Impro Theatre's Fairytales Unscripted

IMPRO THEATRE’S FAIRYTALES UNSCRIPTED SAT / FEB 3 / 11:00 AM

Directed by Jo McGinley & Kelly Holden Bashar

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 Sandra Burns, scenic & costume designer Leigh Allen, lighting designer Alex Caan, technical improviser Jonathan Green, musical director

ensemble Kari Coleman, Lisa Fredrickson, Kelly Holden Bashar, Stephen Kearin, Brian Lohmann, Nick Massouh, Ryan Smith

Impro Theatre is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles 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 no intermission.

22 JAN/FEB 2018 ENSEMBLE

Kari Coleman Lisa Fredrickson Kelly Holden Bashar Stephen Kearin

Brian Lohmann Nick Massouh Ryan Smith

WELCOME TO THE SHOW! performing anything that has been previously written or performed. For the uninitiated, this unique form of theatre generates a few questions: What is it like performing a play when you don’t have a script? Who writes these plays? It is terrifying, inspiring, and wonderfully Everyone that is present on stage. exhilarating. The performers are Impro Theatre is an ensemble of actor/ embracing whole-heartedly the acting playwrights who write theatre as they tenet to “be in the moment” as they have perform it. Our crew is improvising the no other choice. sound and light changes right along with us. For more information about Impro Theatre, go to www.ImproTheatre.com How do you rehearse this kind of show? We immerse ourselves in the particular genre and then reinvent it in an entirely new way, right in front of your eyes. Through the rehearsal process, we embrace the essence of that particular performing style without saying or

JAN/FEB 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 23 BIOS KELLY HOLDEN BASHAR, co-director, ensemble, was most recently seen on KARI COLEMAN, ensemble, began 2 Broke Girls, and she played Martin improvising with LA Theatresports as a Freeman’s wife Pearl Nygaard in the founding member. She was most recently Golden Globe and Emmy-winning hit seen in Rizzoli and Isles, It’s Always Sunny miniseries Fargo on FX. Some of her in Philadelphia and The Spoils Before Dying other recent credits include Parks and with Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig, as well Recreation, Dog With A Blog, Gilmore as reprising her role as Helen Stacy in The Girls, I Didn’t Do It and Betty White’s Off Amazing Spiderman 2. She also starred Their Rockers. She co-starred with Rita in the MTV series Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Rudner in the film Thanks and can be Famous and played Whitney on Switched seen in numerous commercials. Kelly is at Birth. Guest star appearances include also a writer and one of the credits she is Scandal, NCIS: LA, Grey’s Anatomy, Glee, most proud of is being the co-writer of, Wilfred, Major Crimes and NCIS. She’s (and portraying “Pippin” in), the critically played George’s psychotic girlfriend acclaimed play Fellowship! The Musical on Seinfeld and an embittered sex-ed Parody of “The Fellowship of the Ring.” teacher on Veronica Mars. She’s also In addition to being a main company been a fire-eater with Penn & Teller in Las member at Impro Theatre, Kelly is also Vegas, debunked paranormal phenomena an original member of CHICKSPEARE. Her on syndicated TV and fallen off a mountain best role, by far, is mom to Brooke and in an IMAX 3-D film T-REX. She is married Maggie. to fellow actor Kyle Secor and they have two amazing daughters. STEPHEN KEARIN, ensemble, began his career with Bay Area Theatresports in LISA FREDRICKSON, ensemble, in San Francisco, where he was a company addition to Impro Theatre, has been member for 14 years. He was a founding an ensemble member of Seattle member of both Improv Theatre and Theatresports, SAK Comedy Lab Orlando, True Fiction Magazine and is currently a Disney’s Comedy Warehouse and Inflatable founding member of 3ForAll (Celebrating Betty. She is the resident improv teacher their 20th season). Last year he served at California Lutheran University. She was as co-director of Impro Theatre’s Twilight an original cast member of Fellowship! Zone UnScripted and The Western The Musical Parody of “The Fellowship of UnScripted (Ovation Award nomination the Ring” in Los Angeles, performed at for his performance). Stephen is the co- the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and creator of Simlish and was the principal performed in Boo at New York, New York male voice of The Sims, Sims 2.0 and in Las Vegas. TV credits include Greek, Sims Medieval. He is featured in the Desperate Housewives and The Tick. She DreamWorks Animation films Kung Fu has been in numerous TV commercials, Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2 & 3, Madagascar usually as some sort of uptight mother. 2 & 3, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Megamind, The She loves babies and banjos. Penguins Of Madagascar and Home. He appears as the terrifying Principal Mitchell

