Unexpected Productions

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Jun Imai lived in California for 8 years and was the Asian Region Representative for the International Theatresports Institute’s Board of Directors for 7 years.  He is an official ITI instructor of Keith Johnstone’s show formats. Now he is the He has studied acting with various teachers, specifically Method Acting with Frank Casaro, Artistic Director of the Actor’s Studio, and improvisation with Keith Johnstone, creator of Theatresports.

He has been the simultaneous interpreter for method acting and improv workshops led by Keith Johnstone, Roberta Wallach, Lyn Pierce, Dennis Cahill, Shawn Kinley, Steve Jarand, Inbal Lori, and Mark Lamb. He has taught “ZEN and IMPROーNot in Your Head, But in the Moment” workshops in the U.S.A, Canada, Germany, Italy, China and Hong Kong, Dubai, Netherlands, and Costa Rica.

A prolific writer, he published “It’s Hard to be Free—an Impro Manual” in 2006 based on his experience bringing improv to the Japanese. It’s been a long-term best-seller in the theater community since then. He followed up in 2009 and 2010 with the three-volume “Japanese Who’ve Begun to Improvise: Keith Johnstone’s Impro” and “Keith Johnstone in Japan” in 2013. Imai’s books have earned him praise as a thoughtful and incisive teacher and director.

In addition to directing at TCS, he teaches impro, scripted acting, and mask workshops through his own company, in the moment, ltd., and for Tokyo talent agencies. He has worked with both new and well-know film and television actors, as well as popular YouTubers in Japan. He feels strongly that Japanese actors and Japanese society as a whole can benefit from what impro has to offer and is currently working on a book, Zen and Improvisation, to bridge the gap between this most Western of arts and traditional Eastern philosophy.

ZEN and IMPRO — Not in Your Head, But in the Moment

According to Keith Johnstone, impro resembles Zen. We will explore being here and now from moment to moment. Free yourself from ‘successes or ‘failures’; good or bad, and right and wrong. Move from impulse without thinking, unifying the mind, heart, and body. Become one with others…and the world.

Workshop Descriptions

ZEN and IMPRO — Not in Your Head, But in the Moment
Join us for our workshop “Zen and Impro: Not in Your Head, But in the Moment,” where we’ll delve into the profound parallels between improvisation and Zen philosophy. Inspired by Keith Johnstone’s insights, we’ll embark on a journey of presence and spontaneity, freeing ourselves from the constraints of judgment and expectation. Through experiential exercises, participants will learn to embrace the here and now, moving from impulse without overthinking, and unifying mind, heart, and body in the creative process. Join us as we dissolve distinctions between success and failure, good and bad, and right and wrong, becoming one with our scene partners and the world around us.

Being a Part of the Whole
Welcome to our improvisation workshop dedicated to collaborative creativity. Participants will learn to prioritize collective success over individual performance, emphasizing organic collaboration and the group mind. Through exercises and scenarios, we’ll cultivate awareness of ensemble interconnectedness, fostering a culture of mutual support and shared responsibility. Join us to explore the profound art of improvisation, where mastery lies in collaborative harmony.

Stephen KearinStephen began his career in 1987 with Bay Area Theatresports in San Francisco, where he was a company member for 14 years. He was a founding member of Improv Theater and True Fiction Magazine. Stephen is currently a member of the critically-acclaimed improv ensemble Impro Theatre in Los Angeles and was a member San Francisco’s 3 FOR ALL for 27 years.  Other stage productions include the stilt-walking Iago in San Francisco Opera’s Otello, Sally-Sue Weber in A Weber Family Christmas and he originated the role of Movie Mega-Superstar, Blaine Bustier in An Evening with Dirk & Blaine. Stephen is the co-creator of “Simlish” and was the principal male voice of The Sims, Sims 2 and Sims Medieval. He created the Martian languages for Disney’s Mars Needs Moms and Supergirl. He is featured in the DreamWorks Animation films Kung Fu Panda 1,2&3, Madagascar 2&3, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Megamind, The Penguins of Madagascar and Home. His voice is featured in the newly released Netflix Animation feature The Magician’s Elephant, as well as the upcoming Peacock spinoff series Megamind. Stephen portrays the role of Sergeant Geller on Amazon Prime’s hit show, WAYNE and appears in season 3 of The Mandalorian. He has performed his solo show TOUGHEN UP to sold-out houses in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Stephen has served as a visiting instructor and advisor with Disney, DreamWorks, Laika, Paramount & Netflix Animation, as well as Stanford University, USC, The US Olympic Ski Team and has trained the artists of Cirque Du Soleil.  www. Stephenkearin.com

Workshop Descriptions

A BUTTERFLY JUST LANDED ON YOUR FINGER IN THE RAIN
Improvising The Space and Sense Object 
How do we relate to the improvised physical world that we’re creating, as we tell our stories? Do we dare to slow down, stop talking and start seeing, tasting, touching, smelling and hearing what is taking form all around us on stage? Explore the fundamentals of Space and Sense Object and learn to ask yourself “What Is It Like?” Yes, there will be horses.

WANT WHAT YOU HAVE
Identifying and exploring First Offers 
Why do we go exploring for unseen treasure, when we’re often already perched atop improv gold? This class is simply about raising awareness and learning to want what you have in scenes. Accepting the invitation of early offers, and widening the definition of what IS an offer is what we’ll practice. “Learn to return” as we add another arrow to your improv quiver with this interactive, direct feedback deep dive!

Stephen began his career in 1987 with Bay Area Theatresports in San Francisco, where he was a company member for 14 years. He was a founding member of Improv Theater and True Fiction Magazine. Stephen is currently a member of the critically-acclaimed improv ensemble Impro Theatre in Los Angeles and was a member San Francisco’s 3 FOR ALL for 27 years. Other stage productions include the stilt-walking Iago in San Francisco Opera’s Otello, Sally-Sue Weber in A Weber Family Christmas and he originated the role of Movie Mega-Superstar, Blaine Bustier in An Evening with Dirk & Blaine. Stephen is the co-creator of “Simlish” and was the principal male voice of The Sims, Sims 2 and Sims Medieval. He created the Martian languages for Disney’s Mars Needs Moms and Supergirl. He is featured in the DreamWorks Animation films Kung Fu Panda 1,2&3, Madagascar 2&3, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Megamind, The Penguins of Madagascar and Home. His voice is featured in the newly released Netflix Animation feature The Magician’s Elephant, as well as the upcoming Peacock spinoff series Megamind. Stephen portrays the role of Sergeant Geller on Amazon Prime’s hit show, WAYNE and appears in season 3 of The Mandalorian. He has performed his solo show TOUGHEN UP to sold-out houses in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Stephen has served as a visiting instructor and advisor with Disney, DreamWorks, Laika, Paramount & Netflix Animation, as well as Stanford University, USC, The US Olympic Ski Team and has trained the artists of Cirque Du Soleil.