Biography
John’s career is a fascinating tapestry of diverse experiences. He has transitioned from being a steelworker in his youth to a head chef, a ballroom dance teacher, and finally, a seasoned theatre professional with a fifty-year career. Along this journey, he also honed his skills in nonprofit administration.
Nonprofit Administration
John has forty years of nonprofit administration training and experience, including governance, policies and procedures, finance, insurance, grant writing, fundraising, and long-term planning. In 1996, he raised 4.5 million dollars to restore a hundred-year-old train station in Evanston, Illinois, and turn it into a live theatre, Piccolo Theatre and cultural center, the Evanston Arts Depot.
Theatre
John’s contributions to the theatre world are significant and inspiring. He began his professional theatre career by performing in Geoffrey Buckley’s Commedia dell’ Arte Troupe at Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He then co-founded,
with Jacob Mills, The Last Chance Circuz, a new vaudeville theatre company, and acted in and produced the award-winning Cablevision sci-fi comedy series Secret Circus. His most notable achievement is the founding of Piccolo Theatre and the Piccolo Theatre School, where he served as the Artistic Director for eighteen years. His specialization in the Commedia dell’Arte and British Panto comedic theatre traditions has left a lasting impact. John’s theatre masks have been exhibited at prestigious institutions like the Spertus Museum and the Southern Ohio Museum.
He taught at Valparaiso U., Loyola U., Coventry Cathedral, Northwestern U., and the University of Chicago. At Governors State U., he taught at the colleges of Arts and Culture, Environmental and Applied Science, Health and Recreation, and Human Psychology.
Spotlights
Awards
• Emmy Award for his acting role in Beyond the Magic Door.
• Illinois Festival Hall of Fame for the Custer Street Fair.
• Artist of the Year Award, 2009 Mayor’s Award, City of Evanston.
• Certificate of Achievement from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business.
• Certificate of Meritorious Achievement from the United Steelworker’s Institute for Career Development.
• Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, two Meritorious Achievement Awards, for directing and mask design.
• His play, Chaos, was nominated for four Joseph Jefferson Citations and won Best Original Music.
Volunteer Work
• Served two terms as the president of T’ai Chi Foundation, Inc.
• Co-founded The Human Process, Inc., An Arica and Tai Chi sponsorship.
• President of the South Evanston Business Association.
• Served on the City of Evanston Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Citizen’s Oversight Board.
• Serves as a community member of the US Department of Justice, Northeast California Hate Crimes Task Force.
• Marketing Director of the Oscar Ichazo Foundation
• IT Advisor to Arica Institute
• The Dalai
Lama’s Government in Exile
Union Affiliations
Actor’s Equity current
United Steelworkers past
Teamsters
past
Teaching
John is available to teach workshops on the following:
1. Neutral Mask
2. Expressive Mask
3. Commedia Mask
4. Larval Mask
5. European Clown
6. Movement for the Stage
7. Anne Rudolph Movement Training
8. Tai Chi
9. Sketch Development Studio
10. Commedia dell’ Arte Scenarios
11. British Panto
12. Developing the Voice
13. Stage Dynamics
14. Mime & Pantomime Blanche
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
MA: Governors State University, College of Cultural Studies Popular Culture – Media and Communications
Thesis: “Clowns & Shamans”
Advisor: Elizabeth Hagens
BA: Valparaiso University, Theatre
Christ College, Philosophy & Humanities
WORK EXPERIENCE
Executive Director of Piccolo Theatre, Inc., a not-for-profit arts organization – 1996-2014
Oversaw the operations of the Piccolo Theatre Ensemble, the Custer Fair, and the historic train station facility.
Director of the Custer Fair, Evanston, Illinois – 1982-2014
Coordinated all functions and directly administered advertising, promotion, legal, finance, logistics, entertainment stage and International FoodFest. This annual event attracts 60,000 visitors.
Artistic Director of Piccolo Theatre – 1996-2014
Oversaw the three-show season, new works festival, and Piccolo Theatre School.
