IMPRO THEATRE’S CHEKHOV UNSCRIPTED FEB 23 – 25 / THE EDYE

Directed by Dan O’Connor

impro theatre staff Dan O’Connor, producing artistic director Rick Bernstein, managing director Nick Massouh, director of the Impro Theatre School Madi Goff, associate director of the Impro Theatre school Paul Hungerford, Impro Studio producer Matthew Pitner, Impro Studio manager Emily Rose Jacobson, social media coordinator

production staff Trefoni Rizzi, scenic designer Sandra Burns, costume designer Leigh Allen, lighting designer Lisa Fredrickson, associate director Emily Rose Jacobson, technical improviser

ensemble Kelly Holden Bashar, Stephen Kearin, Brian Lohmann, Jo McGinley, Mike McShane, Dan O’Connor, Edi Patterson, Paul Rogan, Michele Spears, Floyd Van Buskirk

Impro Theatre is supported, in part, by the County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. Impro Theatre’s programming is made possible, in part, by a grant from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs. There will be one 15-minute intermission. FEB 2018 25 ENSEMBLE

Kelly Holden Bashar Stephen Kearin Brian Lohmann Jo McGinley

Mike McShane Dan O’Connor Edi Patterson Paul Rogan

Michele Spears Floyd Van Buskirk

26 FEB 2018 WELCOME TO THE SHOW! BIOS For the uninitiated, this unique form of KELLY HOLDEN BASHAR, ensemble, was theatre generates a few questions: most recently seen on Speechless, and she played Martin Freeman’s wife Pearl Who writes these plays? Nygaard in the Golden Globe and Emmy- Everyone that is present on stage. winning hit miniseries Fargo on FX. Some Impro Theatre is an ensemble of actor/ of her other recent credits include Parks playwrights who write theatre as they and Recreation, 2 Broke Girls, Dog With A perform it. Our crew is improvising the Blog, and Gilmore Girls. She co-starred sound and light changes right along with with Rita Rudner in the film Thanks and us. can be seen in numerous commercials. How do you rehearse this kind of show? Kelly is also a writer and one of the credits she is most proud of is being the co- We immerse ourselves in the particular writer of, (and portraying “Pippin” in), the genre and then reinvent it in an entirely critically acclaimed play Fellowship! The new way, right in front of your eyes. Musical Parody of “The Fellowship of the Through the rehearsal process, we Ring.” In addition to being a main company embrace the essence of that particular member at Impro Theatre, Kelly is also performing style without saying or part of the teaching faculty. Her best role, performing anything that has been by far, is mom to Brooke and Maggie. previously written or performed. What is it like performing a play when you STEPHEN KEARIN, ensemble, began his don’t have a script? career with Bay Area Theatresports in San Francisco, where he was a company It is terrifying, inspiring, and wonderfully member for 14 years. He was a founding exhilarating. The performers are member of both Improv Theatre and embracing whole-heartedly the acting True Fiction Magazine and is currently a tenet to “be in the moment” as they have founding member of 3ForAll (Celebrating no other choice. their 20th season). Last year he served How do I know you are making it up? as co-director of Impro Theatre’s Twilight We invite you to come back and see Zone UnScripted and The Western another show – it will be completely UnScripted (Ovation Award nomination different from this performance. It is one for his performance). Stephen is the co- of the reasons why people come back and creator of Simlish and was the principal see multiple shows! male voice of The Sims, Sims 2.0 and Sims Medieval. He is featured in the For more information about Impro DreamWorks Animation films Kung Fu Theatre, go to www.ImproTheatre.com Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2 & 3, Madagascar 2 & 3, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Megamind, The Penguins Of Madagascar and Home. He appears as the terrifying Principal Mitchell on Disney XD’s Kirby Buckets. Stephen has served as an instructor at Stanford

