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Once Upon A Time
ON A HOT SUMMER DAY
In July of 2016, improvisational actor Andrew Davies of The Bible Players fame, and tour guide Jonathan Goldstein of Cicerone Travel had a fateful meeting over macchiatos in a delightful Brooklyn cafe. The US Presidential election was underway, revealing the depth of division in modern times.
The two entrepreneurs discussed potential projects to apply their
respective talents in a world that seemed to be growing increasingly short on sensitivity, empathy, unity.
An idea was born to connect our audience to individuals from all walks of life through interactive theatrical walking experiences to engage with characters from history that might serve as an example of the great issues of our day.
We would introduce the experiences of immigrants, activists, reformers and dreamers to connect the American heritage of yesterday to the world we live in today. Thus, CharacTours combines the transformative power of immersive theater with the perspective shifting possibilities of historical tours.
Team
Meet Our Team
Andrew Davies | Executive Director / Co-Founder
Andrew S. Davies is an improviser, educator, tour guide, and facilitator based in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from Philadelphia, Andrew received a B.A. in English Literature from Brandeis University before moving to New York City in 2006. Andrew now lives in Brooklyn with his wife Molly.
Andrew studied acting with the Atlantic Theater Company and acted in and wrote several plays. His Climate change Musical "Blizzard the Wizard" was produced at the Off-Broadway theater Urban Stages. His Financial Fairytale Musical "The Goldenberg Scandal" was performed at The Drama Bookshop.
Andrew went on to study Improvisation at The Magnet Theater and received a certificate of Facilitation from Georgetown University. He volunteers leading workshops with Cherub Improv, a non-profit which provides laughs for those who need them the most.
In 2011 Andrew Co-Founded The Bible Players, a comedy team which is improv-ing Jewish Lives. The Bible Players have toured to 25 states, visiting hundreds of camps, schools, and synagogues teaching Jewish Values with a sense of humor. We walk softly and carry a big Shtick!
Andrew studied acting with the Atlantic Theater Company and acted in and wrote several plays. His Climate change Musical "Blizzard the Wizard" was produced at the Off-Broadway theater Urban Stages. His Financial Fairytale Musical "The Goldenberg Scandal" was performed at The Drama Bookshop.
Andrew went on to study Improvisation at The Magnet Theater and received a certificate of Facilitation from Georgetown University. He volunteers leading workshops with Cherub Improv, a non-profit which provides laughs for those who need them the most.
In 2011 Andrew Co-Founded The Bible Players, a comedy team which is improv-ing Jewish Lives. The Bible Players have toured to 25 states, visiting hundreds of camps, schools, and synagogues teaching Jewish Values with a sense of humor. We walk softly and carry a big Shtick!
Jonathan Goldstein | Tour Director / Co-Founder
Jonathan Goldstein has a classic New York City story: his great-grandfather came through Ellis Island and moved to the Lower East Side, his grandparents moved to the Bronx, his parents to Jersey, and now he lives in Brooklyn.
He first moved to NYC in 1999 to study History at Columbia, under Kenneth Jackson, the legendary professor of NYC's history. After a brief stint in finance, he took an epic 3-month backpacking trip through East Africa that ultimately landed him in Israel in 2006 to study an MA at Bar Ilan University in Land of Israel Studies and Archeology and the Ministry of Tourism's Guiding Course. Since 2009, he has been a tour guide in Israel working with a variety of clients including families, organizations, congregations, young professionals, pensioners, foodies, artists, activists, etc...
He currently operates a full-scale travel operation under the label Cicerone Travel in New York City, Central Europe, and Israel guiding the curious among us in an exploration of this crazy world we live in.
He first moved to NYC in 1999 to study History at Columbia, under Kenneth Jackson, the legendary professor of NYC's history. After a brief stint in finance, he took an epic 3-month backpacking trip through East Africa that ultimately landed him in Israel in 2006 to study an MA at Bar Ilan University in Land of Israel Studies and Archeology and the Ministry of Tourism's Guiding Course. Since 2009, he has been a tour guide in Israel working with a variety of clients including families, organizations, congregations, young professionals, pensioners, foodies, artists, activists, etc...
