IMPRO THEATRE’S SHAKESPEARE UNSCRIPTED APR 20 – 22 / THE EDYE

Directed by Brian Lohmann & 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 Emily Rose Jacobson, technical improviser ensemble Kari Coleman, Lisa Fredrickson, Kelly Holden Bashar, Brian Michael Jones, Brian Lohmann, Dan O’Connor, Mike Rock, Paul Rogan, Michele Spears

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 one 15-minute intermission. 16 APR/MAY 2018 ENSEMBLE

Kari Coleman Lisa Fredrickson Kelly Holden Bashar

Brian Michael Jones Brian Lohmann Dan O’Connor

Mike Rock Paul Rogan Michele Spears

APR/MAY 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 17 WELCOME TO THE SHOW! BIOS For the uninitiated, this unique form of KARI COLEMAN, ensemble, began theatre generates a few questions: improvising with LA Theatresports as a founding member. She was most recently Who writes these plays? seen in Rizzoli and Isles, It’s Always Sunny Everyone that is present on stage. in Philadelphia and The Spoils Before Dying Impro Theatre is an ensemble of actor/ with Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig, as well playwrights who write theatre as they as reprising her role as Helen Stacy in The perform it. Our crew is improvising the Amazing Spiderman 2. She also starred sound and light changes right along with in the MTV series Zach Stone Is Gonna Be us. Famous and played Whitney on Switched How do you rehearse this kind of show? at Birth. Guest star appearances include Scandal, NCIS: LA, Grey’s Anatomy, Glee, We immerse ourselves in the particular Wilfred, Major Crimes and NCIS. She’s genre and then reinvent it in an entirely played George’s psychotic girlfriend new way, right in front of your eyes. on Seinfeld and an embittered sex-ed Through the rehearsal process, we teacher on . She’s also embrace the essence of that particular been a fire-eater with Penn & Teller in Las performing style without saying or Vegas, debunked paranormal phenomena performing anything that has been on syndicated TV and fallen off a mountain previously written or performed. in an IMAX 3-D film T-REX. She is married What is it like performing a play when you to fellow actor Kyle Secor and they have don’t have a script? two amazing daughters. It is terrifying, inspiring, and wonderfully LISA FREDRICKSON, ensemble, in exhilarating. The performers are addition to Impro Theatre, has been embracing whole-heartedly the acting an ensemble member of Seattle tenet to “be in the moment” as they have Theatresports, SAK Comedy Lab Orlando, no other choice. Disney’s Comedy Warehouse and Inflatable How do I know you are making it up? Betty. She is the resident improv teacher We invite you to come back and see at California Lutheran University. She was another show – it will be completely an original cast member of Fellowship! different from this performance. It is one The Musical Parody of “The Fellowship of of the reasons why people come back and the Ring” in Los Angeles, performed at see multiple shows! the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and performed in Boo at New York, New York For more information about Impro in Las Vegas. TV credits include Greek, Theatre, go to www.ImproTheatre.com Desperate Housewives and The Tick. She has been in numerous TV commercials, usually as some sort of uptight mother. She loves babies and banjos.

