Andy Sarouhan - Auctioneer

Bay Area native Andy Sarouhan is a professional improviser and facilitator. His improvisation life began in 1992, when he joined his high school improvisation team. That event started a chain reaction that eventually resulted in a BA in Theatre from UC San Diego and an MFA in Creative Writing from UC Riverside. From 2003-2019, Andy improvised professionally in San Francisco and led theatre and performance courses through ImprovWorks, UC Riverside, American Conservatory Theater, Cal Shakes, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and BATS Improv, as well as leadership and soft skills workshops for dozens of Silicon Valley and Fortune 500 companies.

In 2019, Andy and his partner Kathryn moved out of the Bay Area to Sacramento. They built a sweet little nest together in a cul-de-sac with nice neighbors who like to get together and have drinks on the front lawn every Wednesday. He has continued his performance and facilitation work in his new home town. In 2021, their daughter Anaid was born. Anaid likes to see how often she can stick her whole hand into Andy’s mouth–we all need hobbies.

Andy has unending gratitude and esteem for arts-based nonprofits. Much of who he has become is a direct influence of such organizations, from the youth arts camps he attended as a child, to the theatrical non-profits he works with as a professional. He has both experienced and witnessed the powerful effect that such organizations have in shaping young people and empowering them with tools towards creativity, collaboration, empathy, and communication. Having taught with countless such organizations, he’s had the privilege of seeing how young people bloom into new facets of themselves when given the opportunity to learn in these environments. He is also well aware that the existence of such incredible organizations is dependent on the larger community, whether that be parent volunteers or generous donors.

Andy was first introduced to the auction world by a longtime improv friend who connected him to Greg Quiroga and Stellar SF. The combination of connecting with an audience and getting them excited to contribute to a worthy cause is right up his alley, and he is thrilled to be part of the process that supports the work of nonprofits.