Archived entries for Brian Jones

Press Release: Impro Theatre Celebrates Shakespeare’s 450th Birthday on Friday, April 25 at 8pm

IMPRO THEATRE CELEBRATES
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S 450TH BIRTHDAY
WITH SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OF
SHAKESPEARE UNSCRIPTED
FOLLOWED BY CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION

FRIDAY, APRIL 25 AT 8PM

Shakespeare UnScripted artworkImpro Theatre is set to celebrate William Shakespeare’s 450th birthday on Friday, April 25 with a special performance of its currently running production, Shakespeare UnScripted, a post-show discussion, and a champagne reception complete with birthday cake. The curtain will rise at 8pm at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre (upstairs at The Pasadena Playhouse) in Pasadena.

Shakespeare UnScripted, directed by Brian Lohmann and Dan O’Connor, is a completely improvised play in the style of William Shakespeare. The Impro Theatre ensemble starts with a single audience suggestion and builds improvised, full-length, never-before-seen plays inspired by Shakespeare’s poetry, colorful imagery and bawdy innuendo. Every show is totally unique and brings to life the monarchs, spirits, lovers and fools that make up Shakespeare’s world.

Critical raves for the work of Impro Theatre continue. Of Shakespeare UnScripted, The Tolucan said, “Like a fine Chianti, the show can be sipped and enjoyed. And like a whiskey, it packs a punch. Shakespeare would be overjoyed to know that his works can be interpreted in boundless ways.” ShakespeareInLA.com enthused, “Great improv, like the kind Impro creates, takes comedy and turns it into an art.” And from StageAndCinema.com, “ … as high a degree of general excellence in writing, acting, and direction as I have seen in any theater company in America.”

The cast is a rotating ensemble, including (in alphabetical order) Kari Coleman, Lisa Fredrickson, Kelly Holden-Bashar, Brian Jones, Stephen Kearin, Brian Lohmann, Nick Massouh, Dan O’Connor, Edi Patterson, Paul Rogan, Michele Spears, and Floyd Van Buskirk. The set and costumes are by Sandra Burns, the lighting design is by Leigh Allen, stage manager and lighting improviser is Michael Becker, and sound improviser is Alex Caan.

Impro Theatre is an Unscripted Repertory Company that has brought innovative, unscripted theatre to Los Angeles and the world. The company’s goal is to take core narrative and style elements of great playwrights and writers, and create a new play using no more than the essence of an author’s work and an audience suggestion. Most recently, unscripted explorations of great literary figures has included Shakespeare, Dickens, Stephen Sondheim, and Tennessee Williams. For more, visit www.ImproTheatre.com.

Shakespeare UnScripted plays through Sunday, May 4 only. Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through May 4 only. (No performance on Thursday, May 1.) Tickets are $25 ($15 student tickets are available; student ID required at the door) and are available online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org, or by calling (626) 356-7529.

The Carrie Hamilton Theatre is located upstairs at The Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, in Pasadena, 91101. Lot and street parking are available.

# # #

04-15-14

Announcing: Impro Theatre Returns with ‘Shakespeare UnScripted’ – Opens March 30 at Carrie Hamilton Theatre

IMPRO THEATRE
PRESENTS
SHAKESPEARE UNSCRIPTED
DIRECTED BY BRIAN LOHMANN AND DAN O’CONNOR

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED COMPANY RETURNS
TO CARRIE HAMILTON THEATRE
BEGINNING MARCH 20

Shakespeare UnScriptedImpro Theatre has announced their newest production, Shakespeare UnScripted, directed by Brian Lohmann and Dan O’Connor. Shakespeare UnScripted begins preview performances on Thursday, March 20 at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre (upstairs at The Pasadena Playhouse) in Pasadena. Opening is set for Sunday, March 30, at 5pm. Performances will continue through May 4 only.

Shakespeare UnScripted is a completely improvised play in the style of William Shakespeare. The Impro Theatre ensemble starts with a single audience suggestion and builds improvised, full-length, never-before-seen plays inspired by Shakespeare’s poetry, colorful imagery and bawdy innuendo. Every show is totally unique and brings to life the monarchs, spirits, lovers and fools that make up Shakespeare’s world. Said Impro Artistic Director Dan O’Connor, “Brian Lohmann and I are very excited to roll up our sleeves, dive into the world of Shakespeare’s romantic Italian comedies, and bring this brand new production to the Carrie Hamilton Theatre.”

The cast is a rotating ensemble, including (in alphabetical order) Kari Coleman, Lisa Fredrickson, Kelly Holden-Bashar, Brian Jones, Stephen Kearin, Brian Lohmann, Nick Massouh, Dan O’Connor, Edi Patterson, Paul Rogan, Michele Spears, and Floyd Van Buskirk. The set and costumes are by Sandra Burns, the lighting design is by Leigh Allen, stage manager and lighting improviser is Michael Becker, and sound improviser is Alex Caan.