FEB 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 27 University, Dreamworks Animation and sports and business worlds, and recent Cirque Du Soleil. clients include The US Olympic Ski Teams, Cisco, Accenture, Kaiser and Salesforce BRIAN LOHMANN, ensemble, has directed Worldwide. One of her favorite theatrical L.A. Noir UnScripted (The Broad Stage, credits includes playing Superman’s wife Oregon Shakespeare Festival mainstage, in The Legacy, which won Best Comics- John Anson Ford Amphitheater), Related Film at Comic Con. Tennessee Williams UnScripted (Odyssey Theater/ South Coast Rep), Dickens MIKE MCSHANE, ensemble, was an original UnScripted (Broad Stage/North Coast and regular cast member of Whose Line is Rep/A Noise Within) and Shakespeare it Anyway UK. He has taught improvisation UnScripted (OSF Green Show/Carrie for Pixar, the Savannah College of Art Hamilton Theater.) He directed ModRock and Design and corporate workshops at the El Portal, as well as many genres throughout the U.S. and U.K. As well as of improvised musicals. Favorite being a regular guest with The Comedy performances include the Berkeley Jazz Store Players in London, On the West End Festival with Bobby McFerrin, String of in London he has been in Little Shop of Pearls at Carnegie Hall and Johnny Lonely Horrors, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, in his critically acclaimed solo show The Tailor Made Man, and the acclaimed Johnny Lonely’s Unhappy Hour, which production of Assassins at The Menier toured the UK and Australia. Stage credits Chocolate Factory. He’s also performed include ACT, The Old Globe, Shakespeare on Broadway in La Cage Aux Folles and in Santa Cruz, Laguna Playhouse and The one of the great Broadway flops, Taller Magic Theater. Brian has taught for the Than A Dwarf. He was a company member American Conservatory Theatre’s MFA of The American Conservatory Theatre, program, Stanford, The Guthrie Theatre, The California Shakespeare Festival and The Public Theater’s Shakespeare Lab, worked extensively at Berkeley Repertory The Old Globe/USD, Oregon Shakespeare Theater. On film and TV he’s guest starred Festival and Shakespeare at the on , ER, Malcolm in the Middle, The Huntington. Awards include Garland, Drew Carey Show, Doctor Who, Wayward Drama-Logue, and StageScene LA. Pines, Bluestone 4-2, Robin Hood: Prince www.brianlohmann.com of Thieves, Richie Rich, Drop Dead Gorgeous and Office Space. You can also JO MCGINLEY, ensemble, has been hear Mike’s voice in A Bug’s Life, Vampire directing unscripted theatre since 1996. Hunter D, Spawn: The TV Series, King of the Passionate about a playwright, writer Hill, and many other animated films. Mike or film style, diving into their world and recently was nominated for an Daytime having the great fortune of working with Emmy as best actor in a web series, “Red the most talented improvisers/actors Bird”, which can be seen on . around is what keeps Jo inspired about live theatre. She has also directed Twilight DAN O’CONNOR, director, ensemble, Zone UnScripted and Dorothy Parker producing artistic director, for Impro UnScripted for Impro’s main company. She Theatre, has directed Chekhov UnScripted also loves bringing improvisation into the and co-directed Jane Austen UnScripted,

28 FEB 2018 Fairytales UnScripted, The Western PAUL ROGAN, ensemble, is originally UnScripted, Shakespeare UnScripted and from London and has worked with all of Sondheim UnScripted. Collectively, these the UK’s major improv groups, including shows have performed at The Broad the Comedy Store Players and with Eddie Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Izzard and Friends. He joined Impro Laguna Playhouse, North Coast Repertory, Theatre to co-direct and perform in Falcon Theatre, Carrie Hamilton Theatre Jane Austen UnScripted. U.S. TV includes at The Pasadena Playhouse, Lewis Family Castle, Timeline, KC Undercover, I Playhouse, New Vic Theatre, Odyssey Didn’t Do It (as snarky science teacher Theatre and many others. Stage acting Mr. Jenkins), Anger Management (two credits include Improbable Theatre’s Life different roles), Legit, My Name is Earl, Game (Off-Broadway) and shows with ACT Big Love, Cougartown, Jimmy Kimmel and A Noise Within. Television directing Live, Sleeper Cell and Cory in the House. credits include ABC’s Sons and Daughters Film includes Miss March, Thunderpants and Oxygen’s Campus Ladies; acting and A Knight in Camelot. Theatre includes includes Seinfeld, VEGAS, , “George” in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Campus Ladies, Starstruck and Malcolm the “Emcee” in Cabaret and “Malvolio” in the Middle; and he also co-created and in Twelfth Night. He has been on lots of starred in NBC/PAX’s improv show World BBC Radio comedy shows, including six Cup Comedy. Dan has taught and directed full series. As a stand-up comedian, Paul improvisational theatre to universities has played the Improv in Hollywood and and companies worldwide including USC, hundreds of live, TV and radio gigs. Duke, Pepperdine, UT Austin, Dreamworks, www.paulrogan.com Disney Animation and Cirque du Soleil. He is a graduate of the Webber Douglas MICHELE SPEARS, ensemble, is an actor, Academy of Dramatic Art in London and improviser, director/choreographer recently gave a TED Talk about teaching and arts educator. A founding member the world to improvise. of Impro, she has also performed with www.danoconnor.net Theatresports, Inflatable Betty, Pulp Playhouse and Disney’s Laughing Stock EDI PATTERSON, ensemble, played Jen Company. Recent projects include: Abbott on HBO’s Vice Principals with Object of Her Affection at REDCAT Danny McBride, and she plays Elizabeth (director); Traveling Music at Stage 72 on Tracy Morgan’s upcoming The Last in NYC (director/choreographer); The O.G. on TBS. Some other credits include L.A. Gay Men’s Chorus Down Under Nobodies, Black-ish, The League, Curb Concert (choreographer); The Soltanoff/ Your Enthusiasm, 2 Broke Girls, FX’s Findlay Project for Center Theatre Group Partners, guest writing for Saturday Night (performer); Sondheim UnScripted at The Live, and doing various voices for We Oregon Shakespeare Festival (director/ Bare Bears. She is also a member of the performer); Important Things with Dimitri Main Company at The Groundlings and Martin for Comedy Central (actor); performs there every Thursday night in and Wake Up Your Weird at the O’Neill the Cookin’ With Gas show. Instagram/ Theater Center, which premiered in New Twitter: @EdiPattersonHi York and is currently touring (director/

