Improvising as a Pianist and Music Director for Comedy Shows since 1973
A founding member of Catalyst Theatre in Edmonton, Jan joined Second City in 1980 and created shows with them in Toronto, Deerhurst, Edmonton and Santa Monica. He appeared as a border guard in SCTV with Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas to arrest Abbott and Costello for hash possession in the Midnight Express Special. Catherine O’Hara cowrote a song with Jan to open “For a Good Time Call …” which she directed. Other Second City actors he worked with include Mike Myers, Ron James, Bruce Perrie, Deb McGrath, Dana Anderson, Ryan Styles,and Richard Kind. His friend and understudy Bob Derkach succeeded him and held the job for over 25 years to become a legend in the industry.
He appeared in over a hundred productions with various companies in the Edmonton Fringe including Die-Nasty, Three Dead Trolls, the Crumbs, Rapid Fire Theatre, and Rocket Sugar Factory. Six seasons of CBC Radio’s The Irrelevant Show featured over 50 original song parodies in different styles including Pavarotti, Julie Andrews, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Elvis, Prince, and Johnny Cash. As Music Director for the Banff International Television Awards he performed with John Cleese, Steve Allen, Dame Edna, Bob Newhart, Martin Short, and Steve Smith. Since moving to Victoria in 2014, he has performed with Paper Street Theatre and Garden City Comedy as well as headlining concerts of his own brand of Randy Newman/Tom Waits inspired original songs.
Jan Randall 