Unexpected Company
Encyclopedia
Unexpected Company is an improvisational comedy group founded in Hollywood, California in 1986 by Tim Hillman, and recreated in Rhode Island
in 2003 by Hillman and Justin James Lang.
outside the boundaries of short-form improvisation. Hillman was formerly a director and teacher at the LA Connection in Sherman Oaks, California, where he trained under Kent Skov.
The original cast of Unexpected Company included-Emmy Award
winners Lisa Kudrow
and Conan O’Brien, experienced voice actors April Winchell
and Paul Rugg
from The Groundlings
and LA Connection The company's body of work was created in Church of Scientology
basement Celebrity Center Theatre in Los Angeles
.
The group was originally known as "The Fun Onions" - a name discarded after one performance. Kudrow coined the actual name of the company after being inspired by a scene that involved company arriving unexpectedly for dinner. After a six-month run, the group disbanded, while Hillman kept rights to the company name.
, under Hillman’s direction at St. Andrew's-Sewanee School
and the University of the South. It functioned largely as an educational entity.
In that era, over thirty different performers worked with the group, with alumni Joe Petrilla, John Stewart, and Michael Barker going on to successful careers with the Titanic Players at Northwestern University
and ImprovOlympic in Chicago
and Los Angeles
.
in 2001, a chance meeting with a then-University of Rhode Island
student, Justin James Lang, led to the reformation of the group in the Ocean State. The goal of the company in Rhode Island
was to continue Unexpected Company’s exploration of long-form improvisational theatre
, particularly exploring the theories espoused by Charna Halpern
and Del Close
.
The cast was formed in 2003 with founding members Lang, Greg DeSantis, Andrew Mendillo, Nick Mendillo, and Brian Perry. Within a short time, the founding group was joined by Marialana Abbene, Matthew Archambault, Zack Brenner Geoffroy, Jordan Eastwood, Frank Fusaro, Victoria Gillette, Eric Harrington, and Tom Reedy. Many of these members were present at the group’s first performance at the Warwick Museum of Art in February of that year.
The group struggled with the “Harold
” format, and Hillman, as Artistic Director
, guided them towards their own signature performance format, “The Morris”, which was discovered during a rehearsal sequence. “The Morris” is long-form improvisation based on personal monologues followed by scene development. It was named after Saved By the Bell
character Zack Morris
, who would often engage the audience with monologues both before and during scenes, in a way that was similar to the use of monologues in “The Morris”. Eventually, the form became three individuals delivering short, personal, extemporaneous opening monologues based on an audience suggestion. These monologues give inspiration to a series of improvised scenes in a montage-style format.
and the Providence Phoenix that summer. The group grew rapidly in size, and began performing more frequently with weekly shows at 7:17 PM at the Warwick Museum of Art, as well as sets at the Firehouse Theatre in Newport
and the now-defunct Castle Theatre in Providence
.
After nine months, the rapid growth of the company, resultant change in performance direction, and company disapproval of Hillman’s financial actions led Hillman to depart from the group, releasing the rights of both the name “Unexpected Company” and “The Morris” in return for a financial settlement. The group recognizes his status as Founding Artistic Director. Tim Hillman continues in the theatre, most recently as the Musical Director of the Bryant University Players.
After Hillman’s departure, the company continued their 7:17 performances at the Warwick Museum of Art, and began appearing internationally at festivals and shows such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland
, the Philadelphia Improv Festival, the Del Close Marathon in New York City
, the Toronto
International Improv Festival, and the Miami Improv Festival, to name a few. In 2004, Unexpected Company collaborated with two area improv groups at the time, Improv Jones and Speed of Thought Players, to comprise the first annual Providence Improv Festival, an event that has grown exponentially in subsequent years.
Unexpected Company grew as well, and several performers took the helm as Artistic Director
, including Perry, Tom Gleadow, Tim Thibodeau, Frank Fasuro, and current Artistic Director Mike Varejao. As the group has grown, it has been acclaimed as “Best Comedy Troupe” by Rhode Island Monthly
Magazine, “A breath of fresh air” by The Providence Phoenix, and “Hilarious“ by Motif Magazine. Unexpected Company continues to be a weekly source of improvisational theatre
in Rhode Island
at the Warwick Museum of Art. Unexpected Company currently performs on Sunday evenings at 8PM @ The Spot on Thayer.