Business owner of ZOZ Enterprises – 1992-2017
Computer service, repair and IT specialist. Clients included, IQRA International, East-West University, Next Theatre, Dr. Frank Lucido, John Himmelfarb (Artist), Third Unitarian Church, Chiaravalli Montessori School, and Near North Montessori.
Director of Religious Education – 1990-1996
Third Unitarian Church, Chicago, Illinois. Responsible for programming for grades K-9. Responsible for nursery, and preschool program. Responsible for hiring and training of teaching staff. Certified teacher trainer of the Unitarian-Universalist junior high course on human sexuality, “About Your Sexuality.” Also served as Manager of Information Services for the Church.
President of The Human Process, Inc. a not-for-profit educational corporation conducting trainings and seminars in Integral Philosophy and offering courses in T’ai Chi Chuan – 1991- 1996
Ensemble member of the Illustrated Theatre, an equity theatre company – 1985-1988
Faculty Member – Academy of Movement and Music, Oak Park, IL. 1981-1986
Taught courses in mime, mask theatre, Commedia dell’ Arte, and Anne Rudolph’s movement training.
Director of grade school and high school performance company – Chicago Council on Fine Arts, Artist-in-Residence Program – 1978-1980
Actor, dancer, technical director and movement coach to the acting company.
Founder – The Last Chance Circuz – 1978-1980
The Circuz was a professional touring company producing Commedia dell’ Arte, Mask/Mime Theatre and European style Clown Theater in Chicago, New York and the Midwest.
Artist-in-Residence – Governors State U., College of Cultural Studies – 1973-1975
Taught M.A. level courses in mime, pantomime, movement for actors, and mask theater performance.
Community Professor/Lecturer – Governer’s State University – 1973-1975 Taught in the Colleges of Cultural Studies, and the College of Human Learning and Development. Taught masters level courses in Alternative Learning Environments, and Awareness Through Movement. Taught courses in movement in the College of Recreative Studies. 1973-75.
Graduate Assistant to Dr. James Gallagher, Dean of the College of Environmental and Applied Science – Governer’s State University – 1974-75.
Designed and implemented an Information Retrieval System for Environmental Sciences and acted as Administrative Assistant and Media Facilitator on Government Grant: Environmental Education Leadership Program.
Hull House Theatre, Chicago IL – Director of Teen Theatre under Bob Sickinger – 1967-68.
HONORS AND AWARDS
City of Evanston Mayor’s Award for Artist of the Year. An annual award given for high artistic achievement. 2008.
Museum of Natural History, Chicago, exhibited my mask of the bull from Picasso’s, Guernico. 2008
Kennedy Center Award for Mask Design. Mask design for Servant of Two Masters. 2005.
Grant Award from the Illinois Dept. of Transportation.
and Federal CMAQ program of $4.5 million for the restoration of the historic Main Street Metra Train Station. 1998.
Lyric Opera of Chicago purchased two leather masks of Arlecchino for their production of Don Quichotte.
Inducted into the Illinois Festival Hall of Fame
Inducted in the inaugural year of the Hall of Fame for producing the Custer Fair. 1992.
Masks exhibited at The Southern Ohio Museum Cultural Center. 1986.
Mask exhibited at Spertus College Museum, Chicago. 1986.
Emmy Award. Cast member of Emmy award-winning WBBM-TV show. “Beyond the Magic Door.” 1983.
Awarded full scholarship for M.A. program, Governors State U. 1972.
Awarded University Talent Grant at Valparaiso U. 1967.
Selected as member of the International Cultural Program of Valparaiso U. to study theatre at The Lancaster Polytechnic Faculty of Art and Design, Coventry England. 1967.
TEACHING SPECIALIZATIONS
Mime, Movement, Pantomime Blanche, Commedia dell’ Arte, Comedy, British Panto, European Clown, Mask Theater, Actor Training, Balinese Dance, and Anne Rudolph’s Movement Training Program.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Piccolo Theatre – Director of the Piccolo Theatre School. Designed program of studies and taught courses in Mask Theatre, Pantomime Blanche, commedia dell’Arte, British Panto, comedy, vaudeville, and burlesque. 1996-2014.
