About us

From ColdTowneTheater

ColdTowne [the theater]

"...one of the breakouts this year...carved out a comedy reputation for itself..." - Austin 360

"The city's number one comedy theater..." - The Austinist

"... set up like the world’s comfiest, most entertaining and welcoming living room." - That Other Paper

"Austin's getting funnier by the minute and it's thanks to folks like these guys and gals ..." - The Austin Chronicle

ColdTowne [Michael Jastroch, Arthur Simone, and Justin York] evacuated New Orleans in September 2005 and landed in Austin, where the improv community was already strong and gaining momentum. A local video store owner allowed ColdTowne to launch a Chicago-style long-form improv training center (the first of its kind in Austin) next door to his establishment.

Soon ColdTowne was given the opportunity to produce shows at the space. Thanks to the success of see.hear.speak. (a three-day film, art, and comedy event), ColdTowne was given an "audition" to produce shows at a venue for a week. Test Pattern was a success and the group immediately began plans for the grand opening of The ColdTowne Theater.

The ColdTowne Theater opened on October 28th, 2006, to a packed audience. The theater is currently open Thursday through Saturday featuring all forms of comedy: improv, stand-up, sketch, film, music, and much more. Nationally recognized acts perform here as well as the best local performers.

For a current list of shows, please visit our Calendar. The Theater is available for rehearsals as well as private parties. It's also the home of...

ColdTowne [the conservatory]

- For anyone who feels improv will push them over the cliff of their comfort zone, this is a good group to catch you. They want nothing but success for newcomers. - News 8 Austin

"A lot of people see ColdTowne as more than a theater or a cluster of classes —- they see it as their community." - The Austinist

"...some of the city's most intense improv classes" - The Onion

Improv

The ColdTowne Conservatory offers a unique approach to improvisation study in Austin. Our extensive touring schedule has allowed us the opportunity to study with a variety of improv theaters all over the country. With our experience studying such a variety of styles and improv concepts, we've amassed an original perspective on the art form itself as well as the study of improv. In collaboration with veteran improvisers from The Frank Mills, ColdTowne Conservatory's distinctive philosophy is taught in a multi-level design that gives our students an innovative approach to improvisational theater.

Sketch Comedy

The ColdTowne Conservatory’s sketch writing program is the only training program of its type in Austin. Our instructors have written, directed, produced, and performed with sketch groups all over the United States and in Europe, including The Second City and Boom Chicago. We have taken this experience and crafted a syllabus that will expose students to a variety of sketch comedy styles and approaches. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to assemble their sketches into a real sketch review at the ColdTowne Theater.

Classes are two hours once a week for eight weeks at the ColdTowne Theater. Classes are $200 per session. After completion of Level Two, we urge our students to form troupes to experiment with the most valuable teacher of all: stage time. All students of ColdTowne Conservatory see shows for free at the ColdTowne Theater. Ask about internships and discounts for classes.

For more information, visit our classes page or contact Conservatory director Michael Jastroch at 512-423-4209.

ColdTowne [the group]

"Performance, to them, is more important than anything else in the world, even survival ..." - YesAnd.com

"...one of Austin's top troupes..." - The Onion

"...talented and enthusiastic performers." - The Austin Chronicle

"...combining old school commitment and tenacity with a new school sense of exploration and thrill-seeking..." - Jose Gonzalez, Phoenix Improv Festival

"...that shit’s mad-impressive-pressure-awesome. And what they’re doing for the cultural development of our fair city shouldn’t go unnoticed." - The Austinist

Coldtowne formed in March of 2005 from members of two Comedy Conservatory student teams in New Orleans, Louisiana. For several months, they performed weekly at one of the Crescent City's premier theater venues, Le Chat Noir, becoming key players in the city's budding comedy improvisation scene.

After Hurricane Katrina, a handful of ColdTowne's original eight members fled to Austin, Texas, living together, begging for food together, and building a group mind that borders on codependence. Performing at Austin's Out of Bounds Improv Festival, Coldtowne established a new existence as relentless and adaptable performers come hell or high water. Since then, Coldtowne has performed long-form improv regularly at Austin's Hideout Theater, won "Best Improv Group" in the Austin Chronicle Readers Poll, and opened its own theater and training center.

The residents of ColdTowne come from a variety of backgrounds: absurdist art, journalism, and business. Together they populate ColdTowne with long- and short-form improv, sketch, stand-up, screenwriting, guerilla film, music, and lots of nerdy blogging.

In addition to their training at New Orleans' Comedy Conservatory, residents of ColdTowne have trained and performed with Improv Olympic West and Chicago, Second City, the Annoyance Theatre, and the Upright Citizens Brigade, and as regular members of New Orleans' charter ComedySportz team. They've also participated in numerous workshops and master classes taught by improv luminaries. ColdTowne has performed at the inaugural Southern Improv Festival, Harrah's Casino, IO West, IO Chicago, ComedySportz (in Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Dallas), Louisiana State University, the Dirty South Improv Festival, Austin's Frontera Fest, and the Phoenix, Chicago, and Toronto Improv Festivals, as well as Dallas' West End Comedy Theater, the Del Close Marathon in New York City, and Austin's Out of Bounds Improv Festival and Miniature Golf Tournament.

ColdTowne is Arthur Simone, Michael Jastroch, and Justin York.

Awards and Accomplishments

2008 Frontera Fest, Best of Fest - Lovey and Lovey

2008 Frontera Fest, Best of Week - Parallelogramophonograph

2008 Frontera Fest, Best of Week - Buddy Daddy

2008 Best Improv Troupe, The A-List - Look Cookie

2007 Frontera Fest, Best of Fest - The Frank Mills

2007 Best Comedy Troupe, The Austin Chronicle Readers Poll - ColdTowne

2007 B. Iden Payne Award for Outstanding Improv Ensemble - ColdTowne

2007 Air Sex Champion at the Alamo Drafthouse - Joel Keith

2007 Air Guitar Champion at the Alamo Drafthouse - Arthur Simone

2007 O. Henry Pun-Off World Champion - Arthur Simone

2006 Best Improv Group, The Austin Chronicle Readers Poll - ColdTowne

2006 Frontera Fest, Best of Fest - McNichol & May Present: Great Americans

2006 Lone Star Sketch Festival Best of Fest - Lovey and Lovey

2006 B. Iden Payne Award Winners - The Frank Mills

2006 Best Format at the Austin Improv Collective Awards - 3, 2, 1 Kill!

2006 Hardest Working Troupe at the Austin Improv Collective Awards - ColdTowne

2006 Best Improv Troupe at the Austin Improv Collective Awards - The Frank Mills