TESTIMONIALS
“His expertise in improvisational skills is especially impressive. The students were unanimously enthusiastic about Brian and his teaching methods. I like his easy demeanor, quirky sense of humor and disciplined ethic.”
– Richard Seer, Director MFA Acting Program, Old Globe Theatre, University of San Diego.
“I learned more about an actor’s needs and the demands of performance while taking Brian’s improv class than in twenty years of producing movies.”
– Doug Claybourne, producer, The Mask of Zorro
“He is adept at getting students on their feet and working, rather than talking about working and focuses on the fun of live theatre as well as the craft.”
– Cary Perloff, Artistic Director, American Conservatory Theatre
“Brian probably knows more about the creation and sustention of narrative form than anyone else in the world of professional improvisation.”
– Patricia Ryan, former head of Undergraduate Acting,
Professor Emeritus, Stanford University
AREAS OF COMPETENCE FOR INSTRUCTION
Acting:
Improvisation, Mask, Scene Study, Shakespeare, Chekhov, Audition;
Directing,
Playwriting, Solo Performance, Singing, Songwriting, Digital Storytelling
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
CORE
FACULTY
AMERICAN
CONSERVATORY THEATER(A.C.T.),
San Francisco, CA.
Core faculty, M.F.A. program,
1988-1995. Improvisation, Mask, Status, Improvising Shakespeare and Musical
Improvisation.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Palo Alto, CA.
Core faculty,
Improvisation Summer School, 1993.
Guest Lecturer, Undergraduate Theatre program, 1992, 2007. Improv, Modern Drama scene study.
GUEST
FACULTY
THE OLD GLOBE THEATER, UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO, San
Diego, CA.
Guest
faculty, MFA Program, 1996-2002. Improvisation, Viewpoints movement technique, Improvising Shakespeare
and Status. Assistant Director for
thesis performance and graduate showcase. New York City, NY
GUTHRIE
THEATER, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, Minneapolis, MN.
Guest
faculty, BFA Program, 2001. Improvisation for First and Second Year
students. Assisted on Second Year
production of Arthur Miller’s “The American Clock.”
PEPPERDINE
UNIVERSITY, Malibu, CA.
Guest
faculty, Undergraduate Theatre Program, 2000, 2001. Adjunct Professor, Alternative Theatre Styles: Brecht, Beckett, Ionesco, Pinter; scene study and presentation, 2009.
THE PUBLIC THEATER SHAKESPEARE LAB, New York City, NY.
Workshop leader, 2008.
OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, Ashland, OR.
Trained members of the acting company 1994-5, 1998, 1999, 2008, 2010.
HUNTINGTON LIBRARY SHAKESPEARE PROGRAM
Workshop leader for Shakespeare teachers from around the country 2009-11
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
Workshop Leader 2011. Improvising Shakespeare, Improvisation.
CORNISH
COLLEGE FOR THE ARTS, Seattle, WA.
Shakespeare Master Class, Undergraduate
Acting Program, 1998.
MENDOCINO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Ukiah, CA.
Improvising Shakespeare, Improvisation, 2003, 2006
ACTORS ALLIANCE, San Diego, CA.
Guest
Lecturer 1996. Rehearsal techniques for Chekhov; script analysis of Chekhov’s
“The Cherry Orchard.”
DELL ARTE' SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL THEATER, Blue Lake,
CA.
Improvisation
Teacher, 1993.
SAN
FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY, San Francisco, CA.
Guest
faculty, Undergraduate Theatre Program, Spring Semester 1989.
INTERNATIONAL
VICTORIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, Melbourne,
Australia.
Guest
Lecturer, 1992. Acting, Improvisation and Mask.
GERMAN
TEACHING TOUR
1999. Classes in spontaneous song composition in
English with some German. Musical styles include Blues, Jazz, Opera, Kurt
Weill, Broadway Show Tunes, Rock, Pop and Soul. Cities include Stuttgart,
Munich, Krefeld, Hamburg, Bochum, Freiburg
PRIVATE SECTOR
SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, San Francisco, CA.
Consultant and Core Faculty, New Strength Unity Institute, 2002 – 04, Institute for Change 2004-11
An intensive two-year course for union leaders. On-camera classes, presentation skills, storytelling digital media, and improvisation. On-site analysis of leadership structures and styles. Curriculum development. Comedy writer and performer and for international convention 2008.
UNION BANK, Monterey Park, CA. 2007 – 08
One-on-one coaching in communication performance skills for Vice Presidents.
PRIVATE
STUDIO
1991-2003. San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and San
Diego. Private classes in acting and
improvisation.
CONFERENCES
NYU Steinhardt School
Presenter, 2008 Page, Stage, Engage Conference “Shakespeare through Improvisation.”