24 JAN/FEB 2018 on Disney XD’s Kirby Buckets. Stephen a sitcom pilot for Warner Brothers. He has served as an instructor at Stanford has appeared in film/television including University, Dreamworks Animation and the Oscar winning West Bank Story, Cirque Du Soleil. Intelligence, NCIS:LA, Private Practice, ER, Bones, and Californication. Nick has BRIAN LOHMANN, ensemble, has directed performed on stage at South Coast Rep, L.A. Noir UnScripted (The Broad Stage, The Broad, The Falcon, and originated the Oregon Shakespeare Festival mainstage, role of Tommy Marsico in Rita Rudner’s John Anson Ford Amphitheater), Tickled Pink at The Laguna Playhouse. Nick Tennessee Williams UnScripted (Odyssey is a resident of Los Angeles with a BFA Theater/ South Coast Rep), Dickens degree in acting from USC. UnScripted (Broad Stage/North Coast Rep/A Noise Within) and Shakespeare RYAN SMITH, ensemble, Ryan’s most UnScripted (OSF Green Show/Carrie recent Impro credits are Jane Austen Hamilton Theater.) He directed ModRock UnScripted, Twilight Zone UnScripted at the El Portal, as well as many genres and Sondheim UnScripted. Last of improvised musicals. Favorite October, he made his Impro directing performances include the Berkeley Jazz debut with Horror UnScripted. In the Festival with Bobby McFerrin, String of “scripted” world, Ryan has done a ton of Pearls at Carnegie Hall and Johnny Lonely commercials and voice-overs, had the in his critically acclaimed solo show privilege of playing a Hobbit and an Elf in Johnny Lonely’s Unhappy Hour, which Fellowship! The Musical Parody of “The toured the UK and Australia. Stage credits Fellowship of the Ring” and wrote and include ACT, The Old Globe, Shakespeare produced on the final three seasons of Santa Cruz, Laguna Playhouse and The MadTV on FOX. Not for nothing, but his Magic Theater. Brian has taught for the sketches from that show have racked up American Conservatory Theatre’s MFA a combined 1.7 gagillion-bazillion hits on program, Stanford, The Guthrie Theatre, YouTube (rough estimate). While he loves The Public Theater’s Shakespeare Lab, all the improvising, acting and writing he The Old Globe/USD, Oregon Shakespeare gets to do, his greatest joy is hanging out Festival and Shakespeare at the with his amazing wife, Snow, and their Huntington. Awards include Garland, three insanely cute dogs, Buzby, Charlie Drama-Logue, and StageScene LA. and Oliver. www.brianlohmann.com PRODUCTION STAFF NICK MASSOUH, ensemble, is an actor, DAN O’CONNOR, producing artistic improviser, and sketch comedian. He is director, for Impro Theatre, has directed a founding company member with Impro Chekhov UnScripted and co-directed Theatre and head of The Impro Theatre Jane Austen UnScripted, Fairytales School. Nick is also a member of the UnScripted, The Western UnScripted, comedy troupe Summer of Tears, who Shakespeare UnScripted and Sondheim won the award for best sketch at the HBO UnScripted. Collectively, these shows Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and filmed have performed at The Broad Stage,

