Instructors

Dan O’Connor, Artistic Director

Dan is Co-founder of the critically acclaimed Impro Theatre as well as a co-founder of four other American Theatresports companies including Bay Area Theatresports. He performed in the Improbable Theatre’s production of “Lifegame” Off-Broadway and in the TNN television series of the same name. He co-created the NBC/PAX television improv comedy show “World Cup Comedy.” He was chosen from improvisers all over the country last summer to represent our gloriously spontaneous nation as one third of the American Team at the Improv World Cup Tournament in Germany.

Television acting credits include the upcoming pilot “Star and Stella,” “Seinfeld,” “Campus Ladies,” “Malcolm In the Middle,” “The Tonight Show,” and series regular roles on “The Newz,” and “Quick Witz” (for which he was also a producer).

Television directing credits include the critically acclaimed ABC hybrid sit-com “Sons and Daughters” and “Campus Ladies” for the Oxygen Network. He was a writer and the improv director for “The Wayne Brady Show.”

He was an adjunct professor for USC ‘s BFA program. He has taught at UT, DUKE, Pepperdine, UCLA extension and an improv companies around the world. He is a graduate of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Brian Lohmann, Associate Artistic Director

Currently Brian is the director of classical studies for Impro Theatre’s “Unscripted Rep.” Originally from San Francisco, Brian co-founded “Bay Area Theatresports” and was founder and artistic director of the award-winning “Pulp Playhouse.” He performed the improvised show “Lifegame,” off-Broadway and hosted the TV version for TNN. In Las Vegas, Brian was composer and improviser for the improv/sketch show “BOO!” which ran for one year at New York New York Hotel and Casino, and where jumping out of a coffin never got old. Ever. His one-man show about a depressed lounge singer, “Johnny Lonely’s Unhappy Hour,” was nominated for a Fringe first at the Adelaide Fringe Festival and was a critic’s choice in Seattle, Melbourne and Edinburgh. TV and Film appearances include “American Body Shop,” “World Cup Comedy,” “Ask Rita” and the upcoming film “He Was a Quiet Man” with William H. Macy. In 2006, Brian was part of “Unexpected Shakespeare” and improvised 20 full-length Shakespeare plays on the main stage of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Other regional theater credits include The Old Globe Theatre and A.C.T., where he also was core faculty in the MFA in acting programs. Other directing credits include “An Unscripted Carol” (improvised Dickens) and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for Ukiah Players Theatre.

Jo McGinley, Dean of the School

Jo McGinley specializes in narrative improvisation, creating improvised stories in classical and popular genres. “Improvising Plays & Films” is the product of over 15 years of research and exploration.

Jo performs and teaches improvisation internationally, performing fully improvised plays in the style of Tennessee Williams both in Amsterdam and Paris. Her home base of improvisation is Impro Theatre, Los Angeles.

Jo joined the faculties of the American Conservatory Theatre and Academy of Art College teaching actors and artists how to use improvisation in order to access their creativity. She has taught at USC, Pepperdine University, University of San Francisco (School of Business), College of Marin and for hundreds of corporate clients (American Express, Method, Consumer’s Energy to name of few) using improvisation as a way to teach basic skills of listening, staying positive, supporting ideas, and connection. She most recently facilitated Focus Groups for The Hewlett Packard Foundation using improvisation as a way to inspire social change.

She created improvisation programs for ACT’s Young Conservatory, Marina Middle School, Brookside Elementary, and taught improv to teens and kids (ages 6-18) privately in both Los Angeles and San Francisco for over 10 years.

Theatre credits include “Dancing at Lughnasa”, “Jake’s Women”, “Laments for the Living”, and Television credits include Boston Public, ER, and Close to Home.

Currently the director of “Unscripted Plays & Films”, past directing credits include “Beat Baby Beat” and “Laments for the Living” bringing the inspired works of Dorothy Parker to the stage.

Jo is a member of SAG, AFTRA, and AEA.

Tracy Burns

With an international background, Tracy Burns has been teaching and performing improvisation since 1984. In 1999 she was the Co-Recipient of the Best Improviser Award in the European Theatresports Championship. A founding member of London Theatresports, Tracy was the Co-Artistic Director for Theatresports U.K. and helped introduce Theatresports to Germany. Tracy believes providing a safe environment and helping people let go of their inner critics is all most people need to access their own unique creativity and humor.

Lisa Fredrickson - Director of Educational Outreach

Lisa Fredrickson has been an ensemble member of many Improv companies including Seattle TheatreSports, SAK Comedy Lab Orlando, Disney’s Comedy Warehouse, LA TheatreSports, Inflatable Betty and Shakespeare Unscripted. She is the resident Improv teacher at California Luthern University. She was an original cast member of “Fellowship:The musical” in Los Angeles, she performed at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival with Seattle’s Unexpected Shakespeare and she has often appeared in “Boo” the Improv show at New York, New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Her TV credits include “Greek”, “Desperate Housewives” and “The Tick”. She has been in numerous TV commercials, usually as some sort of uptight mother. She is currently in a masters program studying Spiritual Psychology. She is married to an amazing Banjo player and she loves babies…and Banjos…and babies who love Banjos.

Lorne Green

Lorne Green has been acting on stage and screen the past ten years. A founding member of the improv group “Improvicide,” he has made Impro Theatre his improv home the past four years. He has taught drama at Larchmont Charter School, and has been seen on such Los Angeles stages as The Theatre at Boston Court and the Tamarind Theatre. He is currently working on a theatre project with the Critical Mass Performance Group. Commerical clients include: Mazda, Honda, Texaco, AirTrans, Microsoft, Kaiser Permanente, NBC News and ABC News.

Stephen Kearin

Stephen Kearin is a 23 year veteran of the improv stage and was a founding member of Improv Theatre and True Fiction Magazine. He is currently a company member of Impro Theatre in Los Angeles and the trio 3ForAll in San Francisco. His stage appearances include the stilt-walking shadow of Iago in The San Francisco Opera’s Otello, Sally-Sue Weber in A Weber Family Christmas and originated the role of Blaine Bustier in An Evening With Dirk & Blaine. Stephen is the co-creator of “Simlish” and was the principal male voice of both The Sims and The Sims 2.0.
He is currently featured in the Dreamworks Animation films Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar 2 and Monsters Vs. Aliens. He directed Kirk Ward in The HBO Comedy Festival premiere of Fatherland and is a visiting instructor at Stanford University, USC and Cirque Du Soleil.