IMPRO THEATRE’S TWILIGHT ZONE UNSCRIPTED MAR 16 – 18 / THE EDYE

Directed by Jo McGinley & Stephen Kearin

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 Alex Caan, technical improviser ensemble Lisa Fredrickson, Kelly Holden Bashar, Brian Michael Jones, Stephen Kearin, Lauren Rose Lewis, Brian Lohmann, Jo McGinley, Dan O’Connor, Edi Patterson, Mike Rock, Ryan Smith, Floyd Van Buskirk

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. MAR 2018 23 ENSEMBLE

Lisa Fredrickson Kelly Holden Bashar Brian Michael Jones Stephen Kearin

Lauren Rose Lewis Brian Lohmann Jo McGinley Dan O’Connor

Edi Patterson Mike Rock Ryan Smith Floyd Van Buskirk

24 MAR 2018 WELCOME TO THE SHOW! BIOS For the uninitiated, this unique form of LISA FREDRICKSON, ensemble, in theatre generates a few questions: addition to Impro Theatre, has been an ensemble member of Seattle Who writes these plays? Theatresports, SAK Comedy Lab Orlando, Everyone that is present on stage. Disney’s Comedy Warehouse and Inflatable Impro Theatre is an ensemble of actor/ Betty. She is the resident improv teacher playwrights who write theatre as they at California Lutheran University. She was perform it. Our crew is improvising the an original cast member of Fellowship! sound and light changes right along with The Musical Parody of “The Fellowship of us. the Ring” in Los Angeles, performed at How do you rehearse this kind of show? the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and performed in Boo at New York, New York We immerse ourselves in the particular in Las Vegas. TV credits include Greek, genre and then reinvent it in an entirely Desperate Housewives and The Tick. She new way, right in front of your eyes. has been in numerous TV commercials, Through the rehearsal process, we usually as some sort of uptight mother. embrace the essence of that particular She loves babies and banjos. performing style without saying or performing anything that has been KELLY HOLDEN BASHAR, ensemble, was previously written or performed. most recently seen on Speechless, and What is it like performing a play when you she played Martin Freeman’s wife Pearl don’t have a script? Nygaard in the Golden Globe and Emmy- winning hit miniseries Fargo on FX. Some It is terrifying, inspiring, and wonderfully of her other recent credits include Parks exhilarating. The performers are and Recreation, 2 Broke Girls, Dog With A embracing whole-heartedly the acting Blog, and Gilmore Girls. She co-starred tenet to “be in the moment” as they have with Rita Rudner in the film Thanks and no other choice. can be seen in numerous commercials. How do I know you are making it up? Kelly is also a writer and one of the credits We invite you to come back and see she is most proud of is being the co- another show – it will be completely writer of, (and portraying “Pippin” in), the different from this performance. It is one critically acclaimed play Fellowship! The of the reasons why people come back and Musical Parody of “The Fellowship of the see multiple shows! Ring.” In addition to being a main company member at Impro Theatre, Kelly is also For more information about Impro part of the teaching faculty. Her best role, Theatre, go to www.ImproTheatre.com by far, is mom to Brooke and Maggie.

BRIAN MICHAEL JONES, ensemble, can currently be seen as “Chad” on Disney XD’s Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything. His puppeteering work can be