JAN/FEB 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 25 Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Laguna in The Legacy, which won Best Comics- Playhouse, North Coast Repertory, Falcon Related Film at Comic Con. Theatre, Carrie Hamilton Theatre at The Pasadena Playhouse, Lewis Family SANDRA BURNS, scenic & costume Playhouse, New Vic Theatre, Odyssey designer, is an award-winning artist based Theatre and many others. Stage acting in Los Angeles. She designs costumes credits include Improbable Theatre’s Life and sets for theatre, dance, TV and Game (Off-Broadway) and shows with ACT film. Past collaborations include work at and A Noise Within. Television directing DouglasPlus, REDCAT, South Coast Rep, credits include ABC’s Sons and Daughters La Jolla Playhouse, The Broad Stage, and Oxygen’s Campus Ladies; acting Fountain Theatre, LATC, Odyssey includes Seinfeld, VEGAS, Raising Hope, Theatre, The Falcon Theater, St. Ann’s Campus Ladies, Starstruck and Malcolm Warehouse and PS 122. Sandra was the in the Middle; and he also co-created and costume designer for the Academy starred in NBC/PAX’s improv show World Award nominated short film New Boy. Cup Comedy. Dan has taught and directed She is currently designing costumes for improvisational theatre to universities the TV series Last Man on Earth and and companies worldwide including USC, Lopez. Sandra received her MFA from the Duke, Pepperdine, UT Austin, Dreamworks, California Institute of The Arts (CalArts). Disney Animation and Cirque du Soleil. www.sandraburnsdesign.com He is a graduate of the Webber Douglas LEIGH ALLEN, lighting designer, is Academy of Dramatic Art in London and a multi-award winner for lighting recently gave a TED Talk about teaching design, and is a recipient of the Career the world to improvise. Achievement Award from the Los Angeles www.danoconnor.net Drama Critics Circle. Leigh returns to JO MCGINLEY, co-director, has been Impro Theatre after her highly acclaimed directing unscripted theatre since 1996. designs for Stop Kiss, Half of Plenty, Passionate about a playwright, writer Razorback and American Dead. Other or film style, diving into their world and credits include: Beauty and the Beast having the great fortune of working with (Musical Theater West), Champagne the most talented improvisers/actors (Regent Cruise Lines), Shimmy! (Princess around is what keeps Jo inspired about Cruise Lines), Snoopy On Ice, The Red live theatre. She has also directed Twilight Road (Native Voices), Killer Joe (Ovation Zone UnScripted and Dorothy Parker Award: Production of the Year), The Fab UnScripted for Impro’s main company. She Four (South Bay CLO), The Prince of LA also loves bringing improvisation into the (The Old Globe in San Diego) and Vincent sports and business worlds, and recent in Brixton (Pasadena Playhouse). Leigh also clients include The US Olympic Ski Teams, received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Cisco, Accenture, Kaiser and Salesforce Circle and LA Weekly Lighting Design Worldwide. One of her favorite theatrical Awards for Johnny Got His Gun. credits includes playing Superman’s wife

