meet blackout

Denzel Belin (he/him) is a Minneapolis-based director, writer, actor, producer, host, and improviser. Belin is a longstanding cast member and writer at The Brave New Workshop and a staff writer for AWF magazine. He currently writes and performs with “Queer Window,” an all-queer sketch whose credits include the New York Comedy Festival and the Funny and Dumb Festival in New York City. Denzel has appeared on TPT Almanac and created work for the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, Mixed Precipitation, and Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about Denzel at https://www.denzelbelin.com.

Destiny Davison (she/her/they) is a Minneapolis-based performer, animator, cartoonist, and multimedia maker who joined Blackout in 2024. She debuted her first solo show, “Dolly Who?” at the 2023 Minnesota Fringe Festival, and has been involved in productions at HUGE Theater, Strike Theater, Theatre Pro Rata, the Bryant Lake Bowl, and recently as part of the cast of Blackout Presents: Shakespeare Unscripted. Her artwork has been seen on TPT Almanac, the Minnesota State Fair, and multiple state billboards thanks to the Minnesota Billboard Project. You can find more of her work online at destinydavison.com and yllodaka.com 

John Gebretatose (he/him) has been performing stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy in Minnesota's Twin Cities for over 15 years. He is the Co-Executive Director & Director of Diversity and Inclusion at HUGE Theater in Minneapolis, MN. John has taught countless improv workshops in theaters, hospitals, corporate workspaces, K-12 schools, and colleges worldwide. He has led and facilitated diversity and inclusion programming for improv theaters worldwide in service to his mission to uplift all voices. John trained and worked at the Brave New Workshop and is a founding member of Blackout Improv, Late Nights Minneapolis (a sketch comedy show), and co-founder of the Black and Funny Improv Festival.

Mahmoud Hakima (he/him) is thrilled to be making his debut with Blackout Improv in 2024. Since moving to the Twin Cities in 2001, he has moonlighted as an actor, storyteller, writer, director, producer, puppeteer, improv comedian, mascot, and all around great person! He is an active member of Dinner Detectives, Jesters Comedy Improv and the improv troupe Sympathetic Magic. In his “spare time”, he can be seen keeping children and families safe at Minnesota Children's Museum in downtown St Paul. (Btw, if you can't afford regular-priced tickets and have an EBT or WIC card, the museum offers a NICE discount on memberships and tickets.)

Jada Pulley (they/them) is a theater artist and aspiring hype man. They regularly produce and perform in improv shows, ranging from Bad Poets Society to Bummertown, usually at HUGE Theater. Jada is a proud founder of the Queer and Funny Improv Festival and a director of the Black and Funny Improv Festival. When not improvising, they are probably writing, cuddling their cat, or forcing people to do icebreakers.