MAR 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 25 seen on ABC’s The Muppets and Muppets: University, Dreamworks Animation and Most Wanted. Brian recently performed Cirque Du Soleil. with Channing Tatum in Joel and Ethan Coen’s film Hail Caesar! as a love struck LAUREN ROSE LEWIS, ensemble, can sailor in the musical number “No Dames.” currently be seen in PixL’s original TV In addition to his numerous national movie Sisters of the Groom in a supporting commercials, his TV/film credits include: lead role as the ex-girlfriend still in love Grey’s Anatomy, Castle, Community, with her old beau. Over the summer, Raising Hope, Wilfred, Bones, NCIS: LA Lauren appeared in the “thriller” film and the independent comedy film Tribute. Unforgettable, starring Katherine Heigl Theatre credits include: the role of Frodo and Rosario Dawson. In addition to in Fellowship! The Musical Parody of “The starring in the indie film First Period, she Fellowship of the Ring,” The Diviners, the has appeared on numerous television fool in King Lear, West Side Story, 42nd shows, including guest starring on Street and Boys Next Door. His work Showtime’s Dexter and Nickelodeon’s with The Jim Henson Company includes iCarly. Other television credits include: Unstable Fables and the improvised Presence, Friends with Better Lives, Hit puppet show Puppet Up! Brian teaches the Floor, Melissa and Joey, CSI: NY, improv at the Impro School and directs LA Entourage, NCIS, Two and a Half Men, Theatresports and the Pepperdine Improv Rules of Engagement, Ugly Betty, Days of Troupe. Our Lives, the Hallmark Channel’s movie A Kiss At Midnight and the FOX pilot Inside STEPHEN KEARIN, co-director, Jokes. Lauren has also performed at ensemble, began his career with Bay Area the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, starring in Theatresports in San Francisco, where he David Mamet’s The Water Engine and John was a company member for 14 years. He Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. was a founding member of both Improv Theatre and True Fiction Magazine and is BRIAN LOHMANN, ensemble, has directed currently a founding member of 3ForAll L.A. Noir UnScripted (The Broad Stage, (Celebrating their 20th season). Last Oregon Shakespeare Festival mainstage, year he served as co-director of Impro John Anson Ford Amphitheater), Theatre’s Twilight Zone UnScripted and Tennessee Williams UnScripted (Odyssey The Western UnScripted (Ovation Award Theater/ South Coast Rep), Dickens nomination for his performance). Stephen UnScripted (Broad Stage/North Coast is the co-creator of Simlish and was the Rep/A Noise Within) and Shakespeare principal male voice of The Sims, Sims UnScripted (OSF Green Show/Carrie 2.0 and Sims Medieval. He is featured in Hamilton Theater.) He directed ModRock the DreamWorks Animation films Kung Fu at the El Portal, as well as many genres Panda, Kung Fu Panda 2 & 3, Madagascar of improvised musicals. Favorite 2 & 3, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Megamind, The performances include the Berkeley Jazz Penguins Of Madagascar and Home. He Festival with Bobby McFerrin, String of appears as the terrifying Principal Mitchell Pearls at Carnegie Hall and Johnny Lonely on Disney XD’s Kirby Buckets. Stephen in his critically acclaimed solo show has served as an instructor at Stanford Johnny Lonely’s Unhappy Hour, which

26 MAR 2018 toured the UK and Australia. Stage credits Theatre and many others. Stage acting include ACT, The Old Globe, Shakespeare credits include Improbable Theatre’s Life Santa Cruz, Laguna Playhouse and The Game (Off-Broadway) and shows with ACT Magic Theater. Brian has taught for the and A Noise Within. Television directing American Conservatory Theatre’s MFA credits include ABC’s Sons and Daughters program, Stanford, The Guthrie Theatre, and Oxygen’s Campus Ladies; acting The Public Theater’s Shakespeare Lab, includes Seinfeld, VEGAS, Raising Hope, The Old Globe/USD, Oregon Shakespeare Campus Ladies, Starstruck and Malcolm Festival and Shakespeare at the in the Middle; and he also co-created and Huntington. Awards include Garland, starred in NBC/PAX’s improv show World Drama-Logue, and StageScene LA. Cup Comedy. Dan has taught and directed www.brianlohmann.com improvisational theatre to universities and companies worldwide including USC, JO MCGINLEY, co-director, ensemble, Duke, Pepperdine, UT Austin, Dreamworks, has been directing unscripted theatre Disney Animation and Cirque du Soleil. since 1996. Passionate about a playwright, He is a graduate of the Webber Douglas writer or film style, diving into their world Academy of Dramatic Art in London and and having the great fortune of working recently gave a TED Talk about teaching with the most talented improvisers/actors the world to improvise. around is what keeps Jo inspired about www.danoconnor.net live theatre. She has also directed Twilight Zone UnScripted and Dorothy Parker EDI PATTERSON, ensemble, played Jen UnScripted for Impro’s main company. She Abbott on HBO’s Vice Principals with also loves bringing improvisation into the Danny McBride, and she plays Elizabeth sports and business worlds, and recent on Tracy Morgan’s upcoming The Last clients include The US Olympic Ski Teams, O.G. on TBS. Some other credits include Cisco, Accenture, Kaiser and Salesforce Nobodies, Black-ish, The League, Curb Worldwide. One of her favorite theatrical Your Enthusiasm, 2 Broke Girls, FX’s credits includes playing Superman’s wife Partners, guest writing for Saturday Night in The Legacy, which won Best Comics- Live, and doing various voices for We Related Film at Comic Con. Bare Bears. She is also a member of the Main Company at The Groundlings and DAN O’CONNOR, ensemble, producing performs there every Thursday night in artistic director, for Impro Theatre, the Cookin’ With Gas show. Instagram/ has directed Chekhov UnScripted and Twitter: @EdiPattersonHi co-directed Jane Austen UnScripted, Fairytales UnScripted, The Western MIKE ROCK, ensemble, has performed UnScripted, Shakespeare UnScripted and in Impro Theatre’s Chekhov UnScripted, Sondheim UnScripted. Collectively, these Twilight Zone UnScripted, The Western shows have performed at The Broad UnScripted, Shakespeare UnScripted Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Jane Austen UnScripted. Former Laguna Playhouse, North Coast Repertory, artistic director of Madison, WI Theater Falcon Theatre, Carrie Hamilton Theatre Sports, later producer/artistic director at The Pasadena Playhouse, Lewis Family NYC’s ComedySportz and co-founder Playhouse, New Vic Theatre, Odyssey of The Bert Fershners sketch comedy

