Written by Kenzie Rhody
Guilt & Mirrors is an all-femme improv troupe. Its current members are Deb White, MK Killen, Adele Fico, and Mona Isler. We spoke to Fico and Isler ahead of their upcoming show and learned a lot about the troupe’s history — and their future too!
The Origin
Guilt & Mirrors’ origin story is very special to Fico. The women who started Guilt & Mirrors met in 2021, during an online improv class hosted by Megan Mack through Rochester Brainery.
Brimming with chemistry, the women played off of each other seamlessly in scenes. Each of them recognized that they had found something special, and Mack recommended they continue doing improv together.
A year later, in 2022, Fico, White and Margaret Buchanan, who has since left the troupe, discussed ideas over lunch. The three agreed that Isler would make a great addition.
“I wrote on my pad, and I still have the pad, in big capital letters, ‘M-O-N-A’,” Fico recalled. “I turned around, and [she’s] standing behind me!”
Isler happened to be eating at the same restaurant at the exact same time.
“There are no coincidences in the world … We manifested her,” Fico added.
Isler in turn suggested MK Killen as the final troupe member, and the five of them formed the original Guilt & Mirrors.
After finalizing the lineup, they started discussing their name. They had plenty of ideas, but the one they picked was born in a moment of spontaneity.
During a casual conversation, Fico, a Rochester native, was describing Sibley Square back when it was a department store. She remembered how immaculate and decorated everything was, and offhandedly remarked, “It was all gilt and mirrors.”.
As a final touch, they changed the spelling to ‘guilt’.
“Because we’re women, it’s what we live with,” Fico said
Additionally, the name pays homage to the building The Focus Theater now resides in. With their name and cast decided, Guilt & Mirrors quickly became celebrated across Rochester.
Clockwise From Top: MK Killen, Mona Isler, Adele Fico, Deb White. Center: The troupe’s newest member who has yet to be revealed.
The Past and Future
In 2023, Guilt & Mirrors performed as a part of the Rochester Fringe Festival. The same year saw them win the theater's Improv Battle Royale three times. Per the tournament’s rules, they received a free show rental for their triple victory.
Isler added, “We’re retired battle royale champions. We’re good at it, baby!”.
While they have headlined multiple shows since then, their next one will be extra special. Ever since their fifth member stepped away, the troupe has been a quartet, but with their upcoming performance, a new addition will bring them back up to five!
“We are so excited about this new person joining our group… They are dynamic, and we just know the fun we’re about to have is off the scale,” Isler said.
Be one of the first people to learn the identity of Guilt & Mirrors’ newest member by attending “The Christening” on Friday, March 29th, at The Focus Theater!