Our Team
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
JEREMY ESSIG
Jeremy’s fascination with audio visual production began when he realized - along with two friends - that being the high school’s A/V coordinator meant they could skip classes. Two years later he was producing and mixing his first album on a Portastudio, a skill he would continue and refine through college.
Following graduation, his creative life took an abrupt turn leading to an almost twenty year career as a touring comedian. Looking for a life away from the road, he opened his first recording studio, Listless Sound, in St. Louis, MO.
Combining his two creative outlets, Jeremy started Helium Comedy Records in the fall of 2018, producing albums that repeatedly topped both iTunes and Billboard charts, building a reputation that allowed him to work on audio and film projects for major streaming services and networks.
Rhizome Comedy is the newest evolution combing his experience and passion for production and comedy.
Jeremy essig is a graduate of Wake Forest University, and a thesis and one very upset professor short of being a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. From 2018-2019 he also taught a graduate level course in audio production with an emphasis on podcasting at Webster University.
He was also a fictional character eaten by zombies in the Jonathan Maberry novel “Fall of Night".
Social Media | Art Direction
Sophie Stringer
Sophie stringer is a comedian, actress, and producer based in Brooklyn, NY. Her biggest passions lie in making people laugh and in creating community through performance.
IN addition to comedy, She recently completed a year as a teaching artist through americorps’ artist year program. she has interned at the national comedy center where she helped to produce the LUcille Ball festival. She wrote, co-directed, and starred in the short film "High and Dry", which premiered in April of 2024 as a part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival.
Currently, Sophie works performs improv, sketch comedy, and stand-up all over the city.
OPERATIONS MANAGER
SCOUT SMITH
Scout Smith is an actor, writer, and producer in the New York and Atlanta film communities. Scout dabbles in many roles both in front of and behind the camera through her production company, Get Your Cat On Productions.
You can catch Scouts’ work as a 1st AD on the feature film Withdrawal, In the Dark short, and series pilot Sink or Swam. She loves bringing queer stories to life and enjoys building community on set.
When she isn't on set she is performing any type of live comedy that excites her. From solo character performance, improv, or even silly tik toks Scout is inspired by comedy.
VIDEO EDITOR
AVERY VANDENHOUTEN
Avery Vandenhouten is an actor, writer and filmmaker based in Atlanta, GEORGIA with a passion for telling stories from all genres. She has held jobs in a variety of on set departments behind the scenes as well as performing on screen in over 100 short films.
In addition to her work for Rhizome, Avery has written and directed over 30 of her own scripts for events in the Atlanta film circuit such as Kick the Ladder and Dragon Con TV as well as producing films through her production company The Cinema Playground.
Avery loves to make people laugh, whether that's through films, improv or goofy commentary videos on her YouTube channel. When she isn't working she can usually be found crocheting and watching TV with her cats.