Author Profile: Mick Napier
Founder and visionary behind the acclaimed Annoyance Theatre, Mick Napier is known both nationally and internationally as an innovator and creative force in comedy, improvisation, and theater. His belief in the element of risk-taking that is at the core of improvisation influences his work and his direction, inspiring genuine creativity in any project with which he is involved.
With The Annoyance, Mick has spent more than twenty-five years developing and cultivating a style of work and production that has been both acclaimed and imitated. As a Director and Artistic Consultant for the internationally renowned Second City, he made his mark, having directed more than ten revues there including the fortieth and fiftieth anniversary revues, and Paradigm Lost, which earned him a Joseph Jefferson Award for Direction. Throughout his career, Mick has directed such high profile actors and writers as Aidy Bryant and Vanessa Bayer (Swear Jar), Tina Fey, Jason Sudeikis, and Stephen Colbert (The Second City), Martin Short (Martin Short & Friends), Jeff Garlin (I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With), and David and Amy Sedaris in their Obie Award-winning hit One Woman Shoe.
In film, Mick directed and edited Annoyance Productions’ first feature film, Fatty Drives the Bus, which was released by Troma Pictures in November 1999. For television, he was Writer/Performance Director for the Cable Ace nominated Exit 57, which aired on Comedy Central for two seasons and Creative Producer on the nationally syndicated sketch TV show The Sports Bar. His original animations have appeared on the cable programs Tame Show and R-Rated, as well as in the Chicago Comedy Film Festival.
As an actor, Mick has appeared in the films Ice Harvest, Let’s Go to Prison, Watch, and Talent, and on television was himself as a talent judge in the Canadian reality show Next Comedy Legend. The PBS-aired documentary Second to None chronicles Mick’s process of directing a show for The Second City. Mick has also worked with many companies and organizations over the past fifteen years in areas such as communication, collaboration, innovation, leadership, and presentation.
Mick’s hobbies include card magic, lock picking, Erector Sets, pocket billiards, and collecting lighters. He also enjoys performing a mentalist act with his partner, Jennifer Estlin.
Learn more about Mick Napier and The Annoyance Theatre here.