MAR 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 27 group (Comedy Central, MTV, VH-1 at The from 2000 to 2002 and Artistic Director Edinburgh Fringe, Aspen & Montreal’s Just from 2002 to 2004 when the company’s For Laughs.) He is also a member of the name was changed to Impro Theatre. TV faculty at Nerdist School. Other recent credits include This Is Us, Ray Donavon, improv: Mannerhouse Manor, Mission: Star Bosch, Blackish, You’re The Worst, Reno Mission, and The High. TV credits include 911, Las Vegas, NCIS, How I Met Your Chelsea Lately, The Goldbergs, Modern Mother, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Rules Of Family, The Mentalist, Law & Order, Conan Engagement, The Middle, Hart Of Dixie O’Brien, After Lately, Hello Ross, Monk. He and Family Guy. Films include: Reno 911/ is also an announcer for NFL Replay and Miami, Balls Of Fury, A Mighty Wind as KCRW. well as numerous shorts and Independent Films. He works extensively in voiceover RYAN SMITH, ensemble, Ryan’s most and is a singer-songwriter with the band, recent Impro credits are Jane Austen CATAHOULA, The Lee-Foley Band and as a UnScripted, Twilight Zone UnScripted solo artist. and Sondheim UnScripted. Last October, he made his Impro directing PRODUCTION STAFF debut with Horror UnScripted. In the TREFONI MICHAEL RIZZI, scenic designer, “scripted” world, Ryan has done a ton of Off-Broadway/Regional: A Woman of Will commercials and voice-overs, had the at The Daryl Roth Theater NYC; The Little privilege of playing a Hobbit and an Elf in Prince; A Child’s Christmas in Wales; and Fellowship! The Musical Parody of “The The Inspector General at The Colorado Fellowship of the Ring” and wrote and Shakespeare Festival. World/West Coast produced on the final three seasons of Premieres: Maltby/Shire’s A Time for MadTV on FOX. Not for nothing, but his Love at Arena Studio Theatre; P.J. Barry’s sketches from that show have racked up Bad Axe at Foothill Theatre Company; a combined 1.7 gagillion-bazillion hits on Stephen Legawiec’s Peru in Africa at the YouTube (rough estimate). While he loves Miles Playhouse; Melanie Marnich’s Quake all the improvising, acting and writing he at Theatre Pangea; and Lee Blessing’s gets to do, his greatest joy is hanging out Chesapeake at Venice Theatre Works. with his amazing wife, Snow, and their Local: Parallel Lives at The Falcon Theatre; three insanely cute dogs, Buzby, Charlie Copenhagen at Rubicon Theatre; Sex and and Oliver. Education at Laguna Playhouse and Colony FLOYD VAN BUSKIRK, ensemble, a Theatre; Two Boys From Brooklyn at The professional actor for over 30 years Palace Theatre; and Marilyn, Madness and he started on stages in Seattle and Me! at the El Portal Theatre. Awards and Tacoma, including The Seattle Rep under Honors: Ovation Award - Songs for a New the direction of Daniel Sullivan, was World at Rubicon Theatre. Guest Designer: co-founder of Seattle Theatresports/ Lincoln Center Theatre’s Director’s Lab, Unexpected Productions and its first Member of United Scenic Artists Local Artistic Director in 1983. He moved 829. Award Winning Author and Publisher to Los Angeles in 1994 and joined LA of Teddy’s Travels - America’s National Theatresports, was Education Director Parks - www.teddystravels.com.