FEB 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 29 choreographer). Her work has been Premieres: Maltby/Shire’s A Time for recognized with LA Weekly, N.Y. Night- Love at Arena Studio Theatre; P.J. Barry’s Life, Dramalogue, StageScene LA and Bad Axe at Foothill Theatre Company; Santa Barbara Independent awards, as Stephen Legawiec’s Peru in Africa at the well as an American Choreographers’ Miles Playhouse; Melanie Marnich’s Quake Award nomination. She’s a graduate of at Theatre Pangea; and Lee Blessing’s NYU/TISCH, a member of the Directors Chesapeake at Venice Theatre Works. Lab West and currently teaches theatre at Local: Parallel Lives at The Falcon Theatre; Harvard-Westlake School. Copenhagen at Rubicon Theatre; Sex and www.michelespears.com Education at Laguna Playhouse and Colony Theatre; Two Boys From Brooklyn at The FLOYD VAN BUSKIRK, ensemble, a Palace Theatre; and Marilyn, Madness and professional actor for over 30 years Me! at the El Portal Theatre. Awards and he started on stages in Seattle and Honors: Ovation Award - Songs for a New Tacoma, including The Seattle Rep under World at Rubicon Theatre. Guest Designer: the direction of Daniel Sullivan, was Lincoln Center Theatre’s Director’s Lab, co-founder of Seattle Theatresports/ Member of United Scenic Artists Local Unexpected Productions and its first 829. Award Winning Author and Publisher Artistic Director in 1983. He moved of Teddy’s Travels - America’s National to Los Angeles in 1994 and joined LA Parks - www.teddystravels.com. Theatresports, was Education Director from 2000 to 2002 and Artistic Director SANDRA BURNS, costume designer, is from 2002 to 2004 when the company’s an award-winning artist based in Los name was changed to Impro Theatre. TV Angeles. She designs costumes and credits include This Is Us, Ray Donavon, sets for theatre, dance, TV and film. Bosch, Blackish, You’re The Worst, Reno Past collaborations include work at 911, Las Vegas, NCIS, How I Met Your DouglasPlus, REDCAT, South Coast Rep, Mother, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Rules Of La Jolla Playhouse, The Broad Stage, Engagement, The Middle, Hart Of Dixie Fountain Theatre, LATC, Odyssey and . Films include: Reno 911/ Theatre, The Falcon Theater, St. Ann’s Miami, Balls Of Fury, A Mighty Wind as Warehouse and PS 122. Sandra was the well as numerous shorts and Independent costume designer for the Academy Films. He works extensively in voiceover Award nominated short film New Boy. and is a singer-songwriter with the band, She is currently designing costumes for CATAHOULA, The Lee-Foley Band and as a the TV series Last Man on Earth and solo artist. Lopez. Sandra received her MFA from the California Institute of The Arts (CalArts). PRODUCTION STAFF www.sandraburnsdesign.com TREFONI MICHAEL RIZZI, scenic designer, LEIGH ALLEN, lighting designer, is Off-Broadway/Regional: A Woman of Will a multi-award winner for lighting at The Daryl Roth Theater NYC; The Little design, and is a recipient of the Career Prince; A Child’s Christmas in Wales; and Achievement Award from the Los Angeles The Inspector General at The Colorado Drama Critics Circle. Leigh returns to Shakespeare Festival. World/West Coast

