Cast, etc.
Douglas O'Neil, Jr.
Company Chairman and Founder
Improvisation Troupe Director
Premiere Level Improvisor
Writer
Education, etc. Instructor
Douglas, a Birmingham native, holds a degree in Theatre with a concentration in Performance from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. As a student, he toured for three years with the UAB Shakespeare Ensemble, performing selections from various plays in high schools throughout the state. He began his career as a professional improvisor when he became a member of the now-defunct improv troupe torrential downplay in 2000. Upon joining the td cast, he received training from td's Founder and Artistic Director, Catherine Pfitzer, and a team of professional improvisors - some of whom remain with him as members of the Extemporaneous Theatre Company. Douglas collaborated on a variety of projects as a performer, writer, and the troupe's Associate Producer. His writing credits include the hit murder mystery "Death of a Death Insurance Salesman of Death" as well as being a contributing author for the soap opera farce "Scandal Schmandal," and the 2001 Memphis Comedy Festival production of "Purgatory!"
After torrential downplay ceased operation in 2003, Douglas joined td alums J'Mel Davidson, Christopher Davis, and Aaron White along with Matt Carter to form The Feminist Debutante Guild - an improv and sketch comedy troupe. Since 2004, the FemDebs have been bringing Birmingham strange entertainments like "Kind Them with Killness" and the improvised after-school special "UNTOLD: The Untold Story - TOLD!" In 2007, Douglas directed the FemDebs' world premiere production of J'Mel's "I'll Make You Love Me," an original monologue show.
Douglas continues to be a part of the scripted-theatre scene in Birmingham, too, appearing with MUSE OF FIRE: Shakespeare at Sloss as Pistol in "Henry V," and a gravedigger in the famous scene from "Hamlet" at the 2007 Fall Showcase Benefit. ETC collaborated with MUSE for the Spring 2009 production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and several of our cast members filled in the roles of the Rude Mechanicals with Douglas leading the charge as Peter Quince. In September, 2008, Douglas appeared in Birmingham Festival Theatre's 5 star production of the memoir "Tuesdays with Morrie" as the author, Mitch Albom. "Tuesdays with Morrie" went on to be named one of the top ten theatre productions in Birmingham for 2008 by Alec Harvey of The Birmingham News.
Douglas is also a Workshop Instructor for the "Education, etc." program. During the Spring of 2008, he taught two separate improvisation workshops for the theatre classes at Mortimer Jordan High School in Morris, AL, as well as helping out with the running crew for the school's spring musical, Bye Bye, Birdie. For Fall 2009, Douglas is working with the fine folks at Midfield High School in the hopes of bringing the magic of improv to another local school.