DIRECTING EXPERIENCE
DICKENS UNSCRIPTED |
Broad Stage, Santa Monica |
2010 |
L.A. NOIR UNSCRIPTED |
Asylum Theater, North Coast Rep |
2010 |
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS UNSCRIPTED |
Asylum Theater, North Coast Rep
|
2011 |
|
Odyssey Theater, Carrie Hamilton Theatre (Pasadena Playhouse) |
2009
|
SHAKESPEARE UNSCRIPTED |
The Globe Playhouse, Los Angeles
|
1999
|
|
Oregon Shakespeare Festival, green show
|
2008, 2010
|
|
Little Fish, San Pedro, CA |
2010
|
JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED |
Asylum Theater, Broad Stage,
Bayfront Theatre, San Francisco |
2008,2009
|
THE REGIFTERS (World Premiere) |
Ukiah Players Theater |
2007 |
A
MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM |
Ukiah
Players Theater |
2006 |
TINY AND LES |
ACME
Theater, Los Angeles |
2005 |
EAT AND
RUN (World Premiere) |
Ukiah
Players Theater |
2003 |
BOO! ( Casting
director, Choreographer) |
New
York NY Hotel, Las Vegas |
2002 |
THE COLD
TOFU NETWORK
(
Asian
American Theatre Company) |
The
Secret Rose Theater, Los Angeles |
2000 |
THE HELL SHOW |
The
Bitter Truth Playhouse, Los Angeles |
2000 |
THE GLASS SLIPPER |
HBO
workspace, Los Angeles |
1998 |
OLD GLOBE THEATER GRADUATE SHOWCASE (Assistant Director) |
1997 |
SOLO PERFORMANCE THESIS PRESENTATIONS (Coach) |
NYC, Los Angeles |
1997 |
FRATELLI BOLOGNA |
San
Francisco |
1995 |
PULP
PLAYHOUSE |
San
Francisco, Eureka Theatre |
1988-95 |
A.C.T. Advanced Training Program Studio Productions, San
Francisco |
Cymbeline |
Assistant
Director |
1993 |
Fuente Ovejuna |
Director |
1993 |
Poison, Passion, Petrifaction (Shaw) |
Director |
1992 |
Hot L Baltimore |
Director |
1991 |
The Learned Ladies |
Assistant Director |
1990 |
FILM DIALOGUE COACHING EXPERIENCE
Buddy, American Zoetrope - Directed by Caroline Thompson |
1997 |
- Rehearsal
Coach for Rene
Russo, Robbie Coltrane |
That Thing You Do, Twentieth Century Fox - Directed by
Tom Hanks |
1997 |
- Dialogue
Coach for Chris Isaak |
Jack, Hollywood Pictures, American Zoetrope - Directed by
Francis Ford Coppola |
1996 |
- Dialogue
& Acting Coach for entire cast |
Bram Stoker's Dracula- Columbia Pictures - Directed
by Francis Ford Coppola |
1992 |
- Rehearsal
Coach for Principals |
EXPERIENCE AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
PULP PLAYHOUSE, San Francisco, CA.
1988-1995 Founder, performer, producer, director. A
storytelling theater inspired by the “Pulp” Magazines of the early 20th century. Directed a hybrid of scripted
monologues and improvised stories in
classic literary genres. Acted as booking agent, created format, cast and
maintained standing company of eight. Designed seasons, worked with graphic
designers to create advertising campaign, performed bookkeeping and payroll
duties. Invited to the premiere year of
the Aspen Comedy Festival. In residence at the Eureka Theater from1988-1990,
selling out late-night shows for three years. Other venues include The Actor's
Gang, Los Angeles, and two years at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle.
FAULTLINE, San Francisco, CA.
1980-1982,
1984-86. Artistic director, writer,
performer. Award-winning comedy revue.
Company
members included Greg Proops and Micheal McShane of “Whose Line is it Anyway?”
(Winner
Cabaret Gold Award 1985)
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Performed
leading roles Off-Broadway, at A.C.T., The Globe Theatres; toured
internationally with original solo work. Performance resume available on
request.
PLAYWRIGHTING EXPERIENCE
TOUGH HOUSE (co-author with Micheal McShane), Impro Theatre, L.A. |
2006 |
CAPTAINING
TITANIC LEADERSHIP, (solo performance) ACME Theatre. LA |
2006 |
“BOO!”