18 APR/MAY 2018 KELLY HOLDEN BASHAR, ensemble, was Theatresports and the Pepperdine Improv most recently seen on Speechless, and Troupe. she played Martin Freeman’s wife Pearl Nygaard in the Golden Globe and Emmy- BRIAN LOHMANN, co-director, ensemble, winning hit miniseries Fargo on FX. Some has directed L.A. Noir UnScripted (The of her other recent credits include Parks Broad Stage, Oregon Shakespeare and Recreation, 2 Broke Girls, Dog With A Festival mainstage, John Anson Ford Blog, and Gilmore Girls. She co-starred Amphitheater), Tennessee Williams with Rita Rudner in the film Thanks and UnScripted (Odyssey Theater/ South can be seen in numerous commercials. Coast Rep), Dickens UnScripted (Broad Kelly is also a writer and one of the credits Stage/North Coast Rep/A Noise Within) she is most proud of is being the co- and Shakespeare UnScripted (OSF writer of, (and portraying “Pippin” in), the Green Show/Carrie Hamilton Theater.) critically acclaimed play Fellowship! The He directed ModRock at the El Portal, Musical Parody of “The Fellowship of the as well as many genres of improvised Ring.” In addition to being a main company musicals. Favorite performances include member at Impro Theatre, Kelly is also the Berkeley Jazz Festival with Bobby part of the teaching faculty. Her best role, McFerrin, String of Pearls at Carnegie by far, is mom to Brooke and Maggie. Hall and Johnny Lonely in his critically acclaimed solo show Johnny Lonely’s BRIAN MICHAEL JONES, ensemble, can Unhappy Hour, which toured the UK currently be seen as “Chad” on Disney and Australia. Stage credits include XD’s Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much ACT, The Old Globe, Shakespeare Santa Everything. His puppeteering work can be Cruz, Laguna Playhouse and The Magic seen on ABC’s The Muppets and Muppets: Theater. Brian has taught for the American Most Wanted. Brian recently performed Conservatory Theatre’s MFA program, with Channing Tatum in Joel and Ethan Stanford, The Guthrie Theatre, The Public Coen’s film Hail Caesar! as a love struck Theater’s Shakespeare Lab, The Old sailor in the musical number “No Dames.” Globe/USD, Oregon Shakespeare Festival In addition to his numerous national and Shakespeare at the Huntington. commercials, his TV/film credits include: Awards include Garland, Drama-Logue, Grey’s Anatomy, Castle, Community, and StageScene LA. Raising Hope, Wilfred, Bones, NCIS: LA www.brianlohmann.com and the independent comedy film Tribute. Theatre credits include: the role of Frodo DAN O’CONNOR, co-director, ensemble, in Fellowship! The Musical Parody of “The producing artistic director, for Impro Fellowship of the Ring,” The Diviners, the Theatre, has directed Chekhov UnScripted fool in King Lear, West Side Story, 42nd and co-directed Jane Austen UnScripted, Street and Boys Next Door. His work Fairytales UnScripted, The Western with The Jim Henson Company includes UnScripted, Shakespeare UnScripted and Unstable Fables and the improvised Sondheim UnScripted. Collectively, these puppet show Puppet Up! Brian teaches shows have performed at The Broad improv at the Impro School and directs LA Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival,

