Tim Orr

Joined Company: 1989
First Improv Class: 1988
First BATS Class: 1988 with Rafe Chase
BATS Coach: Since 1991
Other BATS Service: Company Coordinator, early 1990s; Finance committee, 2004-2005
Web Site: www.3forAll.com
Myspace.com: www.myspace.com/timworr
Contact: company@improv.org

Tim Orr has improvised since 1988 with many San Francisco groups, including BATS Improv, Rafe Chase's groundbreaking troupe Improv Theatre, and with the acclaimed 3-person troupe 3 For All. He has appeared in numerous plays in the San Francisco Bay Area, and received critical acclaim for his roles Brien Burrough's mprovised feature films, Suckerfish and Security.


With Stephen Kearin, he co-wrote, and originated the role of Dirk Manly in, An Evening with Dirk & Blaine. He also coaches the local wheelchair sports team, the Bay Cruisers, who won the 2004 National Varsity Basketball Championship.

Tim has taught improvisation at the American Conservatory Theatre, BATS, and elsewhere. In 2003-'04, he was the first director of BATS Improv's BATS Long-Form Improvisation Program (BLIP).

Q&A With Tim Orr

First BATS Show: I first saw a show in 1988 at The Climate Theater (now Venue 9). I was amazed by the commitment to relationship and story demonstrated by the improvisers, and immediately signed on for my first BATS class.

Favorite Formats: Long-Form improvisation of all formats and genres (Shakespeare, Film Noir, etc.), the "Family Drama" shows staged as plays on a single set, Theatersports.

Best Moment on the BATS Stage: My single most memorable moment came not during a show, but during a class. Everything slowed down for me in a tangible and magical way (similar to what athletes call "the zone") and I knew in that moment that anything that I did on stage was OK, good enough, watchable. Though I've never experienced the exact same moment again, the feeling of well-being has never left me.

Improv Advice: Improv is about playing someone who is someplace, not about being clever.

Artistic Influences: In improv: Rafe Chase, Stephen Kearin and Regina Saisi. In comedy in general: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck. In acting: Jean-Louis Barrault, Jason Robards and Ruth Gordon. In music: Joni Mitchell.

Favorite Movies: Les Enfants du Paradis, A Thousand Clowns, Harold & Maude, Casablanca, Alien, The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Favorite Music: Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, Sweeney Todd soundtrack.

Favorite Theatre: Henry IV -- Part I, The Time of Your Life, Angels in America, Sweeney Todd (with George Hearn)

 

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