Improv Classes
From ColdTowneTheater
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| Monday February 1st at 7:00p -- Take an introductory improv class for FREE! |
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| Attn: Austin! Improv 1002 classes begin Tuesday, March 16th at 6pm or Saturday, March 20th at 1pm. Click here to register! |
| Sketch Level 1002 starts Sunday, March 21st at 1pm! Register here! |
Why Improv?
Improv builds confidence, improves public speaking, increases spontaneity, fosters creativity, and -- most importantly -- is fun. Whether you’re interested in a career in comedy or just looking for something wildly entertaining to do with your free time, our classes can help.
Why ColdTowne?
The ColdTowne Conservatory is the only Chicago-style long-form improv school in Austin. Our classes are based on the improv theories developed by Del Close, who trained such comedy luminaries as John Belushi, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, the Upright Citizens Brigade, and countless others.
ColdTowne classes are fun, relaxed, and open to people of all backgrounds. It doesn't matter if you have any prior performance experience -- the ColdTowne Conservatory will take care of you.
Instructors at the ColdTowne Conservatory have trained, performed, or taught at Improv Olympic, Second City, The Annoyance Theater, The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, and The Comedy Conservatory in New Orleans, as well as at festivals around the country.
Class tuition is $225 for an eight-week course and includes free admission to ALL shows at the ColdTowne Theater. Referral discounts and internships are available. Please click here for our schedule or to register!
Level One: Intro to Improv
Students learn the fundamentals of improv comedy, including “yes and,” creating characters and relationships, and spacework.
Level Two: Scenework Strategies
Building on the fundamentals learned in Level One, students will begin to remove their improv training wheels while exploring ways to strengthen their comedy scenes, including finding games and developing deeper characters and relationships. Students will also begin to explore various longform techniques such as edits, walk-ons, tag-outs, and group scenes.
Level Three: Advanced Scenework
Students explore the scenework toolbelt they’ve accumulated while being introduced to concepts like shape of show, second and third beats, and nonscenic elements.
Level Four: The Harold
If Chicago-style improv were music, The Harold would be the twelve-bar blues, the language that’s shared by all improvisers in this tradition. In addition to being a challenging and rewarding form in itself, The Harold is also a great teaching tool, and the skills learned in mastering it are applicable to almost every other form of improv.
Level Five: Forms
Students will build upon their knowledge of the Harold while exploring other improv forms, such as narrative long-form, the Armando, the Living Room, the Deconstruction, and The Movie.
Level Six: The Show
Students will develop their own improv format and develop a show for performance at the ColdTowne Theater while continuing to build on their previous four levels of training.
REGISTER FOR CLASSES
Registering for classes is quick and easy! Please submit payment via paypal for the class you'd like to register for and include your name, contact number and email address. The cost of registration is $225 and includes free admission to shows and a copy of Truth in Comedy.
Each course is 8 weeks long and meets for two hours every week. Sketch classes meet for 2-3 hours. New Classes are starting all the time. Check back here for our expanded schedule. Click here to register for classes!
