Who We Are
J Chachula is a professional teacher, actor, and director. He is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and received his Meisner training from Larry Silverberg. He studied improvisation with Transactors Improv Company and spent two years touring with the group. More recently he improvised with the celebrated foursome Third Date, directed by Dan Sipp. He currently directs Open Mind's first longform improv group The Novelty. J has acted in and directed productions with On The Roof, Fallen Rose, Raleigh Ensemble Players, Temple Theater, Justice Theater Project, Exit Through Eden and has performed for kids with Little Big and Raleigh Little Theatre. He has managed, directed, written and acted for the NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Nature Fun Theatre. In the corporate world, he has two decades experience acting in industrial videos and using theatrical techniques, improvisation and live role-play to train employees in more effective communication.
Dan Sipp is a North Carolina native with over 35 years of professional experience as a performer, director and educator. He studied improvisational theater in Chicago with some of the leading names in the field and taught for the ImprovOlympic before heading up his own improv training center in Raleigh, NC. He is now the Standardized Patient Training Coordinator for Duke University School of Medicine.
He also co-founded the Medical Improv Collaborative, a national organization of health care trainers integrating theater exercises into the medical humanities. As a corporate trainer, he has led sessions for Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Rolls Royce and NASA.
Dana Marks is an international performer, theatre teacher and director, whose training includes an MFA in Acting from the American Repertory Theatre/Moscow Art Theatre institute for Advanced Theatre Training @ Harvard University. As managing director and resident actor of Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern (2005-2019), Dana helped shepherd new, dream-like, unconventional works to Durham, NC’s off-road and odd-ball environs for 15 years. Dana has also performed locally with Manbites Dog Theater, Theatre Raleigh, and Playmakers Repertory Theatre. As a vocalist/choreographer, Dana spent 8 years crafting unforgettable harmonies and dynamic, unpredictable physical stage performances with Curtis Eller’s American Circus. She spent 12 years in the Theater Studies Department of Duke University teaching acting and movement and has taught theatre classes and directed for NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, Playmakers Acting Training Program, and in addition to her continued pursuit of such projects, Dana also teaches Pilates and wellness in her home base, Durham, NC.
Jerome Johnson is a thirty-year professional educator in communication and theatre arts. His instructional resume includes public speaking, interpersonal communication, acting, and storytelling. Mr. Johnson has given thousands of presentations to civic organizations, corporations, and educational institutions. He is grateful for the many opportunities he has been given to speak and share his ideas. It is through these opportunities that he has learned many of the ins and outs of public speaking.
