Improvising Piano and writing Songs

A founding member of Catalyst Theatre in Edmonton in the early 1970’s, Jan joined Second City in 1980 and was a Music Director and song composer for their theatres in Toronto, Santa Monica, Edmonton and the legendary Deerhurst Lodge.

Catherine O’Hara and Jan collaborated on a song to open Edmonton’s first Second City show, “For a Good Time Call …” which Catherine also directed. At that time Jan also 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.

Jan worked with many other celebrities who got their start at Second City including Mike Myers, Ron James, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Styles,and Richard Kind. His friend and musical understudy Bob Derkach succeeded him and continued there for over 25 years.

Jan’s career improvising music for comedy theatre continued with over a hundred productions at the Edmonton Fringe including Die-Nasty, Three Dead Trolls, the Crumbs, Rapid Fire Theatre, and Rocket Sugar Factory.

More recently, Jan anchored the music for six seasons of CBC Radio’s The Irrelevant Show with over 50 original song parodies in a slew of different musical styles. Favorites included 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.