Pros From Dover • SF Improvisers on Tour
Pros From Dover
• 1986 - 1988 •
Gaukler, Akrobaten (und Komiker) auf den Straßen
Summer 1987 · Press & Promotional release • Auf Deutsch und Dutch
German
Eine Gruppe von Schauspielern aus San Francisco, die normalerweise für Radio, Film und Fernsehen arbeiten, finden sich wöchentlich zusammen, um Vorstellungen ihrer speziellen Form von Theater zu geben… improvisiertes Comic-Theater.
Ohne vorgegebenes Manuskript wird die Aktion von Ideen un Vorschlagen, die Akteure aus dem Publikum erhalten, bestimmt, die so die inhaltliche Basis f¨r ihre Szenen Sketche und Lieder bilden.
Unter der Regie von John Elk kommt diese Gruppe jedes Jahr als die “Pros From Dover” zusammen, un ihren “Style of Humor” nach Europa zu bringen.
Translated from German
A group of actors from San Francisco who normally work in radio, film and television meet weekly to give performances of their special form of theatre… improvised comic theatre.
With no script, the action is determined by ideas and suggestions that actors receive from the audience, which form the basis of the content of their scenes, sketches and songs.
Under the direction of John Elk, this group comes together every year as the “Pros From Dover” to bring their “style of humor” to Europe.
____

Dutch
Een groep artiesten uit San Francisco die werkzaam zijn op verschillende gebieden bij radio, film en televisie komenregelmatig bij elkaar om samen hun speciale vorm van geïmproviseerd theater to beoefenen. Zomers voeren ze onder de toepasselijke naam de ‘Pro’s from Dover’ lang Europese festivals. De leden van de groep willen u bij deze erop wijzen dat als het niet leuk is wat ze doen het in leder geval kunst is.
Translated from Dutch
A group of artists from San Francisco who work in various fields in radio, film and television regularly meet to practice their special form of improvised theater together. During the summer they perform at European festivals under the appropriate name ‘Pro’s from Dover’. The members of the group would like to point out to you that if you don’t like what they do, it is art.
Quick Takes
First Gig

First Tour
Led by director and trip planner John Elk, the small crew of performers: Barbara Scott, Ron Muriera and Jeannene Hansen scouted venues and performed at a handful of shows on the first year's test run. We were joined by Justin Case, who lent his expertise to elevate our small troupe's performances. Ron's lent a musical backup with his accordion.
Press Release

Pre-Promotion
The Pro's From Dover began as a result of comedy director John Elk's work in Europe, where he had been producing and directing shows for four years. At the famed Festival of Fools in Amsterdam he was asked to bring over a group from the states. Elk turned to the actors he had worked with when he was director of two of SF's more popular improvisational comedy groups, Papaya Juice and Spaghetti Jam, proving grounds for many of the Bay Area's finest comics,
Big Promises

6 0f 12 Recruits
Recruitment for a summer of distant European gigs intrigued a large swath of possible performers from the improvisers working in various groups. A wide net was cast and early promotional materials seemed to promise all sorts of colorful individuals from San Francisco. Scheduling conflicts and available cash determined the number of the most intrepid volunteers for the second year's tour.
The 1986 Tour Gigs

second Tour
With the group solidified, new photos were taken, shows were nailed down, calendars were distributed, tickets were secured, and the logistics were taken care of by John and his connections in Europe.
CAN'T TELL THE PLAYERS…

Without a Table Tent
Jeannene got crafty stateside creating table tents and various collateral. Katya Schwarzkopf designed posters and programs to give us a true air of legitimacy that preceded our arrival at State Theatres, alternative culture centers, rock concerts and street performances.
The Crew

Pre-Promotion
The plethora of headshots and faces obscured the switch-ups in personel of unknowns from the states. A benefit or two at Lipps were attended by well-wishers that would keep the home fires burning while we were gone overseas.
Map

The Road Ahead
Zoom in to see the distance we covered in 7 weeks at 15 different venues.
Autobahn-worthy

Van Life
Besides an occasional train ride, we traveled most distances between gigs with the expediency of a rental van. Close quarters with our luggage, singing show tunes and watching other vehicles zoom by us on the Autobahn was its own entertainment.
Connections

Johnny Melville
A friend and seasoned professional on the performance circuit in Europe, offered advice and jolly entertainment to
Terschelling

Curbside SlideShow
Barbara Scott narrates an ongoing slideshow on a topic from an audience suggestion. Here she describes the pretzel like stylings of the group in a frozen pose. The description incorporated a logic to explain the silliness of grown adults contorting themselves in random ways. Next slide!
Friesen Island

Down time
A sunny day of brainstorming on bikes as we got acquainted with the layout and foreign environment on this Friesen island venue.
Murder Island Mystery

Interactive Sketch
After being led around the town square looking for clues and introducing each of our characters; a private dick, priest, floozy, socialite, saloon singer, bartender and a mobile piano player named Fingers who supplied a soundtrack and ominous stings… all were considered likely suspects in the Murder Island Mystery. Either our acting or alibis were deemed insufficient and gunplay ensued. The finale found us splayed and dead on the streets of Terschelling, while Hamilton Beach, private dick performed a damning soliloquy that wove the intrigue to implicate us all. Street justice.
publicity

posing with Marquees
Obligatory selfie to document our presence at various venues… and as proof of life for next year's tour.
Auf Deutsch

broken English
John Elk explains improvisation auf Deutsch. Luterbeker during KielerWoche. L to R: Piano player, Sandee Althouse, Rodney Sheriff, Barbara Scott, Jeannene Hansen Teresa Roberts
Working the Rails

Erlangen Theatre Train
Riding along with musicians and other performers, each train stop was a mini show by a different group. Riders were encouraged to exit the train to watch us Americans play a swift and ridiculous game of baseball, in a nearby field, silly fun with sports.
Free daze

The Strand
Our extended stay at the Luterbeker, where we performed and recuperated from our travels, gave us plenty of time to frolic at the beach, even though northern Germany was a bit chilly for us.
Roskilde

Opening for Iggy
By this time we were fearless and ready to take on festival-sized crowds without getting lost in them. Along with many other street performers and toomlers we supplied the interstitial distraction, while bands setup and did soundcheck. our schtick was enlisting festival goers to help us make a movie with many 'Cuts" and 5 or 6 takes.
OTHER BAY AREA GIGS / EVENTS OF NOTE
Cable Car Turnaround
Fundraiser @ Lipps
Everything elsewhere
To the best of her recollection, Jeannene Hansen recounts the history of Pros from Dover. A group of San Francisco improvisers, led by John Elk, to bring the workshop games of Viola Spolin to the European continent.
Part 2 of the history of Pros from Dover, a 3 year annual sojourn to Amsterdam, Copenhagen and various cities in Germany to entertain and cajole audiences with improving skills learned in various stateside workshops.

















