ColdTowne Theater

Master improv with this one weird trick!  This is what the improv professionals don’t want you to know! You’ll never believe these improv hacks! Clickbait headlines to get you to sign up for this class!

All kidding aside, whether your improv goal is solid storytelling or pure comedy chaos, many beginner and intermediate improvisers find that their ability to execute quality scene work can be frustratingly inconsistent.

But here’s the thing that people who have been at this a long time already know: improv only feels hard because we make it too complicated. Good scene work isn’t a mystery, and it never has to feel like work. This playful workshop geared for all skill levels focuses on improv’s secret “cheat codes” – tactics and tricks that will allow us to get out of our heads, simplify things, and make every single one of our scenes fun to watch and fun to be in.

MICHAEL JASTROCH is a comedic actor, writer, and improv instructor, formerly based out of Austin, TX, and presently living his “Van Life” dream of traveling the country and working out of Walmart Parking lots. 

As one of the founders of ColdTowne Theater and a member of the seminal improv groups ColdTowne and the Frank Mills, Michael has won several awards for his work, including “Best Comedy Group ” in the Austin Chronicle Reader’s poll and the B. Iden Payne award for “Outstanding Improv Ensemble.” His improv and sketch comedy podcast Victrola! was named one of Austin’s “Best Comedy Podcasts” and nominated by Austin Chronicle readers as one of the city’s best comedy groups.

Michael has taught improv comedy for the last seventeen years and has been nominated and won “Best Improv Teacher” and “Best Improv Coach” a whole bunch. He’s taught his improv workshops all over the country, including at the Magnet Theater in NYC, the Oberlin College Improv Festival, The Oklahoma Improv Festival, the Phoenix Improv Festival, The Dallas Comedy Fest, The Alaska State Improv Fest, and the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival in Chapel Hill.