2023 FST Improv Cast Shot
FST Improv
FST Improv
FST IMPROV (Sarasota, FL) Sarasota’s original anti-depressant. FST Improv is the place to go when you’re looking for some fun, need reminding that everyone is nuts, or have nowhere else to go. Inspired by audience suggestions, FST Improv creates characters and sketches completely on the spot. No one – not even the performers themselves – knows what is going to happen next. It is this element of the unknown that makes every FST Improv show unique, and what makes for some of the most exciting moments onstage.
The Cast
Kevin Allen
Tayler Bungo
Christian Corpora
Sylvia Day
Sarah Durham
Darryl Knapp
Will Luera
Sal Piccolo
Autumn Steiner
Danielle Trzcinski
Matt Walker
Shawn McWhinnie
KEVIN ALLEN is a writer, videographer, content creator and actor. He moved to Sarasota from Chicago, where he studied and performed improvisation at iO and The Second City. He earned theatre and English degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he was a member of the legendary Comedy Wars ensemble. Kevin is also a writer and performer in the FST sketch group and was a contributing writer for the 2022 FST Cabaret production, Laughing Matters.
TAYLER BUNGO is an actor, writer, and storyteller. She’s returned to Florida’s Gulf Coast after most recently living in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied and performed at Improv Asylum and ImprovBoston. Tayler has done storytelling for The Moth’s StorySLAM competition and was part of the first all-female/non-binary musical sketch team at Gold Comedy called Bloomsday. She now performs with FST Improv, including FST’s musical improv cast, Treble in Paradise, and a couple indie teams in St. Petersburg, FL.
CHRISTIAN CORPORA is an actor, improviser, and writer, who trained at Groundlings and UCB in Los Angeles. Christian once famously starred as a barista in a regionally-airing vision insurance commercial from which he was ultimately cut (but that’s show biz, baby). He credits That’s So Raven with his love of character-based comedy. Christian has proudly never been voted out of Survivor.
SYLVIA DAY is an international actor, writer and character comedian. Previously she lived in Switzerland where she founded and directed Zurich’s first English-speaking improv troupe. Her improv and sketch comedy training includes The Second City (Chicago), UCB (New York), and Showstoppers (London). She has performed her original solo shows around the world including Off-Broadway and the SaraSolo Festival, and has had leading roles at Asolo Rep. sylvia-day.com
SARAH DURHAM is a comedian and writer from Campbellsville, Kentucky, raised on Mel Brooks and Billy Graham. She is the Head Writer for FST Sketch and is the Improv Associate for FST Improv. At FST, Sarah is the Executive and Artistic Assistant to the Managing Director and is a writer for the Cabaret Stage and Children’s Theatre. Some of her recent credits include Cinderella, Laughing Matters, and Deck the Halls. She hopes to continue to write joy into people’s lives.
DARRYL KNAPP is an avid Tampa Bay Rays fan. Darryl has been an improviser for over 25 years and has studied with many of the greats and institutions worldwide. He is a sometime teacher of improv in the Tampa Bay area. Originally from Westchester County, NY, he now hails from Wesley Chapel, a mere 80 miles north of FST. Affectionately known as "The Mayor of Improv" in the community.
WILL LUERA is the Director of Improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre, Director of Big Bang Improv, and serves as the Artistic Director Emeritus of ImprovBoston. He is the co-creator of Healing Moments for Alzheimer’s, a non-profit organization that provides education, advocacy, and ministry for persons with dementia and their caregivers. He sits on the board of CreArte Latino, a Latino-centric cultural community center in the Sarasota area. Will tours globally as an improv comedy actor, instructor, director and performs and teaches regularly all across North America, South America, Europe and Asia.
SAL PICCOLO got started in comedy on a dare. Originally a sports broadcasting major, Sal hosted and produced The Sports Cellar on AM radio right here in Sarasota. After failing miserably at stand-up comedy, he moved to Chicago, where he discovered his love of improv. Having studied at The Second City Conservatory, iO theater, Annoyance Theater, pH theater, and Theatre Momentum as well as many workshops and festivals, Sal is a student first.
AUTUMN STEINER was a comedy late bloomer, discovering FST during a quarter-life crisis. Now she’s a member of the FST Improv and On-Deck Sketch casts and dabbles in storytelling and acting. She played Lisa in the short film Barely Inspired, which had its world premiere at the 2019 Sarasota Film Festival. She is working on a collection of personal essays titled Sweet Face, Black Heart—something a priest once said to her.
DANIELLE TRZCINSKI is a Florida-based actress and writer who recently moved from NYC back to her hometown - St. Petersburg, Florida! Favorite roles include the Map in Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer On Tour as well as Anastasia Steele in Spank! The Fifty Shades of Grey Parody. She also cowrote, produced, and starred in the girls night out musical comedy Little Black Dress! which played 26 cities on tour. daniellet.org
MATT “MW” WALKER is a multi-talented artist and contemporary comedian who hosts the weekly improv podcast, Little Bits and Pieces, with his long-form improv group Wallares. Since 2009, he and his group continue to produce independent comedy shows all over Florida, perform in countless festivals and shows all over the country, write for TV/film and teach improv classes using their unique sensibilities. To see what he’s gotten himself into on any given day, it’s best to follow him and his group at mwwalker.net and/or at wallares.com. The crowds at FST are his favorite in the country!
SHAWN MCWHINNIE was first introduced to improv at the University of Florida, performing numerous shows for the college campus with UF’s improv troupe, Theatre Strike Force. At UF, he also was a part of the sketch comedy troupe Generation. After a brief hiatus to pursue his career as a pharmacist, Shawn began taking improv classes at FST and is glad to be back on stage performing improv for Sarasota audiences.
Festival Workshops
Dive into your own spontaneity with Sarasota Improv Festival Workshops! Our offerings allow you to learn from the experts with intimate trainings led by Festival artists from across the country and around the world. Featuring workshops in a wide range of improvisational styles and techniques, there is something for improvisers of all experience levels at the 2023 Sarasota Improv Fest. All workshops take place Saturday, July 22.