Welcome to the ColdTowne 2024 Lookback
Welcome to the ColdTowne 2024 Lookback
Katherine Salinas, Community Board Chair
Even with the final second of 2024 long gone, I’m still struggling to, “Yes, and!” whatever 2025 has in store.
Like back in Level 2, I’m getting stuck in conflict, transactions, and negotiations—but being one of ColdTowne’s Class of ’24 grads, I know that all I have to do is find the game, commit to the bit, and just have fun. For many of us, finding the game may be sticking with a New Year’s resolution, for some it may be committing to sketch or stand up, and for others, just knowing you have a community that’s got your back is a great button to wipe last year off the stage.
That’s where the ColdTowne Community Board comes in. I, myself, along with board members Anne Johnson, Deanna Carwile, Brian McAughan, Eli Berke and Brian Wenger aim to strengthen and improve our ColdTowne community by listening to your suggestions and concerns, awarding scholarships and being your liaison between ColdTowne faculty and staff.
Since presiding over our first meeting as Community Board Chair back in July 2024, the ColdTowne Community Board has awarded more than a dozen ColdTowne Conservatory Diversity scholarships and hopes to continue to do so with your generous donations and support. Additionally we held ColdTowne’s first Bazaar Jaam comprised of Austin Improv Community members, most of which were ColdTowne performers and students.
Austyn Heath Art, Apotek Teahouse, Nifty Crafts by Yadi, Boyabove, The Modern Priscilla, Way of Blythe, and Fallen Angel Jewelry Co. were just a few amazing vendors you could find at the Bazaar Jaam, and could even perform with during the free improv jam, hosted by ColdTowne Community Coordinator Rebecca East, which followed the event. Along with holding another Bazaar Jaam in Spring of 2025, the Community Board is excited to announce the evolution of game night by hosting, “Find the Game Night” January 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM in the cabaret.
The Community Board meets in person at least once a month with time reserved for public comments. To find out more, check out “ColdTowne’s 5 Things” in the upcoming weeks. For those of you interested in joining the ColdTowne Community Board, email communityboard@coldtownetheater.com with your name and contact information.
Finally, none of this would be possible without you—the amazing performer, individual, awesome folx you are. You continue to inspire all of us here at ColdTowne, whether on stage, in the wings or as a member of our community. I’ll take your suggestion for 2025 now…when the lights come up.
Artistic Department Highlights
Will Cleveland, ColdTowne Artistic Director
We kicked off 2024 with some amazing shows and workshops brought to the ColdTowne community by legendary comics TJ (Jagodowski) and Dave (Pasquesi), who never bring anything less than impressive improv and outstanding skill. On that same level, “SEXTET” (Kevin Anderson & Abby Lincoln) had an incredible run that led them to sweep improv theatre categories at the B. Iden Payne award ceremony.
Not to be outdone, Ryan Darbonne & Carina Hinojosa’s co-directed, “Everything You Wanted to Know about White Supremacy (but Were Too Afraid to Ask)” performed to multiple sold-out audiences.
2024 was also the year ColdTowne Theater hosted the first Black Auteur Film Festival, produced by Alex Chew and Ryan Darbonne (BAFF), and the 15th annual Austin Sketch Fest, which got a second venue thanks to the grand debut of the ColdTowne Cabaret.
Also having a big debut was, “Gutenberg! The Musical,” produced by Kat Williams and Directed by Matt Alspaugh after closing on Broadway earlier in the year. Speaking of revivals, the Improv Fantasy League returned after a 4-year hiatus.
Highlights of 2024 cannot be completed without highlighting Rochelle McConico’s growing stand-up comedy scene, with showrunners who create a welcoming environment for all comics: Evan Rabalais, Christopher Bryant, Sarah Spear, Terrence Yon, Joe Green, Symply Courtney & Joshua McCaully, Allison Tugwell, Valeri Nies, Emma Holder, Javier Ungo, and Jose DaHype and any of their supportive partners. We can’t thank you enough Rochelle! (And don’t miss Lysistrata Fest!)
Deep in the Art of Austyn
ColdTowne staff and improv performer Austyn Slavych, surrounded by his art during a shift at the theater.
ColdTowne’s art, bar and stage scenes have all been charmed and adorned by our very own Austyn Slavych, who has been creating art since 19 and performing at ColdTowne since 2023. Originally interested in becoming a tattoo artist, Slavych ultimately decided that drawing on paper was better than permanently drawing on people.
