The Committee (improv group)
Encyclopedia
The Committee is a San Francisco based improvisational comedy group founded by Alan Myerson
and Jessica Myerson (formerly Irene Riordan). The Myersons were both alums of The Second City
in Chicago. The Committee opened April 10, 1963 at 622 Broadway in a 300 seat Cabaret theater that used to be an indoor bocce ball court in San Francisco's North Beach. Garry Goodrow
, Hamilton Camp
, Larry Hankin
, Kathryn Ish
, Scott Beach
and Ellsworth Milburn were the cast. Jerry Mander
handled the group's PR, and Richard Stahl, who later joined the improv troupe, was its first company manager. Jessica Myerson joined the company in May. Arthur Cantor
took the company to New York in 1964 for a limited engagement at the Henry Miller Theater. This occasioned a second group to hold the fort in San Francisco. Peter Bonerz
, Peter Lane, Leigh French
, Chris Ross
, Howard Hesseman
(who used the name Don Sturdy), Nancy Fish and Carl Gottlieb
became the mainstays of the San Francisco troupe. John Brent, co-creator of the How to Speak Hip album and a bit player in many movies (Catch 22, American Graffiti, More American Graffiti, Bob, Carol, Ted & Alice, Steel Yard Blues, Porklips Now), was also a member.
When the Broadway troupe returned to San Francisco, they became the resident company of The Committee Theatre on Montgomery Street. This was a short-lived endeavor, that saw three productions mounted there: An original play by Larry Hankin
, MacBird
, and America Hurrah by Jean Claude Van Itallie. Joe Chaiken of LaMama and Jean Claude came to San Francisco to direct and oversee that production.
The Montgomery Street theater also quietly hosted a new publication in its basement: Ramparts Magazine edited by Robert Scheer
(now of Truthdig
). By this time The Committee was a regular at civil rights and anti-war protests — along with Joan Baez
, Norman Mailer
, and others.
Actors were now taking classes and forming other troupes. More and more members came in and out of the improv group or the theater troupe as needed. Mimi Fariña
, Dan Barrows, Morgan Upton, Julie Payne
, Jim Cranna, Bob Mackey and David Ogden Stiers
became part of the improv troupe. A regular behind the scenes stage manager and performer who later successfully formed his own improvisational theater company, The Groundlings
, was Gary Austin
.
In the late 60s, The Committee was again asked to form another company to perform in Los Angeles. Peter Bonerz
, Mel Stewart
, Barbara Bosson
, Jessica Myerson, Richard Stahl, Kathryn Ish, Garry Goodrow, Howard Hesseman
, Carl Gottlieb
, Chris Ross
and Rob Reiner
were the stalwarts in LA. The revolving group of players presented satirical political comedy in San Francisco until 1972. Other famous alumni include improv guru Del Close
, Howard Hesseman
who later went on to play Dr Johnny Fever on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati
, and Peter Bonerz
, later to play orthodontist Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show
, before becoming a director
. Barbara Bosson
later married Steven Bochco
and also was a regular on NYPD Blues. Leigh French
became a regular on The Smothers Brothers and later established her own sound company. Carl Gottlieb
wrote Jaws
.
The Committee performed thirteen shows a week and was dark on Mondays. In San Francisco, it was always a Monday when they let other groups use the space. In this way, The Committee hosted an early performance of The Warlocks before they became the Grateful Dead
as well as the debut performance of Michael McClure's The Beard.
Alan Myerson
-Career:Myerson began working in theatre in New York City, then directing The Second City in Chicago. He founded The Committee in San Francisco in 1963...
and Jessica Myerson (formerly Irene Riordan). The Myersons were both alums of The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
in Chicago. The Committee opened April 10, 1963 at 622 Broadway in a 300 seat Cabaret theater that used to be an indoor bocce ball court in San Francisco's North Beach. Garry Goodrow
Garry Goodrow
Garry Goodrow is an American actor best known for his role in the original stage production of the Obie Award-winning play The Connection, and as one of the original cast members of The Committee. In The Connection Goodrow played the young, intense, morose, would-be jazz musician Ernie, a heroin...
, Hamilton Camp
Hamilton Camp
Hamilton Camp was an English-American singer, songwriter, actor and voice actor.-Early life:Camp was born in London, England, and was evacuated during World War II to the United States as a child with his mother and sister. He became a child actor in films and onstage...
, Larry Hankin
Larry Hankin
Larry Hankin is an American actor, performer, director and producer.Hankin studied acting at Syracuse University. He is known for his roles in TV shows Friends and Seinfeld; as well as for his major role in the movie Escape from Alcatraz with Clint Eastwood...