APR/MAY 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 19 Laguna Playhouse, North Coast Repertory, is also an announcer for NFL Replay and Falcon Theatre, Carrie Hamilton Theatre KCRW. at The Pasadena Playhouse, Lewis Family Playhouse, New Vic Theatre, Odyssey PAUL ROGAN, ensemble, is originally Theatre and many others. Stage acting from London and has worked with all of credits include Improbable Theatre’s Life the UK’s major improv groups, including Game (Off-Broadway) and shows with ACT the Comedy Store Players and with Eddie and A Noise Within. Television directing Izzard and Friends. He joined Impro credits include ABC’s Sons and Daughters Theatre to co-direct and perform in and Oxygen’s Campus Ladies; acting Jane Austen UnScripted. U.S. TV includes includes Seinfeld, VEGAS, Raising Hope, Castle, Timeline, KC Undercover, I Campus Ladies, Starstruck and Malcolm Didn’t Do It (as snarky science teacher in the Middle; and he also co-created and Mr. Jenkins), Anger Management (two starred in NBC/PAX’s improv show World different roles), Legit, My Name is Earl, Cup Comedy. Dan has taught and directed Big Love, Cougartown, Jimmy Kimmel improvisational theatre to universities Live, Sleeper Cell and Cory in the House. and companies worldwide including USC, Film includes Miss March, Thunderpants Duke, Pepperdine, UT Austin, Dreamworks, and A Knight in Camelot. Theatre includes Disney Animation and Cirque du Soleil. “George” in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, He is a graduate of the Webber Douglas the “Emcee” in Cabaret and “Malvolio” Academy of Dramatic Art in London and in Twelfth Night. He has been on lots of recently gave a TED Talk about teaching BBC Radio comedy shows, including six the world to improvise. full series. As a stand-up comedian, Paul www.danoconnor.net has played the Improv in Hollywood and hundreds of live, TV and radio gigs. MIKE ROCK, ensemble, has performed www.paulrogan.com in Impro Theatre’s Chekhov UnScripted, Twilight Zone UnScripted, The Western MICHELE SPEARS, ensemble, is an actor, UnScripted, Shakespeare UnScripted improviser, director/choreographer and Jane Austen UnScripted. Former and arts educator. A founding member artistic director of Madison, WI Theater of Impro, she has also performed with Sports, later producer/artistic director Theatresports, Inflatable Betty, Pulp NYC’s ComedySportz and co-founder Playhouse and Disney’s Laughing Stock of The Bert Fershners sketch comedy Company. Recent projects include: group (Comedy Central, MTV, VH-1 at The Object of Her Affection at REDCAT Edinburgh Fringe, Aspen & Montreal’s Just (director); Traveling Music at Stage 72 For Laughs.) He is also a member of the in NYC (director/choreographer); The faculty at Nerdist School. Other recent L.A. Gay Men’s Chorus Down Under improv: Mannerhouse Manor, Mission: Star Concert (choreographer); The Soltanoff/ Mission, and The High. TV credits include Findlay Project for Center Theatre Group Chelsea Lately, The Goldbergs, Modern (performer); Sondheim UnScripted at The Family, , Law & Order, Oregon Shakespeare Festival (director/ O’Brien, , , Monk. He performer); Important Things with Dimitri Martin for Comedy Central (actor); 20 APR/MAY 2018 and Wake Up Your Weird at the O’Neill SANDRA BURNS, costume designer, is Theater Center, which premiered in New an award-winning artist based in Los York and is currently touring (director/ Angeles. She designs costumes and choreographer). Her work has been sets for theatre, dance, TV and film. recognized with LA Weekly, N.Y. Night- Past collaborations include work at Life, Dramalogue, StageScene LA and DouglasPlus, REDCAT, South Coast Rep, Santa Barbara Independent awards, as La Jolla Playhouse, The Broad Stage, well as an American Choreographers’ Fountain Theatre, LATC, Odyssey Award nomination. She’s a graduate of Theatre, The Falcon Theater, St. Ann’s NYU/TISCH, a member of the Directors Warehouse and PS 122. Sandra was the Lab West and currently teaches theatre at costume designer for the Academy Harvard-Westlake School. Award nominated short film New Boy. www.michelespears.com She is currently designing costumes for the TV series Last Man on Earth and PRODUCTION STAFF Lopez. Sandra received her MFA from the TREFONI MICHAEL RIZZI, scenic designer, California Institute of The Arts (CalArts). Off-Broadway/Regional: A Woman of Will www.sandraburnsdesign.com at The Daryl Roth Theater NYC; The Little LEIGH ALLEN, lighting designer, is Prince; A Child’s Christmas in Wales; and a multi-award winner for lighting The Inspector General at The Colorado design, and is a recipient of the Career Shakespeare Festival. World/West Coast Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Premieres: Maltby/Shire’s A Time for Drama Critics Circle. Leigh returns to Love at Arena Studio Theatre; P.J. Barry’s Impro Theatre after her highly acclaimed Bad Axe at Foothill Theatre Company; designs for Stop Kiss, Half of Plenty, Stephen Legawiec’s Peru in Africa at the Razorback and American Dead. Other Miles Playhouse; Melanie Marnich’s Quake credits include: Beauty and the Beast at Theatre Pangea; and Lee Blessing’s (Musical Theater West), Champagne Chesapeake at Venice Theatre Works. (Regent Cruise Lines), Shimmy! (Princess Local: Parallel Lives at The Falcon Theatre; Cruise Lines), Snoopy On Ice, The Red Copenhagen at Rubicon Theatre; Sex and Road (Native Voices), Killer Joe (Ovation Education at Laguna Playhouse and Colony Award: Production of the Year), The Fab Theatre; Two Boys From Brooklyn at The Four (South Bay CLO), The Prince of LA Palace Theatre; and Marilyn, Madness and (The Old Globe in San Diego) and Vincent Me! at the El Portal Theatre. Awards and in Brixton (Pasadena Playhouse). Leigh also Honors: Ovation Award - Songs for a New received the Los Angeles Drama Critics World at Rubicon Theatre. Guest Designer: Circle and LA Weekly Lighting Design Lincoln Center Theatre’s Director’s Lab, Awards for Johnny Got His Gun. Member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. Award Winning Author and Publisher EMILY ROSE JACOBSON, social media of Teddy’s Travels - America’s National coordinator/technical improviser, Parks - www.teddystravels.com. is a native Texan, and is overjoyed to be working with Impro Theatre. Most

