And Now…Madison’s Moms Of Comedy

For the women behind Madison’s Monkey Business Institute, improv isn’t just one more thing on their busy schedules, it’s a way of life

By night, Jennifer Salas, Linda Hedenband, Vanessa Tortolano, Sarah Rogers and Sheila Robertson play a vital part in the success of the Monkey Business empire, which not only puts on weekly shows at Glass Nickel, but offers regular improv lessons and specialty workshops for businesses. By day, they’re busy heading their own careers, being mothers all the while. I quickly learned that among them, they have eight children (and another on the way!). One heads a blended family, another has a child with special needs, and yet another became a mom at 47 with just three days’ notice, taking legal guardianship of an 8-year-old relative.