(Left to Right- Maria Swindell, Jeff Turner, Ben Beckham, Antoine Wilson)
Ben Beckham, a Tulsa native, has been performing ever since he could walk on stage. Beckham has starred in several local stage productions, including Beyond Therapy, Some Things You Need to Know Before the World Ends (A Final Evening with the Illuminati), and the Heller Theater One-Act Play Festival. His Improv career dates back to 1990 when he co-founded Tulsa's first original improv comedy troupe, The Obnoxious Party Guests. Since then, he has written and performed in over 40 original shows in and around the Tulsa Area. It is that extensive experience Beckham brings to The Comedy Clinic, serving as Director, Producer, Head Writer, and Performer.
Jeff Turner, also a native Tulsan, started acting as early as age 2 when he fell off stage in a Noah's Arc production and split his head open. Since then, his time as a performer has been less painful (unless of course you ask his audiences!). As with most, Turner was involved in theater throughout his childhood after meeting Beckham in 1987, he turned to not only performing, but writing. The pair was a fixture at state drama tournaments placing in Dramatic Duet with Edward Albee's The Zoo Story. However, the two found their niche in comedic performance after placing second at the Governor's Cup classic and moving on to the state finals. Turner continued speaking in front of audiences on radio and as a public address While attending Oklahoma State University and after returning to Tulsa in 1995 he has since been requested as Master of Ceremonies for dozens of non profit and arts community functions. He also continues to do some radio work. Turner wears many hats for The Comedy Clinic, Performer, Writer, Producer, and Sales/Media Relations Manager.
In February 2002, Turner and Beckham began collaborating again, this time with The Obnoxious Party Guests. The following September, the two formed Jakenpal Productions, Inc., and, with the help of Obnoxious Party Guest alum Maria Swindell, they founded The Comedy Clinic - Tulsa's Comedy Troupe!
Maria Swindell grew up in Bartlesville, OK and started performing in community theatre productions such as The Wizard of Oz and Fiddler on the Roof. A singer and actor, Swindell has performed steadily ever since. After earning a degree in Theatre from Avila College in Kansas City, MO, Swindell returned to Oklahoma and has taught acting to young people all over Green Country. Some of her favorite comic performances include Helga Ten Dorp in Deathrap, Miss Furnival in Black Comedy, and bringing the house to uncontrollable laughter with her portrayal of the maid in Anton Chekov's side splitter The Cherry Orchard. Swindell has been doing improvisation for years and began her Tulsa improv career with the Obnoxious Party Guests in April of 2002. Currently, she is the coordinator of an arts program for at-risk youth at Family and Children's Services. Swindell is proud to be writer, performer, and resident funny broad for The Comedy Clinic.
Antoine
Wilson,
born in Chicago, Illinois, moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 11 and has
considered himself a Tulsan ever since. His
encounter with the acting bug didn’t happen until his senior year in high
school when he took a drama class to fulfill his senior electives.
It was in that class where he began his friendship with Ben Beckham and
Jeff Turner and also was awarded the lead role of Hoke in a school production of
Driving Miss Daisy. Since then,
Antoine has been involved in the entertainment industry in some form or fashion.
He formed a rap group with a childhood friend, wrote for his base paper
during his four-year stint in the United States Air Force and is currently
working on a crime novel. This
multi-talented actor is more than happy to be the newest member of the Comedy
Clinic.