Critical reaction for Impro Theatre’s work has included the following praise: “First rate comedians … breathtaking wit” (LA Weekly); “Quite unbelievable, actually … an amazing comedy troupe spins an entire play into comedy gold right before your eyes … a stunning feat of performance” (Los Angeles Times); “Ingenuity, imagination, and hilarity … improv artists at the top of their field … must-see theatre” (StageSceneLA.com); and “Comic gold … a delectably smart, tasty treat” (San Diego News Network).

Impro Theatre is an Unscripted Repertory Company that has brought innovative, unscripted theatre to Los Angeles and the world. The company’s goal is to take core narrative and style elements of great playwrights and writers, and create a new play using no more than the essence of an author’s work and an audience suggestion. Most recently, unscripted explorations of great literary figures has included Shakespeare, Dickens, Stephen Sondheim, and Tennessee Williams. For more, visit www.ImproTheatre.com.

Shakespeare UnScripted begins preview performances on Thursday, March 20 at 8pm and continue through March 29 at 8pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2pm on Sunday. Opening is set for Sunday, March 30 at 5pm. The regular running schedule is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm through May 4 only. Tickets are $20 for previews, and $30 for regular performances ($15 student tickets are available; student ID required at the door). Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org, or by calling (626) 356-7529.

The Carrie Hamilton Theatre is located upstairs at The Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, in Pasadena, 91101. Lot and street parking are available.

# # #

03-03-14

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Improtheatre
Twitter: twitter.com/improtheatre

Announcing: Impro Theatre Presents ‘Jane Austen UnScripted: The Cross-Dress Version’ for Two Performances Only

IMPRO THEATRE
PRESENTS
JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED:
THE CROSS-DRESS VERSION

TWO UNIQUE PERFORMANCES
IN WHICH THE BOYS PLAY GIRLS AND THE GIRLS PLAY BOYS
SATURDAY, MARCH 9 AT 10:30PM & SUNDAY, APRIL 7 AT 7PM

Jane Austen UnscriptedImpro Theatre, now mid-way through its return engagement of Jane Austen Unscripted at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre in Pasadena, directed by Dan O’Connor and Paul Rogan, will present The Cross-Dress Version, two unique performances in which the boys play girls and the girls play boys, on Saturday, March 9 at 10:30pm and Sunday, April 7 at 7pm.

“During a previous run of Jane Austen Unscripted, we had the crazy notion of performing our show for one night cross-dressed … girls playing boys, and boys playing girls,” said Dan O’Connor, Impro Theatre Artistic Director. “The result was absolute hilarity, and has been much discussed and requested since. We are delighted to bring back the idea for two shows only in the midst of our regular run in Pasadena.”

Jane Austen Unscripted is a completely improvised comedic play in the style of beloved author Jane Austen. The cast of Impro Theatre creates and performs a never before seen, all new, Jane Austen story right before the audience’s eyes. The entire performance is based on audience suggestion, so every show is totally unique. The essence of Austen’s beloved, timeless romantic comedies and social satires is brought to life by the expert team of funny and gifted actors that are Impro Theatre.

The cast is a rotating ensemble, including (in alphabetical order) Impro company members Tracy Burns, Kari Coleman, Lisa Fredrickson, Brian Jones, Stephen Kearin, Lauren Lewis, Brian Lohmann, Nick Massouh, Jo McGinley, Dan O’Connor, Edi Patterson, Paul Rogan, Michele Spears, and Floyd Van Buskirk. The Jane Austen Unscripted cast also features guest artists, including (in alphabetical order) Josh Dean, Kelly Holden, Rebecca Lowman, Mike Rock, and Patty Wortham. Set and costume design are by Sandra Burns, and lighting design is by Leigh Allen.

Impro Theatre is an Unscripted Repertory Company that has brought innovative, unscripted theatre to Los Angeles and the world. The company’s goal is to take core narrative and style elements of great playwrights and writers, and create a new play using no more than the essence of an author’s work and an audience suggestion. Most recently, unscripted explorations of great literary figures has included Shakespeare, Dickens, Stephen Sondheim, and Tennessee Williams. For more, visit www.ImproTheatre.com.

Critical reaction for Impro Theatre’s work has included the following praise: “First rate comedians … breathtaking wit …” (LA Weekly); “Quite unbelievable, actually … an amazing comedy troupe spins an entire play into comedy gold right before your eyes … a stunning feat of performance …” (Los Angeles Times); “Ingenuity, imagination, and hilarity … improv artists at the top of their field … must-see theatre …” (StageSceneLA.com); and “Comic gold … a delectably smart, tasty treat.” (San Diego News Network)

The run of Jane Austen Unscripted continues through April 14 only. The performance schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 3pm. Admission is $25 for regular performances, and $30 for the two Cross-Dress performances on March 9 and April 7. Student and senior discounts are available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org, or by calling (626) 356-7529.

The Carrie Hamilton Theatre is located upstairs at The Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, in Pasadena, 91101.

# # #

03-04-13