He currently operates a full-scale travel operation under the label Cicerone Travel in New York City, Central Europe, and Israel guiding the curious among us in an exploration of this crazy world we live in.
Zack Friedman | CharActor
Zack Friedman is an award-winning writer, performer, and teacher. His work has appeared in the New York International Fringe Festival, the Bleecker Street Theater, the DR2, The Kraine, 59 E 59, The Barrow Group Theater, Phillipstown Theatre, the June Havoc, and Bryant Park.
Zack has been teaching the Jewish youths of Manhattan since 2008. Zack holds a BA in Theater Arts & English from Brandeis University and is a graduate of the American Theater Wing's Springboard program, as well as a participant of the Einhorn School for the Performing Arts at Primary Stages.
Zack has been teaching the Jewish youths of Manhattan since 2008. Zack holds a BA in Theater Arts & English from Brandeis University and is a graduate of the American Theater Wing's Springboard program, as well as a participant of the Einhorn School for the Performing Arts at Primary Stages.
Eric Lockley | Harlem Tour Writer and CharActor
Eric Lockley is a Harlem-based actor, writer, filmmaker, public speaker and producer. As a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a double Major in Africana studies, Eric is most passionate about creating work that explores the complexity of identity through the lens of the often under-represented.
As an actor Lockley has been on both stage and screen, featured in plays by Tarrell Alvin McCraney, Marcus Gardley and Idris Goodwin, and in film and TV featured on HBO, BET and MTV.
Lockley also writes and performs solo work. Notable solo shows are Asking For More and Last Laugh. Asking For More encourages healthy nutrition and fitness habits in young people through comedy mixed with facts and a high-energy interactive performance. Visit his website for more information.
As an actor Lockley has been on both stage and screen, featured in plays by Tarrell Alvin McCraney, Marcus Gardley and Idris Goodwin, and in film and TV featured on HBO, BET and MTV.
Lockley also writes and performs solo work. Notable solo shows are Asking For More and Last Laugh. Asking For More encourages healthy nutrition and fitness habits in young people through comedy mixed with facts and a high-energy interactive performance. Visit his website for more information.
Lucy Lavely | CharActor
Lucy Lavely is an actress based in New York City. Originally from Connecticut, Lucy received her BA in Film, TV, and Theatre from the University of Notre Dame. She later earned her MFA in acting from Florida State's Asolo Conservatory for Actor training.
Lucy has acted on stages all over the North East including Baltimore's Center Stage, and Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, MA. Lucy helps run Drunken Shakespeare in New York, a show that makes Shakespeare accessible for everyone. She recently starred as Lady Macbeth in Monmouth and made her off broadway debut at 59 E 59 in New York City.
Lucy is excited to be joining CharacTours and furthering the mission of bringing history to life. To see more of Lucy's film work and to get in touch with her, visit her website at www.LucyLavely.com
Lucy has acted on stages all over the North East including Baltimore's Center Stage, and Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, MA. Lucy helps run Drunken Shakespeare in New York, a show that makes Shakespeare accessible for everyone. She recently starred as Lady Macbeth in Monmouth and made her off broadway debut at 59 E 59 in New York City.
Lucy is excited to be joining CharacTours and furthering the mission of bringing history to life. To see more of Lucy's film work and to get in touch with her, visit her website at www.LucyLavely.com
Dahlia Lopez Ramsay | Tour Guide
Dahlia Lopez Ramsay is a born and raised New Yorker hailing from the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Like most New Yorkers she is a descendent of immigrant grandparents – hailing from Jamaica and Puerto Rico – and revels in the unending diversity and contradictions of her city. Did you know the borough of Queens speaks over 170 languages and dialects? And that’s just Queens!
She holds a bachelors degree in Urban Studies and Planning and as an avid urban cyclist, has a endless, unmediated love for the ever-evolving organism better known as “the city”.
Dahlia’s goal is to make people miss being in New York before they even leave it and have their next trip to New York already envisioned. In the meantime, she’ll give your regards to Broadway.