APR/MAY 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 21 recently, she was the ASM for L.A. Noir experience. The show you are about to UnScripted and Sondheim UnScripted and see will never be seen again. is an ongoing student at the Impro Theatre Founded as Los Angeles Theatresports in School. She is a BFA Theatre graduate 1988, IMPRO THEATRE has evolved from a from Chapman University and is currently successful short form improv troupe into in MB Stage Productions’ The Video Games a critically acclaimed theatre company. as well as a company member in the Los Impro Theatre’s performances are unique; Angeles troupe of The Murder Mystery there are no repeated characters and no Company. set story structure. Each performance offers an exploration into the process of RICK BERNSTEIN, managing director, has worked with many arts organizations spontaneous creation while encouraging throughout Los Angeles. He has been a profound level of engagement between the Managing Director at Rogue Machine performers and audience, who are all Theatre, Road Theatre Company and united in discovering what happens in the Elephant Theatre Company, and he was moment on that particular night. a staff member at The Theatre @ Boston In Southern California, Impro has Court, The Colony Theatre and LA Stage performed sold-out shows at South Alliance, working in various capacities Coast Repertory, The Broad Stage in in arts management, marketing and Santa Monica, The Pasadena Playhouse, administration. He has also managed and North Coast Repertory in San Diego, consulted on several shows at various The Falcon Theatre in Burbank and many theatres throughout southern California. more. Venues around the world include Rick’s film and television production the John Anson Ford Amphitheater in Los credits include The Tonight Show, K-PAX, Angeles, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Tomb Raider and Frozen Assets (which The Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago, Evans critic Gene Siskel named “The Worst Film Auditorium at Texas State University, The of the Year”). He is a graduate of Stanford Melbourne Fringe in Australia and Theatre University. Adyar in Paris. Impro has received multiple Ovation Recommended honors and ABOUT IMPRO THEATRE Critics’ Picks in Los Angeles Times, Back Impro Theatre creates completely Stage and LA Weekly. Los Angeles Times improvised, full-length plays in the styles says “Impro Theatre has evolved into a of the world’s greatest playwrights, powerhouse improvisational company in authors and composers. With no full-length shows that are off-the-cuff pre-planning or prepared scenarios, and consistently hilarious. An indigenous the performers start with audience Los Angeles treasure, the company should suggestions and combine verbal dexterity be seen — and reseen!” American Theatre and dynamic physicality to bring character Magazine says, “These virtuosic talents and plot to life in an instant, making simply are as superhuman as they seem. each show unlike any other theatrical These are serious professional actors, classically trained, who can write on their

22 APR/MAY 2018 feet better than many writers can type at a desk. Impro’s work has taught me to demand more from the theatre. Here might be the salvation the theatre seeks.” Impro Theatre currently has 12 different styles of shows in our repertoire: • Jane Austen UnScripted • Chekhov UnScripted • Dickens UnScripted • Fairytales UnScripted • Horror UnScripted • L.A. Noir UnScripted • Dorothy Parker UnScripted • Shakespeare UnScripted • Sondheim UnScripted • Tennessee Williams UnScripted • Twilight Zone UnScripted • The Western UnScripted Impro Theatre also manages the Impro Studio performance space and the Impro Theatre School, which is the home of Narrative Improv in Los Angeles.

1727 North Vermont Ave., #211 Los Angeles, CA 90027 (323) 401-6162 [email protected] facebook.com/improtheatre @improtheatre 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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