New Trier HS – Guest Artist. Taught workshops in commedia dell’ Arte. 1998-2017.
University of Chicago – Guest Artist in the Italian Language Dept.
Taught workshops in commedia dell’ Arte. 2012-2016.
Northwestern University – Guest Artist. Taught workshops in commedia dell’ Arte. 2012.
Loyola University Chicago. Taught course on movement for actors, including mask work, and commedia dell’ Arte. 2000.
Valparaiso University. Taught course on movement for actors. Elements included mask work, commedia dell’ Arte, psycho-physical training and corrective movement. 1997-8.
The School of the Actor’s Gymnasium – Faculty member. Teaching Mime, Movement and Theatre, and T’ai Chi Chuan. 1996.
Lifeline Theatre, Chicago, IL. Taught course in Arica techniques, Balinese Dance, Mudra and Mantra for production of “The Left Hand of Darkness.” 1994.
Lifeline Theatre, Chicago, IL. Taught course in commedia dell’ Arte, movement, physical conditioning, improvisation and teamwork. 1990.
Illustrated Theatre, Chicago, IL – Mask and Movement tutor. Taught mask making and performance skills in mime, and mask theatre. 1985-1988.
Basic Fools, Chicago, IL. Taught a course in Commedia dell’ Arte performance techniques. 1987.
Anathong Ensemble, Evanston, IL. Taught a course in physical conditioning, Neutral Mask, and stage movement. 1987.
Academy of Movement and Music, Oak Park, IL. – Faculty Member. Taught courses in Movement, Mime, Pantomime, Commedia dell’ Arte and Mask Theatre. 1982-86.
The Human Process, Inc. – Taught courses in physical training, interpersonal relations, stress management, meditation and concentration. 1981-83.
Halcyon Repertory Theater – Mime Tutor. 1980.
Chicago Council on Fine Arts – Tutor in movement to the Acting Co. 1978-80.
The Midwest Foundation of American Yoga and Performing Arts – Faculty Member. Taught courses in Mime and European Clown. 1979.
Governors State U., College of Cultural Studies – Artist-In-Residence. Taught master’s level courses in Mime and Movement. 1973-75.
Governors State U., College of Cultural Studies – Community Professor. Taught anthropology course on “Clowns and Shamans.” 1974.
Governors State U., College of Human Learning and Development – Community Professor.
Taught courses in “Alternative Learning Environments” and “Awareness Through Movement.” 1973-75.
Coventry Cathedral, Cross of Nails Center – Coventry, England. Taught courses in “Creative Dramatics.” 1972.
Lanchester Polytechnic Faculty of Art and Design, Coventry, England. Taught a course in “American Theater.” 1972.
Coventry Cathedral – Director of Teen Theatre. 1972.
Coventry Cathedral – Director of Indian and Pakistani Theatre. 1972
ACTING RESUME
PERFORMANCE SPECIALIZATION
Dramatic and comedic acting, mime, dance, pantomime, commedia dell’ arte, mask theatre, juggling, ballroom dance, magic and puppetry.
PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES
Lust, Lies, and Marriage, Directed by Antonio Fava, (Pulcinella), Piccolo Theatre, 2008.
Mr. Punch or Jack and the Blasé Bride, (Dame), Piccolo Theatre, 2005.
Jack and the Wild Goose Chase or Harlequin Hatched, (Dame), Piccolo Theatre, 2004
Mr. Punch or Jack and the Blasé Bride, (Dame, Butcher), Piccolo Theatre, 2002.
Cossi Fan Tutti, (Pulcinella), Lyric Opera, Chicago, IL, 1993.
Don Quichotte, (Arlequino), Lyric Opera, Chicago, IL, 1993.
Beauty and the Beast, Performance with the Chicago Symphony, (The Beast), 1988.
The Illustrated Theatre, an ensemble member of equity touring company, 1985 -1988.
L’ Histoire Du Soldat, (The Soldier), Ruth Page Foundation Theater, Chicago, IL, 1983.
The Lump Bros., with Ken Raabe. A nightclub, cabaret and circus enterprise since 1982.
