John Thurner

As a youth during a school field trip, John was fortunate to see the legendary "Mickey Rooney" on stage at the now defunct, Drury Lane Theatre South in Evergreen Park, Illinois which became a spark that spurred his initial interest in theater. Soon after while residing in the "East Side" neighborhood of Chicago, watched as "John Belushi" and "Dan Ackroyd" filmed their scenes, prior to the stunt men taking over to jump the 95th street bridge in "The Blues Brothers". This interest became a passion and was cemented in his heart, when working on the set of the hit TV show "Early Edition", he had the chance to meet and work with another legend "Ernest Borgnine". John has had the privilege and pleasure of studying under the tutelage of "Dennis Zacek", long time former artistic director at regional Tony award winning "Victory Gardens Theater" in Chicago as well as with "William J. Norris, Ruth Landis and Rob Riley". Also John has trained at the Steven Ivcich Studios with: Steven Ivich, Peter Amster, Sandra Grand, Cecilie Keenan and Sandy Shinner. Ted Sarantos at the Sarantos Studios. He studied film and theater at Columbia College Chicago and theater at Roosevelt University in Chicago.