Sam Sanders
(he/him)
Washington Improv TheaterSam sees comedy as one of the purest forms of play. Who doesn’t want connection with a side of laughter?
Sam started his improv training at WIT and DC Improv. He loves using comedy to talk about challenging topics. Sam has created multiple improv shows. His first, “Help, There is a Dragon in My Office,” features mythical characters performing everyday human jobs while discovering what it means to “fit in.” His second show, “Living Out of this World,” explores how a peculiar alien species creates government, industry, and connection. Across stand-up and improv, Sam has performed on the stages of the WIT, Gotham Comedy Club, and DC Improv. Sam is currently working towards the creation of new shows, ultimately looking to tackle difficult topics like democracy, how influence spreads, and belonging.
Sam explores creativity and play in other aspects of his career. He is the author of Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving, a nonfiction book that explains the process of coming up with an entrepreneurial idea. You can find his written work about play, policy, and science in the WSJ, LA Times, Boston Globe, and Smithsonian Magazine. Sam runs the operations at a board game company, North Star Games. He has co-designed a board game expansion, Paint the Roses: The Cheshire Kitten. Sam has taught entrepreneurship at The University of the District of Columbia. He is currently working on a book looking at how play can be used to reduce conflict diplomatically. For fun, Sam knows way too much about roller coasters and, as a kid, dreamed of being a ride designer. He loves to watch and play team handball, which many people recognize from gym class, but he promises it is a serious, fantastic sport – it is in the Olympics! He also loves escape rooms, adrenaline-filled travel, and joyful music.