Scenarios of the Old Commedia, (Pedrolino), The Halcyon Repertory Theater in residence at the University of Chicago, 1981.
Mandragola, (Nicia), The Halcyon Repertory Theater, Chicago, IL, 1980.
The Last Chance Circuz, Mask/Mime, European Clown Theater and commedia dell’ Arte. Chicago, New York, Milwaukee, 1978-80.
Charivari Circus, (Pierrot), Chicago Council on Fine Arts. High school and college tour, 1978-79.
Lines of Vision, (Karl), by Richard Foreman, Theater Strategy, St. Clemens Theater, N.Y., N.Y., 1976.
Day Old Bread, (Mozart), by Arthur Sainer, Theater For The New City, N.Y., N.Y., 1976.
Harlequinade, (Pantalone, Dotore, Capitano, and Jackie Ketch), Geoffrey Buckley’s Gelosi Commedia dell’ arte Company, Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, Parish Hall Theater, 1972.
Commedia dell’ Arte, (Pantalone), Geoffrey Buckley’s Commedia dell’ arte Mime Company, American Tour, 1971-2
Solar Mime Company, (Co-Founder), Performed contemporary comedy at The Rainbow Lounge, Coventry, England and at The Bulls, Otto’s, Wise Fools, and Orphan’s in Chicago. They were the featured act at the 1974 Popular Culture Convention
Prometheus Bound and Unbound, (Prometheus), Coventry Cathedral, Coventry, England, 1971.
The Divine Fool, (H. Mandamus Muchbucks), Coventry Cathedral, Coventry, England, 1971.
Archie and Mehitabel, (Multi-media Puppet Show), Lanchester Polytechnic Faculty of Art and Design, Coventry, England, 1971.
The Odd Couple, (Oscar), Wellman’s Bridge VU Theater, Valparaiso, IN, 1970.
A Delicate Balance, (Tobias), Wellman’s Bridge VU Theater, 1970.
Cabaret, (Ernst), Wellman’s Bridge VU Theater, 1970.
The Boyfriend, (Waiter & Chorus), Wellman’s Bridge VU Theater, 1970.
Don’t Drink the Water, (Kilroy), Wellman’s Bridge VU Theater, 1970.
Electra, (Tutor), Hull House Theater, Chicago, IL, 1968.
Barefoot in the Park, (Paul), The Masque Players, Lansing, IL, 1968.
The Fantastiks, (Mortimer), The Masque Players, 1968
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Geoffrey Buckley, Royal Shakespeare Co. – Mime, Commedia, Movement Jaques LeCoq – Mime, Commedia
Carlo Mazzoni-Clementi – Commedia dell’ Arte
Mummenshantz – Mask Theatre
Ronnie Davis, San Francisco Mime Troupe – Mime, Commedia
Anne Rudolph – Movement
DIRECTING RESUME
Bah, Humbug!, Tina and Robert Burbidge, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2012
Servant of Two Masters, Carlo Goldoni, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2011
Steel & Roses, A play written and performed by steelworkers, JobLink Learning Center, New York City. 2011.
Low Pay? Don’t Pay, Dario Fo, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2010
Steel & Roses, A play written and performed by steelworkers, JobLink Learning Center, Hammond, Indiana. 2009
Vaudeville and Vixens, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2009
Sinbad, Stuart Arden, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2007
Mistero Buffo, Dario Fo, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2007
Jack and the Wild Goose Chase, Ken Raabe, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2006
Mr. Punch or Jack and the Blasé Bride, Ken Raabe, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2005
Jack and the Wild Goose Chase, Ken Raabe, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2004
The Artful Widow, Carlo Goldoni, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2003
Scapin, Moliere, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2002
We Won’t Pay, We Won’t Pay, Dario Fo, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston, IL. 2001
The Servant of Two Masters, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, 1997. Selected by ACTF in Midwest Region.
The Left Hand of Darkness, Lifeline Theatre, 1995, Actor training, Balinese dance and mudra dance.
Pride and Prejudice, Lifeline Theatre, 1994. Choreography.
Chaos, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1989. Nominated for four Joseph Jefferso Citations and won one. Created, directed and acted in this production.
