Rafe Chase Joined Company: 1987 First Improv Class: July 17, 1978, with Sue Walden of Flash Family First BATS Class: May 1987 with Dan O'Connor BATS Coach: Since 1987 (Teaching improv since 1980) Other BATS Service: Artistic Director, 1998-2000; Board Member, 2002-present. Board President, 2004-2005 Web Site: www.rafechase.com Myspace.com: http://www.myspace.com/rafechase Contact: company@improv.org Rafe Chase began improvising professionally in 1978 with Flash Family at the Old Spaghetti Factory in North Beach. He left three years later to create the group Riot Squad, which performed both improv and sketch comedy.

When he joined BATS Improv in 1987, it opened up a world of new colleagues, new ideas and new possibilities. In 1988, while continuing to work with BATS, he became a member of Pulp Playhouse, which performed at the Eureka Theater doing improvised stories in the style of the pulp magazines of the 30's and 40's.

The next year he formed Improv Theater, a group that would pioneer the exploration and performance of long form improv. He was a founding member of True Fiction Magazine and worked with the group from 1994 to 1999. Rafe served as BATS Artistic Director from 1998-2000. Currently he is 1/3 of '3 for All', along with Stephen Kearin and Tim Orr.

Rafe teaches improv for BATS and ACT, as well as private classes. He has also worked extensively with young people and taught improv at Berkwood Hedge Elementary in Berkeley for three years, to students ranging in age from 5 to 11.

Q&A With Rafe Chase

First BATS Show: I don't think I saw a show before I was in one in June of 1987.

Favorite Formats: Long-form, Improv and a Movie, Shakespeare, Double Feature

Improv Advice: What the audience wants is good acting and a good story.

Artistic Influences: Mike Nichols and Elaine May, Cary Grant, James Cagney, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Warner Brothers Cartoons

Favorite Movies: The Awful Truth, Ninotchka, Body Heat, Love Me Or Leave Me

Favorite Music: Brazilian

Favorite Theatre: Arsenic and Old Lace