Ahmed Bharoocha
Tim Vargulish
Andrew Mendillo
Jeff Church
Jimmy Sorel
Los Angeles Original Cast
April Winchell
Conan O'Brien
Lisa Kudrow
Tim Hillman
Sewanee, TN Cast
Whitney Able
RI Original Cast
Greg DeSantis
Brian Perry
Frank Fusaro
Matthew Archambault
Zack Geoffroy
Marialaina Abbene
Jordan Eastwood
Eric Harrington
Victoria Gilette
Tom Gleadow
Steven Harelick
Tim Hillman
Rich Madison
Nick Mendillo
Dan Mills
Tom Reedy
Brandon Taylor
Jeff Perry
Ben Lewis
Melissa Bowler
Tim Thibodeau
Sarah McLean
Billy Domineau
Ari Itkin
Kim Kalunian
John Ring
Rochelle Weinrauch
Kyle Pendola
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
in 2003 by Hillman and Justin James Lang.
California version
The original iteration of Unexpected Company was founded by Tim Hillman in 1986 based on his desire to explore comedic improvisational theatreImprovisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
outside the boundaries of short-form improvisation. Hillman was formerly a director and teacher at the LA Connection in Sherman Oaks, California, where he trained under Kent Skov.
The original cast of Unexpected Company included-Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
winners Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Valerie Kudrow is an American actress, best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the television sitcom Friends, for which she received many accolades including an Emmy Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards...
and Conan O’Brien, experienced voice actors April Winchell
April Winchell
April Terri Winchell is an American actress, writer, voice actor, talk radio host, and commentator. She is the daughter of the late Paul Winchell.-Acting:...
and Paul Rugg
Paul Rugg
-Biography:Rugg has worked extensively in the field of animation. His list of credits include writing for, co-producing, and playing the voices of several cartoon characters, first being credited as "Mr. Director" from Animaniacs...
from 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...
and LA Connection The company's body of work was created in Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
basement Celebrity Center Theatre in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
The group was originally known as "The Fun Onions" - a name discarded after one performance. Kudrow coined the actual name of the company after being inspired by a scene that involved company arriving unexpectedly for dinner. After a six-month run, the group disbanded, while Hillman kept rights to the company name.
Tennessee version
In the 1990s, Unexpected Company was based in Sewanee, TennesseeSewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee is an unincorporated locality in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States, treated by the U.S. Census as a census-designated place . The population was 2,361 at the 2000 census...
, under Hillman’s direction at St. Andrew's-Sewanee School
St. Andrew's-Sewanee School
St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School is a private, coeducational, Episcopal, boarding and day college preparatory school serving 260 students in grades six through twelve. It is located in Sewanee, Tennessee on the Cumberland Plateau between Nashville and Chattanooga and adjacent to the University of the...
and the University of the South. It functioned largely as an educational entity.
In that era, over thirty different performers worked with the group, with alumni Joe Petrilla, John Stewart, and Michael Barker going on to successful careers with the Titanic Players at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and ImprovOlympic in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Formation
When Hillman moved to Rhode IslandRhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
in 2001, a chance meeting with a then-University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
student, Justin James Lang, led to the reformation of the group in the Ocean State. The goal of the company in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
was to continue Unexpected Company’s exploration of long-form improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
, particularly exploring the theories espoused by Charna Halpern
Charna Halpern
Charna Halpern is a co-founder of the ImprovOlympic, now known as The iO. She was born and raised on the North Side of Chicago. In 1984, with partner Del Close, she began teaching The Harold to many students in the Chicago theatre community. She and Close co-authored the book Truth in Comedy: The...
and 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...
.
The cast was formed in 2003 with founding members Lang, Greg DeSantis, Andrew Mendillo, Nick Mendillo, and Brian Perry. Within a short time, the founding group was joined by Marialana Abbene, Matthew Archambault, Zack Brenner Geoffroy, Jordan Eastwood, Frank Fusaro, Victoria Gillette, Eric Harrington, and Tom Reedy. Many of these members were present at the group’s first performance at the Warwick Museum of Art in February of that year.
The group struggled with the “Harold
Harold (improvisation)
Harold is a form of longform improv. Developed by Del Close and brought to fruition through Close's collaboration with Charna Halpern, the Harold has become the signature form of Chicago's I.O. and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York and Los Angeles...
