Mike Davenport, Director
 Magic Jester Theater

 magicjestertheater@gmail.com


Michael Davenport is the founder and director of Magic Jester Theater in Oakland. He teaches and performs Chicago-style long form improvisational theater, focusing on creating strong characters, deep connections between scene partners, and scenes that are funny and moving.

Michael produces monthly variety shows at the Temescal Arts Center, featuring Magic Jester's three house improv troupes and guest musicians. Magic Jester's improv troupes have also performed around the Bay Area at the Pregames in San Francisco and at Moment's Notice in Berkeley, and have opened for KT Comedy, Futurestyle 79 and the People's Republic of Improv.

Before launching Magic Jester Theater, Michael studied and performed in the Chicago improv scene for ten years, including performances at Second City, the Annoyance Theater, Improv Olympic and the Playground. A highlight of that time was putting together an improv troupe called Melange that performed for six weeks at Second City.

His greatest influence as an improviser and improv teacher is Mick Napier, founder of the Annoyance Theater and director at Second City, with whom he studied for four years. He has also studied Meisner acting technique with Kathy Scambiatterra at The Artistic Home in Chicago, and has studied bringing physicality to scripted work with James Wagner at Berkeley Rep School of Theatre.