Duck's Breath Mystery Theatre
The screwball COMEDY TEAM: Duck's Breath Mystery Theatre, was formed in 1975 in Iowa City by Bill Allard, Dan Coffey, Merle Kessler, Leon Martell, and Jim Turner, and moved west to San Francisco a year later with their lively theatrical "new vaudeville”, bizarro recycled costumes, odd props and flying non-sequiturs.
With the help of longtime manager Steve Baker, the troupe has entertained crowds in venues all across the country, ranging from small coffee houses to sellout performances at Minneapolis' Guthrie Theatre and New York City's Bottom Line.
The THEATRICAL TROUPE also became known for sketches on PUBLIC RADIO. Some of their characters achieved renown, including acerbic mile-a-minute sneer artist/pundit Ian Shoales (Kessler) and Q&A expert Dr. Science (Coffey), who claims "there's a thin line between ignorance and arrogance, and only I have managed to erase that line.”
Jim Turner’s hippie/folkie character Randee of the Redwoods became a cult figure, including a 1988 run as MTV’s "official" candidate for President, complete with a star-studded nominating convention.
The troupe no longer performs live sketches together but continues to work on radio, television, film, and stage projects individually and collectively.
With the help of longtime manager Steve Baker, the troupe has entertained crowds in venues all across the country, ranging from small coffee houses to sellout performances at Minneapolis' Guthrie Theatre and New York City's Bottom Line.
The THEATRICAL TROUPE also became known for sketches on PUBLIC RADIO. Some of their characters achieved renown, including acerbic mile-a-minute sneer artist/pundit Ian Shoales (Kessler) and Q&A expert Dr. Science (Coffey), who claims "there's a thin line between ignorance and arrogance, and only I have managed to erase that line.”
Jim Turner’s hippie/folkie character Randee of the Redwoods became a cult figure, including a 1988 run as MTV’s "official" candidate for President, complete with a star-studded nominating convention.
The troupe no longer performs live sketches together but continues to work on radio, television, film, and stage projects individually and collectively.