The Servant of Two Masters, Lifeline Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1988.
L’Histoire du Soldat, Academy of Movement and Music, and the DePaul School of Music, 1982
Scenarios of the Old Commedia, The Halcyon Repertory Theater. Residency at the University of Chicago, 1981.
The Comedy of Errors, Choreography. The Chicago Council on Fine Arts, Navy Pier, 1978.
Lines of Vision, Choreography. Theater Strategy, N.Y., 1976.
Rainbow Mime Show, Midwest Foundation of Performing Arts, Chicago, IL., 1978.
Charivari Circus, The Chicago Council on Fine Arts, 1978-79.
Lysistrata, Choreography. Governors State U., 1973.
A Coventry Happening, Coventry Cathedral, Coventry, England, 1971.
Electra, Hull House Theater, Chicago, 1968.
Make Believe, Hull House Theater, Chicago, 1968.
TV & FILM RESUME – Performance
Secret Circus, comedy series on Cablevision, Chicago, 1985-1986. Award winning show.
Beyond The Magic Door, 1983-84, CBS. Role of “Dan Farblundjet.” Given Emmy Award for this show.
The Lump Bros., One hour comedy special on Cablevision of Evanston, 1984.
Health Care Organization, Governors State U. Twenty-four part college tele-course.
Multiple roles and on-camera commentator. 1983.
Whys and Otherwise, “Commedia dell’ Arte,” NBC. Two part series, 1973.
Beyond The Magic Door, CBS. Puppeteer, 1982-83
Management Training, Deltak Corp. Mime Performance, 1983.
Northwestern U. Hospital Accreditation Document, Northwestern U. Multiple roles. 1982.
Good Touch-Bad Touch, R.I.C.S., Multiple roles, 1983.
The Joys of Self-Instruction, Instructional Communications Center, Governors State U. Multiple roles. 1975.
Directing
Star Crazies, an Ecological Space Opera, Oak Park, 1997. A puppet show that won the 1997 Public & Government Access Award for Performance Specials.
The Joys of Self-Instruction, ICC, Governors State U., 1975. Fortune in Men’s Eyes, Valparaiso U., 1971.
Writing
Good Touch-Bad Touch, R.I.C.S., 1983.
The Joys of Self-Instruction, ICC, Governors State U.
DANCE RESUME
L’Histoire Du Soldat, Ruth Page Foundation Theater. Produced by The Academy of Movement and Music and The DePaul School of Music. Additional performances at DePaul U., Academy of Movement and Music and The Oak Park Little Theater. Role of “The Soldier.” 1982
The Firebird, American Ballet Theater, Barishnakov Production, Chicago, Illinois, 1978.
Nutcrack Jazz, Chicago Dance Laboratory, 1978.
Windwaves, Chicago Dance Laboratory, 1978.
Alice Farley’s Surrealists Dance Theater, Northwestern U. 1977.
Trois Gnossiennes, New York U., 1976.
Undine, with Tina Shuster. Under the guidance of Anne Rudolph, Chicago, Illinois. 1977.
CREATIVE DRAMATICS RESUME
Star Crazies, an Ecological Space Opera, Oak Park, 1997. A puppet show that won the Public & Government Access Award for Performance Specials. Wrote & Directed. 1997.
Near North Montessori. Scenes from Shakespeare. Director. 1997.
Near North Montessori. The Princess Bride. Director. 1996.
Near North Montessori. Oliver. Director. 1996.
The Illustrated Theatre. This is an Equity touring company. Ensemble member and co- creator of shows. 1985-1988.
Chicago Council on Fine Arts. Artists-in-Residence Program. Director and performer in the Chicago Dance Laboratory’s mime program, Charivari Circus. Directed the Mime Times program that performed in 200 Day Care Centers and maintained a Residency Program at the Uptown YMCA Day Care Center. 1977-1979.
Governors State University. Taught a nine-week course in Mime- Movement-Creative Dramatics for fifty-five children. 1975.
Coventry Cathedral. Served as coordinator of Children’s Theater Project. Taught classes in creative dramatics to actors from mixed cultural backgrounds that resulted in the production of the play, A Coventry Happening. 1971.
