Susanna Spies, President & Founder & Lead Stand Up Director
Susanna Spies is the Founder and President of Comedy Playground, LLC, established in 2002. What began as a passion for helping young people discover their voices through comedy has grown into programs serving youth, adults, senior citizens, and corporate professionals.
Through original curriculum, coaching, workshops, and performance, Susanna uses improvisation and stand-up comedy to foster self-expression, creativity, confidence, communication, and connection. Youth programs culminate in class showcases, including special performance opportunities at The Improv in Hollywood.
Senior Stand-Up (SSU) brings comedy programs to adults ages 55+, celebrating their stories and reminding participants that laughter is ageless.
Susanna is currently working on Comedy Unlocked, a collaborative project providing comedy programs to justice-involved youth, using humor to encourage self-expression, communication, confidence, and new possibilities for the future.
Performer, Writer & Coach
As an actress and comedienne, Susanna has performed at The Improv, The Comedy Store, Comedy Union, Laugh Factory, and venues throughout Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.
She wrote and performed her one-woman shows: “Waisted” and “The Dryer” both, featuring 30 original characters, and continues to develop a book about finding the funny in everyday life.
For personal coaching, performance, and writing, visit susannaspies.com.
Educator & Curriculum Developer
With both parents in education, Susanna developed an early passion for teaching. While teaching drama, she created an original comedy curriculum that helps students transform personal experiences and observations into authentic material.
Her teaching experience includes The Pilgrim School, New Roads School, The TEAK Fellowship, Olympic High School, Wildwood School, Westside Neighborhood School, and Crossroads School. Internationally, she has taught at The American School in London and Seeds of Peace, working with young people from countries experiencing conflict.
Susanna also served as visiting faculty at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Los Angeles for 14 years, teaching stand-up comedy as part of its Finding Your Voice series.
Community Engagement & Advocacy
Susanna is passionate about making creative opportunities accessible to young people and underserved communities. She served for six years as Founder and Director of Laughlinks, a nonprofit subsidiary dedicated to comedy and creative expression.
In 2008, she established
The Eamon Cannon Comedy Project as a nonprofit initiative providing comedy programs to underserved youth. Today, its legacy continues through a scholarship fund supporting students in the Los Angeles area.
Her community programs have included Inner-City Arts, the YWCA of Santa Monica, A Place Called Home, Legacy LA, Hollygrove, and the Hollywood Boys & Girls Club.
Susanna's speaking engagements include UCLA's Writers' Retreat for the School of Education, the Muse Conference in Bend, Oregon, and the Southern California Association of Activity Professionals.
Recognition & Awards
Variety Educational Impact Report: Recognized among the nation's top 10 innovative approaches to learning.
Best of Los Angeles: Recognized for Innovative Comedy Programs in consecutive award years.
Starfish Award: Recognized for Broadly Speaking and its work bringing awareness to women's voices.
Featured in the Los Angeles Times
In October 2026, Susanna and Comedy Playground were featured in the Los Angeles Times article highlighting how comedy mentorship helps young people build confidence, develop their voices, and connect through humor.
Read the Los Angeles Times feature
The Power of Finding Your Funny
Susanna champions comedy as more than entertainment. Through teaching, coaching, performance, and community programs, she creates opportunities for people to express themselves, share their stories, and discover common ground.
Every voice has value. Every story deserves a place. And laughter has no expiration date.