She holds a bachelors degree in Urban Studies and Planning and as an avid urban cyclist, has a endless, unmediated love for the ever-evolving organism better known as “the city”.
Dahlia’s goal is to make people miss being in New York before they even leave it and have their next trip to New York already envisioned. In the meantime, she’ll give your regards to Broadway.
Dan Kitrosser | Board Treasurer
Dan Kitrosser is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and storyteller. His plays include Dead Special Crabs (The Barrow Group Theatre, monologues published by Smith & Kraus), Tar Baby (with Desiree Burch, Winner Fringe First Award--Edinburgh FringeFestival), The Mumblings (NY Fringe, published on IndieTheatreNow.com), and A Few Things Before I Leave You (O'Neill Conference semi-finalist).
For the screen, Dan co-wrote the forthcoming screen adaptation of Justin Torres’ novel We the Animals (dir. Jeremiah Zagar, Cinereach) for which he was a 2014 Sundance Screenwriting Fellow.
He is currently a TimeWarner 150 Fellow for his new television series The Move about white flight in 1980s West Philadelphia. Dan is the founding Artistic Director of Writopia Lab’s Worldwide Plays Festival (now in it’s 8th year!), a festival of plays written by teens and tweens from around the country, and he has twice been awarded a Gold Medal for Outstanding Educator by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. He currently splits his time between New York City and Portland, Oregon.
For the screen, Dan co-wrote the forthcoming screen adaptation of Justin Torres’ novel We the Animals (dir. Jeremiah Zagar, Cinereach) for which he was a 2014 Sundance Screenwriting Fellow.
He is currently a TimeWarner 150 Fellow for his new television series The Move about white flight in 1980s West Philadelphia. Dan is the founding Artistic Director of Writopia Lab’s Worldwide Plays Festival (now in it’s 8th year!), a festival of plays written by teens and tweens from around the country, and he has twice been awarded a Gold Medal for Outstanding Educator by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. He currently splits his time between New York City and Portland, Oregon.
Joey Blackburn | Board Chairperson
Joey Blackburn has worked in education for a decade, first leading staff trainings at Teach For America, before leaving to teach English in Thailand. While there she realized she had a passion for being in the classroom, so upon returning Joey became a New York City Teaching Fellow. She is currently a special education teacher in the Bronx.
Joey’s love for travel has taken her far from her small-town roots in Oklahoma, and she enjoys exploring the U.S. and abroad with her wife, Amy and their dog, Henry. Joey has a B.A. in Sociology from Oklahoma State University and a Masters in Education from Long Island University. She can be reached at RJoeyBlackburn@gmail.com
Joey’s love for travel has taken her far from her small-town roots in Oklahoma, and she enjoys exploring the U.S. and abroad with her wife, Amy and their dog, Henry. Joey has a B.A. in Sociology from Oklahoma State University and a Masters in Education from Long Island University. She can be reached at RJoeyBlackburn@gmail.com
Dan Fast | Board Secretary
Dan Fast is a senior consultant for CGI, a global technology and business consulting firm. Dan is specialized in organizational effectiveness, strategy, and project management, with a focus on helping companies successfully navigate and embrace change to improve their business outcomes. Dan’s current clients range from Fortune 100 life sciences companies to startup storytelling / communications firms. Prior to consulting, Dan was a non-profit professional serving the American Jewish community for over a decade. Dan holds a B.A. in English and Religious Studies from Lafayette College and is currently studying for his M.P.S. in Industrial / Labor Relations and Management from Cornell University.
When he is not working or studying, Dan can often be found playing or seeing music; hiking and traveling; consuming films and books; or attempting to write comedy. He lives in South Slope, Brooklyn with his wife, Jennifer, and can be reached at: dfast83@gmail.com
When he is not working or studying, Dan can often be found playing or seeing music; hiking and traveling; consuming films and books; or attempting to write comedy. He lives in South Slope, Brooklyn with his wife, Jennifer, and can be reached at: dfast83@gmail.com
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