26 JAN/FEB 2018 ALEX CAAN, technical improviser, is an capacities in arts management, marketing improviser, actor and musician native to and administration. He has managed and Los Angeles. He has been working and consulted on several shows at various studying with Impro Theatre since 2013. theatres throughout Los Angeles, and He has contributed to several other in addition to his work with Impro, he company productions as a technical is also the Managing Director of Rogue improviser, including Shakespeare Machine Theatre. Rick’s film and television UnScripted, The Western UnScripted, production credits include The Tonight Jane Austen UnScripted, Twilight Zone Show, K-PAX, Tomb Raider and Frozen UnScripted, Chekhov UnScripted and Assets (which critic Gene Siskel named Sondheim UnScripted. Additionally, he “The Worst Film of the Year”). He is a performs both on and off stage at the graduate of Stanford University. Impro Studio in Los Feliz. ABOUT IMPRO THEATRE JONATHAN GREEN, musical director, is an Impro Theatre creates completely award-winning composer with credits in improvised, full-length plays in the styles film, television, live theatre, records and of the world’s greatest playwrights, radio. He has composed a wide variety authors and composers. With no pre- of music for the Universal Studios Theme planning or prepared scenarios, the Parks in Florida, Hollywood and Japan, as performers combine verbal dexterity and well as Coca Cola, Nickelodeon, Animal dynamic physicality to bring character and Planet, Disney and Dreamworks Animation. plot to life in an instant, making each show In addition to being the music director unique and unlike any other theatrical at the renowned ACME Comedy Theatre experience. The show you are about to for over twenty years, Jonathan was also see will never be seen again. the music director for the Pasadena Playhouse’s production of It’s A Wonderful Founded as Los Angeles Theatresports in Life, Camenot at ACME NoHo, Fraudway 1988, IMPRO THEATRE has evolved from a at Impro and The Liquid Radio Players. successful short form improv troupe into His Christmas song, “You’ll Always Be with a critically acclaimed theatre company. Me for Christmas” was released by Walt Impro Theatre creates completely Disney Records. For more information, go improvised, full-length plays in the styles to jonathangreencomposer.com. of the world’s greatest writers. With no pre-planning or prepared scenarios, RICK BERNSTEIN, managing director, has the performers start with audience worked with many LA arts organizations suggestions and then write theatre for more than 10 years. He was the as they perform it, combining verbal Managing Director at The Road Theatre dexterity and dynamic physicality to bring Company and Elephant Theatre Company, character and plot to life in an instant. and he was a staff member at The Theatre Impro Theatre’s performances are unique; @ Boston Court, The Colony Theatre there are no repeated characters and no and LA Stage Alliance, working in various set story structure. Each performance

JAN/FEB 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 27 offers an exploration into the process of Special Thanks: Mireya Hepner and spontaneous creation while encouraging MainStreet Theatre Company a profound level of engagement between Impro Theatre currently has 12 different performers and audience, who are all styles of shows in our repertoire: united in discovering what happens in the moment on that particular night. • Jane Austen UnScripted • Chekhov UnScripted In Southern California, Impro has • Dickens UnScripted performed sold-out shows at South • Fairytales UnScripted Coast Repertory, The Broad Stage in • Horror UnScripted Santa Monica, The Pasadena Playhouse, • L.A. Noir UnScripted North Coast Repertory in San Diego, • Dorothy Parker UnScripted The Falcon Theatre in Burbank and many • Shakespeare UnScripted more. Venues around the world include • Sondheim UnScripted the John Anson Ford Amphitheater in Los • Tennessee Williams UnScripted Angeles, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, • Twilight Zone UnScripted The Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago, Evans • The Western UnScripted Auditorium at Texas State University, The Melbourne Fringe in Australia and Theatre Impro Theatre also manages the Impro Adyar in Paris. Impro has received multiple Studio performance space and the Impro Ovation Recommended honors and Theatre School, which is the home of Critics’ Picks in Los Angeles Times, Back Narrative Improv in Los Angeles. Stage and LA Weekly. Los Angeles Times calls Impro Theatre, “Amazing! The troupe spins an entire play into comedy gold right before your eyes,” and American Theatre Magazine says, “These virtuosic talents 1727 North Vermont Ave., #211 simply are as superhuman as they seem. Los Angeles, CA 90027 These are serious professional actors, (323) 401-6162 classically trained, who can write on their [email protected] feet better than many writers can type facebook.com/improtheatre at a desk. Impro’s work has taught me @improtheatre to demand more from the theatre. Here might be the salvation the theatre seeks.” Visit www.ImproTheatre.com and sign up for Impro’s mailing list! Impro Theatre is available for corporate training, and we are the choice of many Fortune 500 companies. Let us help you tell your story.

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