Chicago Hull House. Taught creative dramatics and was director of theater for pre-teens and teenagers. Produced several plays with teen actors as part of regular Hull House Theater season. 1969.
Valparaiso University Children’s Theater. Taught creative dramatics, and produced plays. 1966-1968.
PUBLICATIONS
Chaos, an original play with world premier produced by Lifeline Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, Three Joseph Jefferson Award nominations. Chaos won Best Original Music Score. 1989.
Pierrot at Brighton, with Ken Raabe, Amazin’ Grace, Coventry Cathedral Press, 1971.
The Divine Fool, with Ken Raabe, Amazin’ Grace, Coventry Cathedral Press, 1971.
The Expression of Emotion in Public Spaces, Dr. Humphries, Kathy Kreidler, and John Szostek. 1968.
CORPORATE CLIENTS
Retained by these corporations to perform or design entertainments.
Ameritech
Allstate
Neiman-Marcus
Marshall Field & Co.
IBM
Field Museum
Mainliner Boats
Burson-Marstellar
Chicago Board of Trade
Brookfield Zoo
World Book
Patterson Co.
Chicago Symphony
Mumm’s Champagne
Allnet
Lennox Crystal
Shedd Aquarium
Museum of Science and Industry
Chicago Botanical Society
Goodman Theatre
Este Lauder
Chicago Council on Fine Arts
St. Francis Hospital
Deltak
The Bozo Show (Writer)
Chicago Cultural Center
Lizzadro Museum
Lyric Opera
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member of Actor’s Equity Association
Member of North American Acupuncture Society
Member of Arica Institute
Member of the T’ai Chi Foundation
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Served on the following committees at Governors State U.:
Creativity and Invention
Aesthetics Committee
Standing Committee on the Future Multi-Ethnic and Cultural Pluralism Committee
Other
City of Evanston TIF Community Oversight Committee
City of Evanston SSA Oversight Committee
President of Main Street Merchants Association
President of Tai Chi Foundation
Civic Arts Council of Oak Park, Member of the Board of Directors.
ARICA AND T’AI CHI
Certified to teach Hypergnostic Systems©, Domains Training©, Levels of Consciousness©, Doors of Compensation©, Zhikr©, Vortex Points©, Protoanalysis©, Chua Ka© and Advanced Psychocalisthenics©. Teacher with The School of T’ai Chi Chuan since 1985.
Chua Ka©, Chicago, IL. 1991.
Protoanalysis©, Chicago, IL. 1990.
Zhikr©, Chicago, IL. 1989.
The Doors of Compensation©, Chicago, IL. 1988.
Taught Advanced Psychocalisthenics© for the School of T’ai Chi Chuan, Bennington, Vermont. 1988.
Taught Advanced Psychocalisthenics© and Zhikr© for the School of T’ai Chi Chuan, Bennington, Vermont. 1987.
Taught Psychocalisthenics© and Kath Work© at Governors State U., The Foundation of American Yoga and Performing Arts, Kensho, The Body/Mind Center, The Academy of Movement and Music and The Old Vic Center for Performing and Variety Arts. 1975- 1983.
The Human Process, Chicago, Illinois, Served as Vice-President of Marketing. Served on teaching team and taught Zhikr©, Vortex Points©, Three Days to Kensho©, Open Path© and numerous Open Houses. Coordinated the Chicago Zhikr© Team that presented public performances at Governors State U. and The Chicago Cultural Center. 1981-83.
Kensho, Chicago, Illinois, Served on teaching staff and taught the Forty-Day Training©, Domains Training©, Zhikr© and numerous Open Houses. 1978-79.
Chicago Arica Teaching House, Taught twenty Open Houses and two Open Path© Trainings. Coordinated and taught thirteen Open Houses and an Open Path© Training at Governors State U. 1975.
COMPUTER SKILLS
Programming: FileMaker Pro
Applications: Adobe Creative Suite, FileMaker Pro, Microsoft Office, and Apple applications.
Platforms: Mac OS. Networking and security