The Professor

The Professor
Years Active	2011-Present
Directed by	Justin Davis (2010-2012) Michael Ferstenfeld (2013-Present)
Cast	Various

The Professor (full name: The Professor: Improv Inspired by Doctor Who) is a narrative improv troupe that presents improv in the style of the British science-fiction franchise Doctor Who.

Summary

While identical in concept to Doctor Who, the shows performed by The Professor don't occupy the exact same universe as Doctor Who. The central character is "The Professor", and no mention is made of specific Whoniverse villains.

In the first two seasons, no scenes ever occurred in TARDIS. Onstage, the exit of the TARDIS was represented by a free-standing blue door. In season two, this door could flip around to a non-blue side, and thus become a non-TARDIS door on the set.

Typically, one actor plays the Professor for a contiguous run of shows, with different actors playing (pre-determined) "companion" characters (or, in rare cases, pairs of companions) from week to week.

History

Prior to the founding of the troupe, the idea of "Improvised Doctor Who" had long been floating around in the improv community.[1] In June 2011, Justin Davis posted a facebook status inviting all interested parties to join him for an improv take on Doctor Who. The Professor then premiered at The Hideout Theatre on Thursday, June 23, 2011 as part of The Threefer, and played an 8pm show at the Hideout two days later.

Its first full run was a six-week set of Friday shows at The Institution Theater from October 14, 2011 to November 18, 2011. Its second run was at Salvage Vanguard Theater (produced by Gnap!), on Fridays and Saturdays from March 23, 2012 to April 21, 2012. In between runs, the troupe played one-off shows, including The TV Set in July 2012[2]

At the end of 2012, Justin Davis stepped down as director. At the start of 2013, Michael Ferstenfeld took over as director, and the troupe resumed performing one-off shows like The TV Set[3]. Ferstenfeld plans to incorporate scene-painting, the interior of the T.A.R.D.I.S., voice modulation, and eventually actual robots and aliens, drawing more influence from "classic" Doctor Who, 1963-1989, the years preceding Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat.

The Professor have announced a third run of shows at The Institution Theater in November.

Casts

"Season Zero"

The first two test shows in June 2010 featured Jordan T. Maxwell as the First Professor.

• Jordan T. Maxwell
• Justin Davis
• Karen Jane DeWitt
• Katie Thornton
• Mike Nystul

(Emily Breedlove rehearsed with the cast, but did not play in either show.)

Season One

The first run of shows, from October to November of 2011, featured Michael Ferstenfeld and Andrew Pish as the Second and Third Professors.

• Clay Towery
• Colin Bates
• Emily Breedlove
• Karen Jane DeWitt
• Katie Thornton
• Kayla Lane Freeman
• Lindsey Reeves
• Quinn Buckner

Season Two

The second run of shows, from March to April of 2012, introduced Peter Rogers and Karen Jane DeWitt as the Fourth and Fifth Professors, with Michael Ferstenfeld also reprising his take on the role.

• Clay Towery
• Colin Bates
• Emily Breedlove
• Katie Thornton
• Kayla Lane Freeman
• Lacy Shawn
• Lindsey Reeves
• Quinn Buckner
• Ryan Austin

Season Three

Season three will be on Saturdays at The Institution Theater in November 2012.

• Bridget Brewer
• Jeff Britt
• Lacy Shawn
• Michael Ferstenfeld
• Peter Rogers
• Quinn Buckner
• Steve Harwood

... with tech by Michael Yew.

Media

Season Zero

• Photoset by Michael Yew that includes their 6/23/11 performance in The Threefer.

Season One

• 10/14/11 performance:
  • Photoset by Roy Moore.
  • Video of the regeneration scene by Michael Ferstenfeld.
• 10/21/11 performance (1x03: "The Price of Periwinkles"):
  • Photoset by Roy Moore.
  • Video by Michael Ferstenfeld.
• 10/28/11 performance (1x04: "Are We Off-World Yet?"):
  • Video by Michael Ferstenfeld.
• 11/4/11 performance (1x05: "The Shapes We Draw"):
  • Photoset by Roy Moore.
  • Video by Michael Ferstenfeld.
• 11/11/11 performance:
  • Photoset by Roy Moore.
• 11/18/11 performance:
  • Photoset by Roy Moore.

Season Two

• 3/30/12 performance ("My Way"):
  • Photoset by Roy Moore.
  • Video by Michael Ferstenfeld.
• 4/20/12 performance ("All the World's a Stage?"):
  • Video by Peter Rogers.
• 4/21/12 performance (season two finale):
  • Video by Michael Ferstenfeld.
• 8/29/12 performance at The Institution:
  • Video by Peter Rogers.
• 9/29/12 performance at Improvaganza, in Honolulu ("The Empire of the Sea"):
  • Video by Michael Ferstenfeld.

Season 2½ (One-Offs)

• 1/18/13 performance at The TV Set.
  • Photoset by Michael Yew.
• 8/28/13 show at The 2013 Out of Bounds Comedy Festival:
  • Videos: story #1, story #2
  • Photoset by Roy Moore that includes the show.
• 9/29/13 show at Improvaganza in Honolulu
  • Casual photos by Peter Rogers.

More Information

• The troupe's web site.
• 2010 forum thread about improvising Doctor Who in Austin.
• Jordan T. Maxwell's show proposal for "Professor Why" for The Well Hung Jury Memorial Scholarship.
• Forum announcement of the premiere.
• Forum announcement of the second show.
• Cast announcement for season one.
• Cast announcement for season two.
• Show announcement for season two.
• A 2012 Tor.com blog story about season two.