Brian Posen

Acknowledged as one of the Chicago theater scene’s most influential contributors, Brian Posen has been involved for more than 25 years as a performer, a director, a producer, and an instructor. He has taught for 24 years at Columbia College Chicago, where he has received positive student reviews without exception. Beyond Chicago, Brian Posen has taught more than 10,000 students, from children to professionals, at such institutions as the Steppenwolf Theatre and Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Mr. Posen has also taught for 25 years at the famed comedy theater The Second City, where he has worked with students at all levels and in all divisions. Furthermore, as the theater’s program head, he has structured classes and performances that involve hundreds of students and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the theater annually.

He has led as the artistic director of Stage 773, where he manages all creative programming. Stage 773 plays host to The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, which Mr. Posen developed and founded in 2001. Under his continuing leadership as its executive producer, the festival draws 1,000 performers and more than 10,000 patrons for its two-week annual run. He stands out as the founder of the musical sketch group The Cupid Players and directs its open-run production, Cupid Has a Heart On, the city’s longest-running comedy show.