Detour: Opening Instructor Performance

David Charles

David Charles, PhD, works as a professional improvisational practitioner, deviser, author, and improv scholar. A New Zealander by birth, David has called central Florida home since 2003, where he has served as a Professor of Theatre and Dance, Departmental Chair, Producing Director of the historic Annie Russell, and Founding Artistic Director of Rollins Improv Players at Rollins College. He is a former Equity improviser with Walt Disney World’s Comedy Warehouse and a proud ensemble member, instructor, and director at the region’s preeminent improv venue, Sak Comedy Lab. His Improv Dictionary: An A to Z of Improvisational Terms, Techniques, and Tools with Routledge hits the shelves in April. Original improvisational works include: (Your) Opera in a Trunk, Variations on a Theme, The Lost Comedies of William Shakespeare, Upton Abbey: An Improvised Comedy of English Manors, Murder We Wrote, and Lights Up: The Improvised Rock Opera. For more about David's career and projects, and to access his comprehensive online Game Library, visit www.improvdr.com.

Jonathan Pitts

Jonathan Pitts is an award-winning international improv theatre artist and storyteller. He's performed and/or taught in 26 countries and 104 cities. He's the former Executive Director of Chicago Improv Productions; Co-Founder/Producer - Chicago Improv Festival; Creator/Producer - College Improv Tournament; Founder/Producer - Teen Comedy Fest; Founder/Producer - Chicago Podcast Festival; Creator/Director of improv theatre productions The Oracle; The Silent Movie; and Storybox Theatre. He taught, coached, and directed at The Second City Training Center for 16 years. He’s a contributing writer to Anne Libera's book, "The Second City Improv Almanac''. He’s written the forward to two books on improv: Improv Shaman and On Directing Improv. He’s been interviewed for several improv books and has been a guest on many podcasts. He’s also the narrator for the feature film He Went That Way which will be released worldwide in September 2023. 

Website: www.globalimprovwalkabout.com

Shaun Landry

Shaun Landry founded The Ledge Theatre in Los Angeles, which does improvisation, sketch, poetry, and storytelling and is more geared specifically to diversity in theater.  She was a member of The Second City Chicago, Geese Theatre Company (drama therapy in prisons and penitentiaries), and Co-Founded The San Francisco Improv Festival.  She performs with improv and life partner Hans Summers as Landry and Summers.  As a SAG Actor, she can be seen in the movies Milk, Read You Like A Book, and BAD CGI SHARKS.  She can be read in the book Whose Improv Is It Anyway? Beyond The Second City about diversity in improvisational theater.

Fred Brown

Fred Brown graduated from the Pig Iron School / University of the Arts in Philadelphia with an MFA in Devised Performance. Before that, he was a Latin and Greek teacher with an undergraduate degree in Classical Philology from Harvard University. He has performed, directed, and coached improv comedy since 2013.

Fred has performed at improv festivals in the US and Canada. He performed weekly improv comedy shows in Philadelphia for six years, mostly with the teams The Future and Dream Tank. Fred taught improv at the Philly Improv Theater to beginners looking to expand their horizons and advanced improvisers looking to hone their craft.

Fred has accompanied improv groups with live, musical accompaniment. He has composed songs for podcasts, theatrical productions, independent films, and short comedic web sketches. He was once paid to recite Duchamp’s manifesto in a men’s bathroom at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He now works as a freelance facilitator, trainer, and team coach, focused on collaborative skills and applied improvisation. He is based out of Pittsburgh PA. 

Ryan Goodwin

Ryan Goodwin is a 28-year old, Orlando-based musician whose current credits include music director & keyboardist for bands such as Wish Radio and Queen K & the Vibe; music director at SAK Comedy Lab; and performing at Universal Studios Orlando. He is the former keyboardist of Raspberry Pie and has composed for musicals seen at the Orlando Fringe Festival, including Buggin' Out: A Small Musical (2018), and Ladies Room: The Musical (2019). 

Since 2010, he has been producing electronic music under the name Metablip, and has releases on Spotify & Bandcamp. His latest project, Goon Reunion, is also now on Spotify and other streaming platforms.