This proved to be a great decision since Slavych finds inspiration in everything, creating artwork (including custom commissions) in his own way from things that spark joy.
Keeping that spark alive, Slavych plans on taking stand-up comedy classes at ColdTowne. Until then, you can see his final house team performance with C.U. Next Thursday January 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM, or catch him Mondays at ColdTowne, working the bar from 6 to 10.
To see some more of Slavych’s artwork, look no further than the walls of ColdTowne or at ColdTowne’s next Bazaar Jaam. For a more insta-moment, follow him on Instagram at @austyn_heath_art.
Either way, we trust Slavych’s artistic taste—especially when he told us that his favorite moment from 2024 was watching ColdTowne ThrowDowne championship team, Big Fart perform. In his own words, “Run, walk, swim, bus, whatever you need to do, go see Big Fart.”
Breaking Goals & Shout Outs
Amy Knop, ColdTowne Chief of Staff
2024 was about making ColdTowne a more welcoming space and creating more opportunities to engage.
Hello new house teams, new class slots! Welcome back IFL, weeknight shows and weekly jams! (Thanks to jam hosts so far: Eli Berke, Gail Papermaster, Clifton Highfield, Will Cleveland, Louis Birdsong, Kyle Irion, Wesley Wilde, Neil Dorsey, Leon Clinton, Garrett Rojas, Shannon Mullery – sign up via Rebecca East!!) We also invited our unhoused neighbors to hang.
We created the first student newsletter, renovated the green room (thanks Dani!), and welcomed new staff: Rebecca East & Katherine Salinas (Community), Jamie Rosler (Venue), Vanessa Alvarado Flores (Donations) and Conservatory Director Abby Lincoln! A big thank you to outgoing staff like Jenn Rosario, Xaria Coleman, and Asaf Ronen for paving the way.
Staff did some serious behind-the-scenes wizardry – including upgrading our ticketing system thanks to which WE FINALLY HAVE A HOMEPAGE CALENDAR! And our first Venmo account! And working doors and A/C!
We are grateful for ongoing community generosity – not only on Amplify and Giving Tuesday – but also everyone who gives their time and talent to make this a community worth being part of: Thank you to all our students, teachers, coaches! Directors, producers, tech and showrunners! Front of house, box office, market, custodial staff and interns! Festival producers! Volunteers! Performers who always brings your best bits! And to everyone on staff this year for going above and beyond—you all are the wind beneath our (stage) wings.
Some of Deanna Carwile’s Favorite Things
Deanna Carwile, Community Board Bazaar Jaam Subcomittee Chair
How long have you been doing improv?
January 2025 marks my third-year anniversary. I took my first class at ColdTowne in late 2022 (improv levels 2-6, 2 diagnostic sessions, & and a few one-off workshops). One thing I’ll miss from 2024 is being a student in Matt Alspaugh’s first class.
What is your favorite drink/snack to get at ColdTowne?
Original Austin Eastcider.
What has your experience with the Community Board been like?
It has been so fulfilling to bring ideas into action on behalf of a community that I love.
What was your favorite improv event/thing/show/moment from 2024?
The Deconstruction performed by Hot Mom Highway as the level 5 final show was a real challenge, but I think we really rose to the occasion.
When can people catch you at ColdTowne?
The Real Housewives of Austin is the biggest plug I have. I’ll also be alternating every other Friday with Misterios in January and February. You can also probably catch me playing with Hot Mom Highway every once in a while.
Excused Absence
Kristen Henn, ColdTowne Youth Program Director
ColdTowne isn’t just where your inner child can take center stage, but also where Excused Absence Comedy, a youth-focused program, lives and thrives. At Excused Absence Comedy, classes, camps performance opportunities, and high-quality, live comedy exist for children and teens, to entertain audiences of all ages.
This past year, weekly classes were booming! A lot of that is due to the outstanding improv training being offered at ColdTowne, which is second to none, providing thousands of Central Texas youths with the chance to experience the wonders of Improv firsthand.
Through the Nathan Sowell Youth Improv Scholarship Fund, ColdTowne has provided 12 teens with full and partial scholarships. School Break Camps have also been booming and give kids and teens the chance to dive into an unforgettable live comedy experience.
