Simone McAlonen is an award-winning actor, writer, and comedian whom The LA Times calls “a fearless asset.” A company member of Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA and an alumna of The Groundlings Mainstage as a performer and full graduate of their highly selective training program. Simone has worked professionally in commercials, screen and stage for over a decade.
Beyond the stage, Simone is the Founder and Executive Producer of Midnight Flaneur, and has produced for Nike and Epic Games. When she has time, she has also found great meaning as an educator for both adults and children pursuing comedy, acting and storytelling.
How did you get into comedy/writing/producing etc?
I actually got into comedy sort of by accident. I was living in LA and doing the actor grind when my agent suggested I sign up for an improv class. I wandered into The Groundlings, LA’s hallowed character and sketch comedy hall, not knowing it was such a scene, and I totally found my voice. I learned so much about myself there as a performer/writer and as a person and it was this lightbulb moment that I was meant to make people laugh. It was like everything that I thought was weird about myself finally made sense.
Tell us about your comedy style.
My favourite quote is by Oscar Wilde: “If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they’ll kill you.” I like exploring things that are hard to talk about through a comedic lens, and I really love jokes that make you think. My background is mostly sketch comedy and character work, so I usually hone things through that medium, but I have done a little bit of everything. As a performer, I tend to play The Fool a lot, and I really love playing those type of roles.
What’s your show about and where can we see it?
My show is about my childhood growing up on a Christian Summer Camp in Central Oregon (USA) that used to be the site of the Rajneesh Cult as seen in the Netflix doc, Wild Wild Country. It’s my true story of growing up in a strict abstinence culture, being super boy crazy, and then very innocently starting to deconstruct my religion. We are doing a full run at the Edinburgh Fringe Fest this August at Greenside @ Riddle’s Court. And prior to that, doing a run at Soho Playhouse in NYC.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Inspiration comes from all over, and I think my favourite way to find it has just been by following my instincts and letting myself go on weird tangents. This year I became obsessed with studying Surrealist artwork and that whole movement, and it has really unlocked a new level of creativity for me!
Who are your favourite Funny Women?
I love Ziwe, Goldie Hawn, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Coolidge, Jacqueline Novak, and Lena Dunham. Alicia Silverstone in Clueless. I grew up with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who will always be so special to me as well.
What do you love about comedy/writing/producing/etc?
I think there’s no better feeling than making people laugh. I love that comedy demands that you get out of your own head and stop taking yourself so seriously. I love that comedy provides a space for women to have their own agency over their career and gives them room to be multidimensional characters, not just play someone’s girlfriend or wife.
You can keep up with Simone on Instagram.
Tickets for Wild Wild Christian can be found here!
