{"id":109143,"date":"2026-02-21T07:06:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T12:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=109143"},"modified":"2026-02-21T07:06:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T12:06:45","slug":"russ-the-big-guy-enters-4th-year-of-teaching-free-fun-shops-and-celebrates-continued-success-in-former-cinema-saver-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2026\/02\/21\/russ-the-big-guy-enters-4th-year-of-teaching-free-fun-shops-and-celebrates-continued-success-in-former-cinema-saver-building\/","title":{"rendered":"Russ the BIG Guy Enters 4th Year of Teaching Free \u2018Fun Shops\u2019 and Celebrates Continued Success in Former Cinema Saver Building"},"content":{"rendered":"

What started as a local passion project of Russell Swanger, AKA Russ The BIG Guy, at the Vestal Library has officially evolved into a community staple. Russ is proud to announce the start of the fourth year of providing free improv “FUNshops” to the public.<\/p>\n

Led by “Russ the Big Guy,” these workshops began three years ago in Vestal. <\/span><\/p>\n

The program\u2019s rapid growth and popularity quickly led the group to outgrow its original space, according to Russ, eventually finding a permanent home in the iconic former Cinema Saver\/Burt’s Department Store building, located at 9 Madison Ave. In Endicott, New York.<\/p>\n

\"Russ<\/a>

\u201cRuss the BIG Guy\u201d is pictured with the Puzzled Players cast and audience volunteers during a previous workshop. Photo provided.<\/p><\/div>\n

Russ The BIG Guy is doubling down on his commitment to the community. “When we started in Vestal, I just wanted to share the joy of improv,” said Russ. “I never imagined we\u2019d outgrow our space and end up in a landmark like the former Cinema Saver building. Starting a fourth year of free Fun Shops is my way of saying ‘thank you’ to the community that helped us grow.”<\/p>\n

Russ invites everyone, from total beginners to seasoned performers, to join him every Wednesday for Free Improv FUNShops from 6:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no registration; just arrive when you can and participate as you like. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThese sessions focus on confidence, quick thinking, and, most importantly, fun,\u201d said Russ.<\/p>\n

For more information or to see a full schedule of additional events, visit http:\/\/www.puzzledplayersimprov.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What started as a local passion project of Russell Swanger, AKA Russ The BIG Guy, at the Vestal Library has officially evolved into a community…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":109145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-109143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nRuss the BIG Guy Enters 4th Year of Teaching Free \u2018Fun Shops\u2019 and Celebrates Continued Success in Former Cinema Saver Building - Owego Pennysaver Press<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2026\/02\/21\/russ-the-big-guy-enters-4th-year-of-teaching-free-fun-shops-and-celebrates-continued-success-in-former-cinema-saver-building\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Russ the BIG Guy Enters 4th Year of Teaching Free \u2018Fun Shops\u2019 and Celebrates Continued Success in Former Cinema Saver Building - 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