David Knoell, who received his M.F.A. in Acting in 2006 from the University of Central Florida, has been accepted to the Directing Program at The Second City, the leading improv-based sketch comedy company. The competitive program is a year-long intensive program that will have Knoell teaching classes, working as the assistant director for mainstage shows, directing his own shows, and eventually working with tour companies.
Knoell is also appearing on The Second City, etc. stage with the group “Friends with an Asterisk” in a show entitled Pigs to the Trough. For the past few months, the group has been improvising and writing sketches with Second City directors, and now, under the tutelage of the legendary Michael Gellman (a director of The Second City since 1980), the sketches are being produced on stage.
While in Orlando, Knoell participated in productions of Dinner with Friends, Three Sisters, God’s Country, and The Marriage of Bette and Boo. In addition to studying at UCF, he interned with Mad Cow Theatre and created and directed the improvisational troupe, “The Derelict Toys.”