, Kathryn Ish
Kathryn Ish
Kathryn Ish was an American Broadway theater, film, television and voiceover actress. She was also a founding member of The Committee political satire improvisational comedy group. Her television credits include Laverne & Shirley.Ish was born in San Jose, California...
, Scott Beach
Scott Beach
Scott Beach was a popular actor, writer, and disc jockey.-Biography:Born Alvin Scott Beach, he appeared in numerous motion pictures, most notably as a German scientist patterned after Wernher von Braun in The Right Stuff.Beach's deep, resonant voice was often heard in films...
and Ellsworth Milburn were the cast. Jerry Mander
Jerry Mander
Jerold Irwin "Jerry" Mander is an American activist and author, best known for his 1977 book, Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television...
handled the group's PR, and Richard Stahl, who later joined the improv troupe, was its first company manager. Jessica Myerson joined the company in May. Arthur Cantor
Arthur Cantor
Arthur Cantor was an American theatrical producer of over 100 plays in New York, London, and elsewhere. He was also the father of actor/journalist Max Cantor.-External links:...
took the company to New York in 1964 for a limited engagement at the Henry Miller Theater. This occasioned a second group to hold the fort in San Francisco. Peter Bonerz
Peter Bonerz
Peter Bonerz is an American actor and director who is best known as the character Dr. Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show....
, Peter Lane, Leigh French
Leigh French
-External links:...
, Chris Ross
Chris Ross
Chris Ross is an Australian musician from Erskineville, New South Wales. Best known for his former role as bassist and keyboardist of hard rock band Wolfmother, Ross was formerly a digital designer and has two children...
, Howard Hesseman
Howard Hesseman
Howard Hesseman is an American actor best known for playing disc jockey Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati and schoolteacher Charlie Moore on Head of the Class.-Early life:...
(who used the name Don Sturdy), Nancy Fish and Carl Gottlieb
Carl Gottlieb
Carl Gottlieb is an American screenwriter, actor, comedian and executive. He is probably best known for co-writing the screenplay for Jaws, as well as directing the 1981 low-budget cult film Caveman.-Early life:...
became the mainstays of the San Francisco troupe. John Brent, co-creator of the How to Speak Hip album and a bit player in many movies (Catch 22, American Graffiti, More American Graffiti, Bob, Carol, Ted & Alice, Steel Yard Blues, Porklips Now), was also a member.
When the Broadway troupe returned to San Francisco, they became the resident company of The Committee Theatre on Montgomery Street. This was a short-lived endeavor, that saw three productions mounted there: An original play by Larry Hankin
Larry Hankin
Larry Hankin is an American actor, performer, director and producer.Hankin studied acting at Syracuse University. He is known for his roles in TV shows Friends and Seinfeld; as well as for his major role in the movie Escape from Alcatraz with Clint Eastwood...
, MacBird
MacBird
MacBird! was a 1967 satire by Barbara Garson that superimposed the transferral of power following the Kennedy assassination onto the plot of Shakespeare's Macbeth....
, and America Hurrah by Jean Claude Van Itallie. Joe Chaiken of LaMama and Jean Claude came to San Francisco to direct and oversee that production.
The Montgomery Street theater also quietly hosted a new publication in its basement: Ramparts Magazine edited by Robert Scheer
Robert Scheer
Robert Scheer is an American journalist who writes a column for Truthdig which is nationally syndicated by Creators Syndicate in publications such as The Huffington Post and The Nation...
(now of Truthdig
Truthdig
Truthdig is a Web magazine that provides a mix of long-form articles, interviews, and blog-like commentary on current events, delivered from a progressive point of view. The site is built around major "digs" led by authorities in their fields who write multifaceted pieces about contemporary, often...
). By this time The Committee was a regular at civil rights and anti-war protests — along with Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
, Norman Mailer
Norman Mailer
Norman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S...
, and others.
Actors were now taking classes and forming other troupes. More and more members came in and out of the improv group or the theater troupe as needed. Mimi Fariña
Mimi Fariña
Mimi Baez Fariña was a singer-songwriter and activist, the youngest of three daughters to a Scottish mother and Mexican-American physicist Albert Baez .- Early years:Fariña's father, a physicist affiliated with Stanford University and MIT, moved his family...
, Dan Barrows, Morgan Upton, Julie Payne
Julie Payne
Julie Payne may refer to:*Julie Payne , American actress whose career lasted from 1959 to 1967...
