Michael's Info
Yichao is an writer and actor living in Los Angeles. He has trained with Second City: LA and Jet City Improv in Seattle, and has performed with and led troupes in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Seattle. His improv shows have been part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Vancouver Fringe Festival, and has performed at improv festivals around the world. His troupe Tall Grande Venti won the National College Improv Tournament in 2014. Yichao also teaches improv workshops and master classes, and has been a featured instructor with Jester'Z Improv (Phoenix), Leela Theater (San Francisco), As-If Improv Festival (Juneau), Jet City Improv (Seattle), California Institute of the Arts (Los Angeles), and Arizona State University (Tempe).When not on the improv stage, Yichao is a narrative designer for League of Legends (Riot Games). Past work includes narrative design for Guild Wars 2 (ArenaNet) and Magic: the Gathering (Wizards of the Coast). Yichao was also a staff writer for a Chinese sitcom, a consultant and contract writer for Disney Imagineering, and narrative lead for Rhetroactive, a boutique themed entertainment design company.
In addition to his work in themed entertainment and games, Yichao is a nationally recognized playwright, with awards and recognition from the National Playwriting Conference (Finalist, 2014, Semi-Finalist, 2010, 2011, 2013) and the Kennedy Center (KCACTF Award Winner 2011-2014).