” format, and Hillman, as Artistic Director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
, guided them towards their own signature performance format, “The Morris”, which was discovered during a rehearsal sequence. “The Morris” is long-form improvisation based on personal monologues followed by scene development. It was named after Saved By the Bell
Saved by the Bell
Saved by the Bell is an American television sitcom that aired between 1989 and 1993. The series is a retooled version of the 1988 series Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was itself later folded into the history of Saved by the Bell...
character Zack Morris
Zack Morris
Zachary "Zack" Morris is a fictional character from the sitcoms Good Morning, Miss Bliss; Saved by the Bell; and Saved by the Bell: The College Years. He was portrayed by Mark-Paul Gosselaar...
, who would often engage the audience with monologues both before and during scenes, in a way that was similar to the use of monologues in “The Morris”. Eventually, the form became three individuals delivering short, personal, extemporaneous opening monologues based on an audience suggestion. These monologues give inspiration to a series of improvised scenes in a montage-style format.
Growth and current status
Within months, Unexpected Company became notable in the local community and media, with full coverage in The Providence JournalThe Providence Journal
The Providence Journal, nicknamed the ProJo, is a daily newspaper serving the metropolitan area of Providence, Rhode Island and is the largest newspaper in Rhode Island. The newspaper, first published in 1829 and the oldest continuously-published daily newspaper in the United States, was purchased...
and the Providence Phoenix that summer. The group grew rapidly in size, and began performing more frequently with weekly shows at 7:17 PM at the Warwick Museum of Art, as well as sets at the Firehouse Theatre in Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
and the now-defunct Castle Theatre in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.
After nine months, the rapid growth of the company, resultant change in performance direction, and company disapproval of Hillman’s financial actions led Hillman to depart from the group, releasing the rights of both the name “Unexpected Company” and “The Morris” in return for a financial settlement. The group recognizes his status as Founding Artistic Director. Tim Hillman continues in the theatre, most recently as the Musical Director of the Bryant University Players.
After Hillman’s departure, the company continued their 7:17 performances at the Warwick Museum of Art, and began appearing internationally at festivals and shows such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, the Philadelphia Improv Festival, the Del Close Marathon in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
International Improv Festival, and the Miami Improv Festival, to name a few. In 2004, Unexpected Company collaborated with two area improv groups at the time, Improv Jones and Speed of Thought Players, to comprise the first annual Providence Improv Festival, an event that has grown exponentially in subsequent years.
Unexpected Company grew as well, and several performers took the helm as Artistic Director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
, including Perry, Tom Gleadow, Tim Thibodeau, Frank Fasuro, and current Artistic Director Mike Varejao. As the group has grown, it has been acclaimed as “Best Comedy Troupe” by Rhode Island Monthly
Rhode Island Monthly
Rhode Island Monthly is a glossy monthly magazine about life in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. It is published by Metrocorp.-Best of Rhode Island:...
Magazine, “A breath of fresh air” by The Providence Phoenix, and “Hilarious“ by Motif Magazine. Unexpected Company continues to be a weekly source of improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre
Improvisational theatre takes many forms. It is best known as improv or impro, which is often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic. In this popular, often topical art form improvisational actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously...
in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
at the Warwick Museum of Art. Unexpected Company currently performs on Sunday evenings at 8PM @ The Spot on Thayer.
Current performers
Michael VarejaoAhmed Bharoocha
Tim Vargulish
Andrew Mendillo
Jeff Church
Jimmy Sorel
Los Angeles Original Cast
April Winchell
April Winchell
April Terri Winchell is an American actress, writer, voice actor, talk radio host, and commentator. She is the daughter of the late Paul Winchell.-Acting:...
Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Valerie Kudrow is an American actress, best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the television sitcom Friends, for which she received many accolades including an Emmy Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards...
Tim Hillman
Sewanee, TN Cast
Whitney Able
Whitney Able
Whitney Able is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in All the Boys Love Mandy Lane and Monsters. She has been featured in Maxim magazine.- Biography :Able has two brothers and is a fan of Led Zeppelin...
RI Original Cast
Official alumni
Justin James LangGreg DeSantis
Brian Perry
Frank Fusaro
Matthew Archambault
Zack Geoffroy
Marialaina Abbene
Jordan Eastwood
Eric Harrington
Victoria Gilette
Tom Gleadow
Steven Harelick
Tim Hillman
Rich Madison
Nick Mendillo
Dan Mills
Tom Reedy
Brandon Taylor
Jeff Perry
Ben Lewis
Melissa Bowler
Tim Thibodeau
Sarah McLean
Billy Domineau
Ari Itkin
Kim Kalunian
John Ring
Rochelle Weinrauch
Kyle Pendola