certificate in classical performance from the London Dramatic Academy, and a Master’s in Professional Creative Writing from the University of Denver. Her commitment to both traditional and performance-based education informs her well-rounded and student-centered approach to teaching.

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In addition to her academic work, Karen has trained and performed extensively with leading comedy institutions including UCB, Groundlings, iOWest, and Bang Comedy Theater. Her stage credits include performances on UCB’s Harold and Maude teams as well as iOWest’s house teams.

Karen also works professionally in film and television, with credits including Showtime’s American Christmas—which she co-wrote—and the upcoming comedy-horror feature Cowboy Killer. She remains an active performer in the Los Angeles comedy scene and continues to teach and direct in various theatrical settings.

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She’s honored to bring her experience as both an educator and working artist to the board, and looks forward to supporting the theater’s growth and creative mission.