Dr. John Mayer. Dr. Mayer is the chair of the theater department at California State University in Stanislaus, CA. He is a former student of Paul Sills, Sheldon Patinkin, Alan Arkin and Del Close, and studied acting at Steppenwolf Theatre company with John Malkovich. Dr. Mayer is a coordinator for the California Summer Arts Festival, and recruited hundreds of actors and artists to study with Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Style Comedy, Second City, and sketch comedy writing. Recorded at CSU Monterey Bay, home of the California Summer Arts Festival.