improbable PLAYERS   

using theater to teach about substance abuse prevention

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history, mission and board of directors

"By our silence we let others define us."
- Missouri Recovery Network Campaign slogan to encourage people who are in recovery 
to become spokespeople in the new faces and voices of recovery advocacy movement.


history

Improbable Players' first performance was in 1984. The scenes they did that day for a high school peer leadership conference became the basis of the first play, "I'll Never Do That!" which now has played to over a million people in schools from elementary to college, community organizations, the workplace, and conferences nationwide.

Many gifted actors have contributed their talent, their sense of humor, and pieces of their life stories over the years. Because of them, many funny, sad, poignant, hopeful scenes---and entire plays---have been created.

The Players are often tapped to write and present dramatic plays for professonal conferences and training sessions about the impact of substance abuse on different populations and their unique issues such as the workplace, elderly, special needs populations, and the judicial system, among others.

 


mission 

to set the stage for prevention by educating the public about addiction and recovery through dramatic performances and theater workshops, presented by actors who are in recovery, that help people recognize situations in their own lives and seek the help they need. 


improbable players: a 501(c)(3)non-profit corporation


outspoken recovery advocate

Watch
Rick Dyer's interview on the CBS Weekend News December 4, 2010. Rick is a member of Improbable Players' Board of Directors.


board, consultants, administration

Lynn Bratley, M.Ed., lynnbratley@improbableplayers.org  •  Founder and Artistic Director of the Players. Since 1984 she has hired, trained and coached many actor / educators. She develops new performances and curriculum guides, and builds relationships in the health and theater communities. She earned her BA in Drama from the University of Washington, Seattle, and her M.Ed. in Theater Education at Tufts University. In 2003 the Tufts Graduate School of Arts & Sciences presented her with the Outstanding Career Achievement award. June 2011 she was inducted into her high school's (Washington Park High School, Racine, WI) Hall of Fame.

Chris Everett, Associate Artistic Director Boston, Chris earned her BA in management and theatre arts. She is a performing artist and member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).She is also affiliated with Boston Casting, where she works with producers, directors, and talent agents to cast a wide variety of television and radio projects. She joined the Improbable Players as an actor in 2000 and performs in the plays, serves on the board, manages the company’s accounting, and coordinates rehearsals. 

Brian Jansen, Associate Artistic Director New York. Brian received a Master of Fine Arts from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, and a BA in English/ Creative Writing from Wesleyan University.  He is a member of Actors Equity Association and has worked on productions in major regional theaters such as ACT and the Huntington Theater.  He is a film and commercial actor.  He has been involved with the Improbable Players since 2003 and has acted in all the Players productions.  As a teaching artist, he has worked at numerous schools with the Players conducting drama workshops and also was artist-in-residence at the Boston Center for the Arts “Access to Theater” program.  Outside of acting, he is a published writer and has an holistic therapy practice, New York Bodywork; he is a Certified Massage Therapist and Polarity Therapy Practitioner.

board
Joe Kelleher, Business Manager, Gavin House, President, CASA
Richard J. Dyer,
 Recovery Advocate,
 Youth Commissioner, Newton, MA
Chris Everett, Assistant Director, Actor, Improbable Players
Robert Fast, Esq.
retired
Bob Jolly,
Actor, Improbable Players, Historic Impersonator
Carol Prost, Research Associate, Schneider Institutes for Health Policy, Brandeis University

advisory board
Maryanne Frangules, Executive Director, MOAR
Woody Geissmann, Founder/CEO Right Turn
Maureen McGlame, Executive Director,
COASA
Roger Oser, Director,
Wm. J. Ostiguy Recovery High School

 

 


Ray presented at the 2004 Harvard Addictions Conference: "The Healing Connection: Alcoholics Anonymous"

Improbable Players mourn the passing of long-time board member (1996-2006) and great friend, Ray B. Stiver. Ray passed away on November 29, 2010. He was very active in the recovery community and will be missed by many, many people he helped along the way.


© 2006 • improbable PLAYERS • Boston & New York • Home Office: 22 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown, MA 02472-3955   •   players@improbableplayers.org   •   800-437-4303   •   site map