28 MAR 2018 SANDRA BURNS, costume designer, is company productions as a technical an award-winning artist based in Los improviser, including Shakespeare Angeles. She designs costumes and UnScripted, The Western UnScripted, sets for theatre, dance, TV and film. Jane Austen UnScripted, Twilight Zone Past collaborations include work at UnScripted, Chekhov UnScripted and DouglasPlus, REDCAT, South Coast Rep, Sondheim UnScripted. Additionally, he La Jolla Playhouse, The Broad Stage, performs both on and off stage at the Fountain Theatre, LATC, Odyssey Impro Studio in Los Feliz. Theatre, The Falcon Theater, St. Ann’s Warehouse and PS 122. Sandra was the RICK BERNSTEIN, managing director, costume designer for the Academy has worked with many arts organizations Award nominated short film New Boy. throughout Los Angeles. He has been She is currently designing costumes for the Managing Director at Rogue Machine the TV series Last Man on Earth and Theatre, Road Theatre Company and Lopez. Sandra received her MFA from the Elephant Theatre Company, and he was California Institute of The Arts (CalArts). a staff member at The Theatre @ Boston www.sandraburnsdesign.com Court, The Colony Theatre and LA Stage Alliance, working in various capacities LEIGH ALLEN, lighting designer, is in arts management, marketing and a multi-award winner for lighting administration. He has also managed and design, and is a recipient of the Career consulted on several shows at various Achievement Award from the Los Angeles theatres throughout southern California. Drama Critics Circle. Leigh returns to Rick’s film and television production Impro Theatre after her highly acclaimed credits include The Tonight Show, K-PAX, designs for Stop Kiss, Half of Plenty, Tomb Raider and Frozen Assets (which Razorback and American Dead. Other critic Gene Siskel named “The Worst Film credits include: Beauty and the Beast of the Year”). He is a graduate of Stanford (Musical Theater West), Champagne University. (Regent Cruise Lines), Shimmy! (Princess Cruise Lines), Snoopy On Ice, The Red ABOUT IMPRO THEATRE Road (Native Voices), Killer Joe (Ovation Impro Theatre creates completely Award: Production of the Year), The Fab improvised, full-length plays in the styles Four (South Bay CLO), The Prince of LA of the world’s greatest playwrights, (The Old Globe in San Diego) and Vincent authors and composers. With no pre- in Brixton (Pasadena Playhouse). Leigh also planning or prepared scenarios, the received the Los Angeles Drama Critics performers combine verbal dexterity and Circle and LA Weekly Lighting Design dynamic physicality to bring character and Awards for Johnny Got His Gun. plot to life in an instant, making each show unique and unlike any other theatrical ALEX CAAN, technical improviser, is an experience. The show you are about to improviser, actor and musician native to see will never be seen again. Los Angeles. He has been working and studying with Impro Theatre since 2013. Founded as Los Angeles Theatresports in He has contributed to several other 1988, IMPRO THEATRE has evolved from a

MAR 2018 VISIT THEBROADSTAGE.ORG 29 successful short form improv troupe into simply are as superhuman as they seem. a critically acclaimed theatre company. These are serious professional actors, Impro Theatre creates completely classically trained, who can write on their improvised, full-length plays in the styles feet better than many writers can type of the world’s greatest writers. With no at a desk. Impro’s work has taught me 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 1727 North Vermont Ave., #211 Melbourne Fringe in Australia and Theatre Los Angeles, CA 90027 Adyar in Paris. Impro has received multiple (323) 401-6162 Ovation Recommended honors and [email protected] Critics’ Picks in Los Angeles Times, Back facebook.com/improtheatre Stage and LA Weekly. Los Angeles Times @improtheatre says “Impro Theatre has evolved into a powerhouse improvisational company in Visit www.ImproTheatre.com and sign up full-length shows that are off-the-cuff for Impro’s mailing list! and consistently hilarious. An indigenous Impro Theatre is available for corporate Los Angeles treasure, the company should training, and we are the choice of many be seen — and reseen!” American Theatre Fortune 500 companies. Let us help you Magazine says, “These virtuosic talents tell your story.

30 MAR 2018