, Jim Cranna, Bob Mackey and David Ogden Stiers
David Ogden Stiers
David Ogden Stiers is an American actor, director, vocal actor, and musician, noted for his roles in Disney movies, as well as his performances in the television series M*A*S*H as Major Charles Emerson Winchester III and the science fiction drama The Dead Zone as Reverend Gene Purdy...
became part of the improv troupe. A regular behind the scenes stage manager and performer who later successfully formed his own improvisational theater company, The Groundlings
The Groundlings
The Groundlings are an improvisational comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California. The troupe was formed by Gary Austin in 1974 and uses an improv format influenced by Viola Spolin to produce sketches and improvised scenes...
, was Gary Austin
Gary Austin
Gary Austin is an American comedian, improvisational theatre teacher, writer, and director. He has written two solo shows, "Church" and "Oil," and has performed them coast to coast...
.
In the late 60s, The Committee was again asked to form another company to perform in Los Angeles. Peter Bonerz
Peter Bonerz
Peter Bonerz is an American actor and director who is best known as the character Dr. Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show....
, Mel Stewart
Mel Stewart
Milton "Mel" Stewart was an American character actor, television director, and musician who appeared in numerous films and television shows from the 1960s to the 1990s. He is best known for playing Henry Jefferson on the popular television series All in the Family...
, Barbara Bosson
Barbara Bosson
Barbara Bosson is an American actress who has starred on television and in film.-Biography:Bosson was born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania to a tennis coach father. During her childhood, she lived in an American Craftsman Style house on Price Avenue in the borough of North Belle Vernon...
, Jessica Myerson, Richard Stahl, Kathryn Ish, Garry Goodrow, Howard Hesseman
Howard Hesseman
Howard Hesseman is an American actor best known for playing disc jockey Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati and schoolteacher Charlie Moore on Head of the Class.-Early life:...
, Carl Gottlieb
Carl Gottlieb
Carl Gottlieb is an American screenwriter, actor, comedian and executive. He is probably best known for co-writing the screenplay for Jaws, as well as directing the 1981 low-budget cult film Caveman.-Early life:...
, Chris Ross
Chris Ross
Chris Ross is an Australian musician from Erskineville, New South Wales. Best known for his former role as bassist and keyboardist of hard rock band Wolfmother, Ross was formerly a digital designer and has two children...
and Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner
Robert "Rob" Reiner is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and political activist.As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence as Archie and Edith Bunker's son-in-law, Michael "Meathead" Stivic, on All in the Family. That role earned him two Emmy Awards during the 1970s...
were the stalwarts in LA. The revolving group of players presented satirical political comedy in San Francisco until 1972. Other famous alumni include improv guru Del Close
Del Close
Del Close was an actor, improviser, writer, and teacher. Considered one of the premier influences on modern improvisational theater, Close had a prolific career, appearing in a number of films and television shows...
, Howard Hesseman
Howard Hesseman
Howard Hesseman is an American actor best known for playing disc jockey Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati and schoolteacher Charlie Moore on Head of the Class.-Early life:...
who later went on to play Dr Johnny Fever on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta...
, and Peter Bonerz
Peter Bonerz
Peter Bonerz is an American actor and director who is best known as the character Dr. Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show....
, later to play orthodontist Jerry Robinson on The Bob Newhart Show
The Bob Newhart Show
The Bob Newhart Show is an American situation comedy produced by MTM Enterprises, which aired 142 original episodes on CBS from September 16, , to April 1, . Comedian Bob Newhart portrayed a psychologist having to deal with his patients and fellow office workers...
, before becoming a director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
. Barbara Bosson
Barbara Bosson
Barbara Bosson is an American actress who has starred on television and in film.-Biography:Bosson was born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania to a tennis coach father. During her childhood, she lived in an American Craftsman Style house on Price Avenue in the borough of North Belle Vernon...
later married Steven Bochco
Steven Bochco
Steven Ronald Bochco is a US television producer and writer. He has developed a number of popular television hits including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, and NYPD Blue, as well as some notable flops such as Cop Rock....
and also was a regular on NYPD Blues. Leigh French
Leigh French
-External links:...
became a regular on The Smothers Brothers and later established her own sound company. Carl Gottlieb
Carl Gottlieb
Carl Gottlieb is an American screenwriter, actor, comedian and executive. He is probably best known for co-writing the screenplay for Jaws, as well as directing the 1981 low-budget cult film Caveman.-Early life:...
wrote Jaws
Jaws (film)
Jaws is a 1975 American horror-thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's novel of the same name. In the story, the police chief of Amity Island, a fictional summer resort town, tries to protect beachgoers from a giant man-eating great white shark by closing the beach,...
.
The Committee performed thirteen shows a week and was dark on Mondays. In San Francisco, it was always a Monday when they let other groups use the space. In this way, The Committee hosted an early performance of The Warlocks before they became the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
as well as the debut performance of Michael McClure's The Beard.