(Special material) New York, NY Hotel, Las Vegas |
2002-03 |
YOUR
BEST INTEREST, Rough and Tumble, San Francisco |
2000 |
THE
BOGEY HOSEN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, Unexpected Productions, Seattle |
1998 |
ARMCHAIR
IN HELL, MJT Productions, NYC - Rough and Tumble, San Francisco |
1998 |
BIG
WINNER, Rough and Tumble, San Francisco – Ashbury Actors Group, LA |
1997 |
JOHNNY
LONELY’S UNHAPPY HOUR, San Francisco, Seattle, New York;Adelaide
Fringe and Melbourne Comedy Festivals |
1996 |
SEASONAL
HELP (solo performance) Bayfront
Theater, San Francisco |
1995 |
MAKE*A*CIRCUS,
touring children's theater/circus, San Francisco |
1989, 91 |
MUSICAL EXPERIENCE
The Love
Hall Tryst, Acapella Folk Quartet w/John Wesley Harding Album on
Appleseed Records and National Tour |
2005 |
Carnegie
Hall, New York City, N.Y. Operatic Baritone |
1999 |
Overtone
Industries production of “String of Pearls"
|
1998 |
Unexpected
Productions, Seattle, WA. Arranger/Composer, “The
Bogey Hosen Christmas Spectacular” |
1998 |
The Old
Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA. Composer, "The Mask of Moriarty" Directed
by Nicholas Martin |
1997 |
Berkeley
Jazz Festival, Berkeley, Ca. Soloist
with Bobby McFerrin |
1997 |
JOHNNY
LONELY’S UNHAPPY HOUR, San Francisco, Seattle, New York;Adelaide
Fringe and Melbourne Comedy Festivals |
1978 |
Feather
River Jazz Festival, Ca. Jazz Vocalist, Arranger, M.C. |
1977 |
ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
AMERICAN
CONSERVATORY THEATRE
· 1992-93, Diversity Committee member, addressed issues of
racial and gender bias.
· 1991, Faculty and Administration Ethics Committee, reviewed
and updated faculty policies and by-laws.
· 1989, WASC Report Committee.
IMPRO THEATRE
· 2007-11, Associate Artistic Director, Director of Classical Studies, developed and implemented marketing plan, created
promotional·materials, negotiated and managed tours, developed curriculum, directed Tennessee Williams, Shakespeare and
Dickens Unscripted.
THEATRESPORTS
· 1996-2003, Board of Directors, Master Class Instructor, San Diego Theatresports,
CA.
· 1997-2000, Education Director, Advisory Board Member, Los
Angeles Theatresports, CA.
· 1999 Consultant, Master Classes, Austin, TX.
· 1987-1996 Co-Founder, Advisory Council Member, Master
Classes, Bay Area Theatresports San Francisco, CA.
PUBLICATIONS
The NOSE
magazine, San Francisco, 1990-1992. Featured columnist.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
AEA Actors’ Equity
Association
SAG Screen Actors Guild
AFTRA American Federation of
Radio and Television Artists
EDUCATION
New College of California |
B.A. in Humanities |
2007 |
San
Francisco State University |
Inter-Arts
Center |
1975,
1979-82 |
Drama
Studio London at Berkeley |
Summer
Training Programme |
1983 |
Lone
Mountain College |
Jazz
Composition/Arranging |
1977-78 |
Center
for Digital Storytelling |
Digital
Media |
2003-04 |
TRAINING
· Acting: Richard Seyd, Robert Woodruff,
Richard E.T. White, Caymichael Patten
· Improvisation: Keith Johnstone, Del Close, Fred Curchack
· Physical Theatre: Anne Bogart - Viewpoints, Dominique
Serrand – Le Coq, Jeff Bihr – Suzuki
· Shakespeare: Richard Easton, F. Murray Abraham, Shakespeare
& Co.
· Singing: Joanna Gleason-Acting/Singing, Carol Dyk, Dr.
Hernan Pelayo - Bel Canto
· Mask: Jared Sacren, Improbable Theatre: Phelim McDermott, Lee Simpson
· Voice: Robert Taylor - IAT
· Playwrighting: Amy
Freed, Leon Martell, Nanos Valoritos
AWARDS/HONORS
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature Film "Thanks" San Luis Obispo Film Festival, Independent Spirit Award, Sedona Film Festival (Actor, Composer) |
2011 |
L.A. Weekly’s Top Ten Theatrical Events, Impro Theatre
|
2010 |
Stage Scene L.A. Awards: Best Direction of a Comedy, “L.A. Noir UnScripted" &
“Shakespeare UnScripted”; Best Improv Ensemble, “L.A. Noir UnScripted"
Outstanding Improv Ensemble, “Shakespeare UnScripted”
|
2009 |
Garland
Award, best ensemble performance, “Cymbeline”, Old Globe Theatres |
1999 |
Fringe
First Finalist “Johnny Lonely’s Unhappy Hour”, Adelaide Fringe |
1996 |
1st Place World Cup Improvisation Tournament, San Francisco
|
1993 |
1st Place International Theatresports Tournament, San Francisco |
1991 |
Cabaret Gold Award, Best Comedy Ensemble, "Faultline" |
1985 |
Drama-Logue
Award for original musical composition, "Absolutely Courtney" |
1983 |