30 FEB 2018 Impro Theatre after her highly acclaimed as well as a company member in the Los designs for Stop Kiss, Half of Plenty, Angeles troupe of The Murder Mystery Razorback and American Dead. Other Company. credits include: Beauty and the Beast (Musical Theater West), Champagne RICK BERNSTEIN, managing director, (Regent Cruise Lines), Shimmy! (Princess has worked with many arts organizations Cruise Lines), Snoopy On Ice, The Red throughout Los Angeles. He has been Road (Native Voices), Killer Joe (Ovation the Managing Director at Rogue Machine Award: Production of the Year), The Fab Theatre, Road Theatre Company and Four (South Bay CLO), The Prince of LA Elephant Theatre Company, and he was (The Old Globe in San Diego) and Vincent a staff member at The Theatre @ Boston in Brixton (Pasadena Playhouse). Leigh also Court, The Colony Theatre and LA Stage received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Alliance, working in various capacities Circle and LA Weekly Lighting Design in arts management, marketing and Awards for Johnny Got His Gun. administration. He has also managed and consulted on several shows at various LISA FREDRICKSON, associate director, theatres throughout southern California. in addition to Impro Theatre, has Rick’s film and television production been an ensemble member of Seattle credits include The Tonight Show, K-PAX, Theatresports, SAK Comedy Lab Orlando, Tomb Raider and Frozen Assets (which Disney’s Comedy Warehouse and Inflatable critic Gene Siskel named “The Worst Film Betty. She is the resident improv teacher of the Year”). He is a graduate of Stanford at California Lutheran University. She was University. an original cast member of Fellowship! The Musical Parody of “The Fellowship of ABOUT IMPRO THEATRE the Ring” in Los Angeles, performed at Impro Theatre creates completely the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and improvised, full-length plays in the styles performed in Boo at New York, New York of the world’s greatest playwrights, in Las Vegas. TV credits include Greek, authors and composers. With no pre- Desperate Housewives and The Tick. She planning or prepared scenarios, the has been in numerous TV commercials, performers combine verbal dexterity and usually as some sort of uptight mother. dynamic physicality to bring character and She loves babies and banjos. plot to life in an instant, making each show unique and unlike any other theatrical EMILY ROSE JACOBSON, social media experience. The show you are about to coordinator/technical improviser, see will never be seen again. is a native Texan, and is overjoyed to be working with Impro Theatre. Most Founded as Los Angeles Theatresports in recently, she was the ASM for L.A. Noir 1988, IMPRO THEATRE has evolved from a UnScripted and Sondheim UnScripted and successful short form improv troupe into is an ongoing student at the Impro Theatre a critically acclaimed theatre company. School. She is a BFA Theatre graduate Impro Theatre creates completely from Chapman University and is currently improvised, full-length plays in the styles in MB Stage Productions’ The Video Games of the world’s greatest writers. With no

FEB 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 31 pre-planning or prepared scenarios, to demand more from the theatre. Here the performers start with audience might be the salvation the theatre seeks.” suggestions and then write theatre Impro Theatre currently has 12 different as they perform it, combining verbal styles of shows in our repertoire: dexterity and dynamic physicality to bring character and plot to life in an instant. • Jane Austen UnScripted Impro Theatre’s performances are unique; • Chekhov UnScripted there are no repeated characters and no • Dickens UnScripted set story structure. Each performance • Fairytales UnScripted offers an exploration into the process of • Horror UnScripted spontaneous creation while encouraging • L.A. Noir UnScripted a profound level of engagement between • Dorothy Parker UnScripted performers and audience, who are all • Shakespeare UnScripted united in discovering what happens in the • Sondheim UnScripted moment on that particular night. • Tennessee Williams UnScripted • Twilight Zone UnScripted In Southern California, Impro has • The Western UnScripted performed sold-out shows at South Coast Repertory, The Broad Stage in Impro Theatre also manages the Impro Santa Monica, The Pasadena Playhouse, Studio performance space and the Impro North Coast Repertory in San Diego, Theatre School, which is the home of The Falcon Theatre in Burbank and many Narrative Improv in Los Angeles. more. Venues around the world include the John Anson Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago, Evans Auditorium at Texas State University, The Melbourne Fringe in Australia and Theatre 1727 North Vermont Ave., #211 Adyar in Paris. Impro has received multiple Los Angeles, CA 90027 Ovation Recommended honors and (323) 401-6162 Critics’ Picks in Los Angeles Times, Back [email protected] Stage and LA Weekly. Los Angeles Times .com/improtheatre says “Impro Theatre has evolved into a @improtheatre powerhouse improvisational company in full-length shows that are off-the-cuff Visit www.ImproTheatre.com and sign up and consistently hilarious. An indigenous for Impro’s mailing list! Los Angeles treasure, the company should Impro Theatre is available for corporate be seen — and reseen!” American Theatre training, and we are the choice of many Magazine says, “These virtuosic talents Fortune 500 companies. Let us help you simply are as superhuman as they seem. tell your story. These are serious professional actors, classically trained, who can write on their feet better than many writers can type at a desk. Impro’s work has taught me

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