Instructors

CRAIG NEIBAUR has been acting and teaching in the Bay Area for over 10 years. He is proud to have guested with Flash on many occasions. Craig is a recurring guest with True Fiction Magazine and performed in their world premier of "Ripped from the News" at the Magic Theatre. His credits include several roles at the Magic Theatre and Berkeley Rep. He is a co-founder of Ghostlight Theatre Company and toured with them from New York to Canada and as far as Australia. Craig has taught many workshops in improvisation, the collaborative process in theater, adapting literature to the stage, movement techniques and dance for the actor. His most recent work was at the Magic Theatre as Father Welsh in The Lonesome West.

CHRISTINE MCHUGH is all about helping people to learn and grow. From teaching theatre arts to children to training adults within organizations in everything from communication skills to teambuilding she loves the process of aiding people in becoming more effective in their lives. No where does she find more satisfaction in this than by teaching Improv for it calls on the cornerstone skills of all her work - Being present, trusting in our innate perfection and "Yes, and" She has taught the FUNdamentals of Improv for ImprovWorks for five years as well as trained creativity, teambuilding and change and stress management workshops for ImprovWorks corporate arm. In her work as a life coach she helps people to stay present through transition and understand that they are the writers of their life story by helping them to develop their stories into solo performance pieces. Her coaching website is www.lifeinfullbloom.com.

VONYA MORRIS
With a Master's Degree in Theatre Arts, Vonya put most of her energy into 35 years of teaching high school. Having directed numerous plays in high school, junior college, and community theater, she believes that improvisation holds the key to unlocking creativity, self-awareness, and joy. She has had the good fortune of being taught and inspired by Viola Spolin. For nearly 20 years, she has taught leadership training ( a class of communication skills, stress management, conflict resolution, and team building) to young people. "In today's society, our youth cope with balancing pressures of family, friends, academics, job, and after school activities. Values and priorities are constantly challenged." Now retired, Vonya finds working with Improvworks, a wonderful way to continue to use theater games as a way of opening creative doors of problem solving and of having a lot of fun with people of all ages.

ANDY SAROUHAN
Andy Sarouhan has been performing and teaching improvisation for over 10 years, starting from the time he was a wee lad in San Mateo. A graduate of UC San Diego, Andy received a B.A. in Theatre in 2000. While in San Diego, he became a founding member of When the Script Hits The Fan, a comedy/improvisation troupe that presented both professional improvisation performances and social action theatre. Andy also served as improv instructor for the La Jolla Playhouse's school outreach program, the Arts Academy. Since returning to the Bay Area, Andy has been blessed in remaining quite busy with improvisation. He is currently coaching an improv troupe for Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, leading teen outreach classes for American Conservatory Theater and ImprovWorks, and performing with ImprovWorks's professional performance troupe the Flash Family.

GLORIA WALLEN
Gloria Wallen has been affiliated with ImprovWorks for the past five years. She enjoys leading Recesses because people are having fun as they experience the basic skills of improv. When students are having fun, the learning takes place naturally. Gloria's background includes teaching physical education and leading group exercise classes. She believes in making each exercise class an adventure that participants enjoy by connecting verbal, physical and mental skills. Gloria has also been a performer with "Improvilicious", a San Francisco-based performance troupe.

ZOE GALVEZ
Zoe has performed locally (Magic Theatre, The Marsh) and abroad (Canada, Australia) in various theatrical productions. Among her extensive theatrical credits are performances in adaptations of Dickens' HARD TIMES, Melville's MOBY DICK and understudying for the lead female role in the World Premiere of THE LATE HENRY MOSS, written and directed by Sam Shepard. In addition to her stage work, Zoe works as an actor in TV and film, voiceover, corporate trainings, and industrials (most recently with John Cleese). She has taught acting workshops sponsored by the So. Australian Arts Council and currently teaches movement for the city of San Bruno, BATS, and ImprovWorks. She teaches improv and acting at SF Acting Academy, Kids On Camera, ImprovWorks, and guest coaches at SFSU for several theatre companies. Dance training includes jazz, tap, ballet, salsa, and hip hop. Theatrical training includes studies with Anne Bogart (Viewpoints), Keith Johnstone (improv), The Moscow Art Theater (Stanislavski & Meyerhold), Umo Ensemble of Seattle (Buffoonery), Mump & Smoot of Canada (clowning) among many others. In her spare time she performs as a Company Player with BATS and guests with Flash Family.