Eddie James
Eddie and his wife Stephanie live in Sachse, Texas (funny name, but a great place to live and do life in) with their two daughters, who despite their elementary school age, are accomplished thespians who have appeared in several Skit Guys' videos (Dad's Legacy, our Fall Festival Promo 3 and Check the Box).
For seven years, Eddie lived in the O.C. where he worked on staff at Saddleback Valley Community Church. He spent two more years as a volunteer where he honed his skills in writing, directing, and teaching students and adults how to make skits accessible to audiences.
Though he spends much of his time working and touring as one half of the Skit Guys, Eddie is passionate about helping others create and provide resources that equip leaders, students, and adults to minister through the exciting experience of drama.
In his spare time, when he isn't still grieving over the end of LOST, Eddie can probably be found writing, running, hanging out with his bride of 13 years or going on Daddy / Daughter dates.
To this day, Eddie is still blown away that he gets to travel around with his best friend from high school and that the thing that they used to get in trouble for at school - they now get to call a job.
Eddie has co-authored Videos That Teach books with Doug Fields and he's also co-authored over a dozen publications with Tommy Woodard including Skits That Teach v.1 and 2, Instant Skits, TV SHOWS THAT TEACH, and Skit Training 101.
Tommy Woodard
Tommy’s illustrious career began around 1975 on the front porch of his home in Edmond, Oklahoma where his older (and bossier) sister Debbie would direct him in homemade plays. They would invite their parents, neighbors, and strangers walking by to sit on the lawn and enjoy their masterful works of art. He has always had a flair for the dramatic (some people would call it “just being moody”).
Throughout school, Tommy participated in drama in some fashion. His favorite thing was to pretend to be different characters with his best buddy Eddie. (Who knew 20 years later they would still be doing that?) When high school was over, Tommy began serving in a church and going to college in pursuit of an Oral Communications degree. (Okay…at first he was going to get an accounting degree but he failed Accounting 101 and honestly, what idiot would let Tommy do their taxes?)
After graduation, Tommy got married and moved to Frisco, Texas where he lived for 12 years serving as a youth pastor. In 2003, Tommy moved his family back home to Edmond where he currently lives with his wife and kids. When he’s not traveling with Eddie, he works at NEWCHURCH in Oklahoma City as the associate pastor of teaching and creativity. (If you’re ever in town, stop by and say “hi” -www.newchurch.tv)
The most important thing in Tommy’s life is his family; daughter Abby, son Hudson, and his incredible wife Angie! If you ever want to see his face light up, just ask him to tell you about them! (However, don’t mention the accounting thing…it’s kind of embarrassing!)
Brian Cates
Brian serves as Producer for The Skit Guys. He has just graduated from film school at the University of Oklahoma and is unemployed and screaming to the heavens of his woes for choosing an art degree. OK, that part is a lie. He actually began working at a Newchurch in Oklahoma City in 2004 as the Multimedia Director. The forging power of fate united Brian with Newchurch Teaching Pastor and Skit Guy, Tommy Woodard--an unstoppable, manly bond that can only be weakened by kryptonite or the velveteen crooning talent of 1988 David Bowie.
Brian has been producing the Skit Guys video content since 2005 and is currently acting as the Chief Media Officer overseeing all video production and online marketing. He lives in Oklahoma City where he owns a home with a 2-car garage and a giant television. He also is an independent graphic artist / advanced compositor / editor / writer / director / producer. You can see more of his work at www.brianmakesmovies.com.
Carrie Varnell
Carrie serves as Script Consultant and Online Manager for The Skit Guys. She has one husband and two children, Rachel and Graham. Her husband, Randy, makes video games for a living and reminds her daily that he needs an X-Box for “research”. When Carrie is not listening to Coldplay, watching Fringe, explaining to a tearful but insistent 9 year-old why he has no real Jedi powers, or consulting on scripts she makes up half of Skitzy Chicks, a drama team that performs for women’s ministries. You can find out more about them at www.skitzychicks.com. She also has several scripts available at SkitGuys.com.
If you have any questions or need help with a script, you can email Carrie at carrie@skitguys.com.
Tim Antone
Tim Antone serves as the Product Manager for the Skit Guys. He is newly married to his wife Rachel, and they live in Oklahoma City. Tim has grown up in OKC and attends NEWCHURCH, where he enjoys serving as the drummer for the worship team. In his spare time Tim loves spending time with his family, playing the drums, working on his house, and running. He is pursuing a degree in Business Leadership from Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, Oklahoma.
Jonathan Matlock
Jonathan Matlock, of Rocket Park, has been managing the web development side of The Skit Guys since 2005. He loves his job. When he isn't busy making things for SkitGuys.com, he's playing around with his other arts and crafts hobbies that can be seen on jonathanmatlock.com. Halloween is his favorite time of the year, but Easter is quickly becoming his favorite with the Skit Guys Annual Easter Egg Hunt.
Sarah Wall
Try as you may, you'd never be able to convince Sarah that her connection to Skit Guys, Inc. was not a total God-thing.
She's been given the part of Booking Assistant on the Skit Guys' team. As such, she has the privilege of handling initial booking inquiries from the fine folks who call with booking questions or submit booking requests. She pretty much dominates in the game of Phone Tag.
Sarah is what happens when you fuse New England upbringing and southern domestication. She's been graced with a hilarious husband named Matthew, a precious daughter named Julia, and a stealthy, ninja-cat named Bella. Sarah graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Youth Ministry, and has the privilege of ministering to and worshiping with the teens at Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church in Pacolet, South Carolina. She’s willing to admit she's a spectacular mess, and wakes up every morning grateful that Jesus came for the messes.
Rian Slay
The Skit Guys met Rian when she was around the age of 7 years old. Wowed by her incredible talent and skills at such a young age, they immediately offered her a job, but alas, labor laws in California prohibited them from actually hiring her. Ok, not really but fast forward about 20 years and they did meet up again, discovered she had gone on to become a self-professed theatre geek, and brought her on board. Now she helps Carrie with the scripts, Brian with the video shoots, and whatever else happens to need doing.
When Rian was 10 she was cast in a Christmas production at her church. She was bit by the theatre bug and there was no turning back. She studied theatre at Howard Payne University and went on to get her MFA from the University of Houston in Theatre with a focus on directing. Rian lives in North Richland Hills, TX where she works with churches in the areas of Creative Arts and Production (someone please tell her father that she is in fact using those theatre degrees!).
;A Texas girl at heart, she drives a big red pickup and loves country music and her cowboy boots. She was once crowned the “Greatest Fooseball Champion of the World...ever” (at least that’s what the trophy said).