Some of the program’s shows include: StoryStarts and Excused Absence (ExAB)—which was able to return in 2024 for kids and their adults, Saturday mornings at 11 AM. Ex-Ab is where an adult cast of top-notch comics improvises an original comedy based on audience suggestions and volunteer moves. In 2024 the show really blossomed, adding local legends Dave Ward and Wallis Brown to the permanent cast and regularly inviting guest artists to sit in and shake things up.
Pre-pandemic, ExAb All-Ages shows were an institution, featuring some of Austin’s most talented adult Improv troupes playing PG versions of their shows. These shows were also opportunities for youth Improv troupes and Improv students to try out their material for mixed-age audiences and to jam with experienced players. Though it has taken some time to regrow this tradition, we are pleased to share that this fall we returned to weekly shows with great audiences and fantastic troupes.
ColdTowne also produces a yearly Teen MainStage show featuring a combined cast of adults and teenagers. This year’s show, TowneSquare, was directed by Will Cleveland and premiered at the Excused Absence Comedy Festival in April. The show’s 6-week run was a huge success and 2025 show is already in the works!
Since 2015, ColdTowne has produced Excused Absence Comedy Festival—the only regularly held all-ages comedy festival in the United States.
The vision behind this festival was to create opportunities for children and teens to see high-quality, live improv as well as sketch, and stand-up performances in a youth-friendly venue and to perform their own work for new audiences.
Since that time, this weekend-long festival has grown into a fantastic tradition and in 2024, it featured 14 adult acts, 16 youth acts, a huge improv jam, and a slew of awesome workshops.
Water Cooler Talk and Other Booze
Jamie Rosler, ColdTowne Venue Director
If you haven’t checked out the latest drink specials that ColdTowne Venue Director, Jamie Rosler, has thought up—you’ve got at least seven things to look forward to in 2025!
Just check out the new lobby wall (still a work in progress) to find out what the deal of the day is! There you might also find some cool upcoming shows, the ColdTowne Wall of Fame, and our new “Buy a Friend a Drink” opportunity.
Aside from being a source of ColdTowne knowledge, it’s also extremely well decorated—bordered by vintage ribbons rescued from a New York City craft store’s basement, and boasting a paint job completed with the help of Artistic Director Will Cleveland.
2024 forced us to say goodbye to several amazing interns who graduated from ColdTowne and who we give a big congratulations to! 2024 also caused us to say hello to a wonderful new group of amazing folks joining us and serving up warm welcomes at the box office while helping keep the venue stocked and presentable.
Speaking of presentable, we’d like to commend Brandon Cole—the greatest staff member in Austin! In addition to maintaining a high standard of sights and smells, Brandon is a font of useful knowledge and skill when it comes to repairs and solutions around the theater. Have you noticed that the upstairs bathroom sink now drains at an appropriate speed? Thank you, Brandon!
As we make our way back to hosting shows seven nights every week, the House Manager team is growing, and the bar hours are extending through the weekends and into the night. Keep an eye out for new faces, new hours, and new deals in 2025!
City of Austin Proclaims October 20 as ColdTowne Day
In 2024, the City of Austin, via Mayor Kirk Watson, officially proclaimed October 20 as ColdTowne Day in Austin, Texas.
Be it known that
Whereas,
Austin, Texas, is home to a groundbreaking community of comedians, artists, performers and teachers, collectively known as ColdTowne Theater, which has become an integral part of Austin’s vibrant arts community; and has proudly served our residents and visitors for eighteen years, embodying the independent spirit of Austin and fostering a sense of belonging and good cheer for all who walk through its doors; and
Whereas,
The dedication and hard work of ColdTowne’s owners, staff, faculty, students, performers and loyal audiences have contributed to its enduring success and leadership in the representation and advancement of diverse voices in comedy.
Whereas,
ColdTowne has played an essential role in supporting local events, festivals, and community initiatives, strengthening the fabric of our city; and its commitment to preserving and celebrating Austin’s place as a thriving landscape for live comedy; and
Whereas,
The Austin City Council wishes to express its deep gratitude to ColdTowne Theater for its outstanding contribution, exceptional service, and unwavering commitment to enhancing the cultural vibrancy of our beloved city; and
Now, Therefore,
I, Kirk Watson, Mayor of the City of Austin, Texas,
do hereby proclaim
October 20th, 2024
as
ColdTowne Day
In witness whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the City
of Austin to be affixed this 18th Day of
October in the Year Two Thousand Twenty Four