Contest4Improv4Humans is back at ColdTowne this year starting this week. After last year when we sent our Beloved Victrola! to the national finals, we’re excited to have an amazing lineup of performers competing against 15+ other theaters around the country. 
We heard from two of the competition’s contestants who you can happen to find on the ColdTowne stage on the reg.
Ronnie Miller of Missed Connections ATX (Feb. 2018): Contest4Improv4Humans allowed me to play out my fantasies of sitting at a table with a microphone pointed at my face in the safety and comfort of my home theater. I used to listen to podcasts and think, “Hey I can do that!” Now I don’t listen to podcasts but I totally did one with some of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life! Top that.
Danielle Gonzalez of Midnight Society and Say Uncle: I remember listening to Matt Besser’s contest announcement on his podcast – he specifically told theaters he didn’t want students or novices playing in this competition. When Say Uncle was accepted, a novice student group, I felt like it reflected so much on the theater’s values. We were given an opportunity despite our lack of experience and it led to the creation of my favorite troupe. My entire experience with the contest reminded me of ColdTowne’s commitment to supporting all improvisors. It was also just, ~super fun~.
Contest4improv4humans is a nationwide improv competition that will take place at participating comedy theaters across the US and ColdTowne Theater has, once again, been selected as the regional representative for Austin, Texas. contest4improv4humans runs Wednesdays, January 17 through February 7 at 8:30pm at ColdTowne Theater (4803 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751).
Starting January 17, ColdTowne Theater will be holding qualifying rounds for teams to do their best set in the style of Matt Besser’s (Upright Citizens Brigade) podcast improv4humans. In front of a live audience, teams of up to 4 improvisers will do their best 20-minute set in the style of improv4humans, using one-word suggestions from the audience to inspire scenes.
The best 3 teams will be selected, by a panel of judges, and return to have a final performance (judged by the audience and a panel of judges) on February 7 to determine the ultimate winner from the Austin community. The winners will represent Austin in a final, nationwide round (to be judged by the improv4humans staff) – and one winning team will be flown to New York City to perform with Matt Besser at the 20th annual Del Close Marathon.
Matt Besser is one of the founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and is one of the foremost improvisers in the word. He is one of the authors of the UCB Comedy Improv Manual (Buy it at the UCB Store or Amazon) and host of the Improv4Humans podcast that has featured the likes of Jason Mantzoukas, Andy Daly, Zeke Nicholson, D’Arcy Carden, Colton Dunn, Lauren Lapkus and Mary Holland. You can subscribe and listen to Improv4Humans on Earwolf, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts or where ever you get your podcasts!
Schedule – Preliminary Round – January 17th
Victrola!
- Cortnie Jones
- Lance Gilstrap
- Bryan Roberts
- Molly Moore
Perenium
- Dylan Garsee
- Cambria Sobolewski
- Ronnie Miller
- Brian May
Loverboy
- Laura de la Fuente
- Maria Pond
- Kim Lowery
- Taylor Stewart
Preliminary Round – January 24th
Bric-a-brac
- Chelsea Bunn
- Patrick Creamer
- Alex Walker
- Quinn Buckner
Dark Caves
- Molly Moore
- Carlos LaRotta
- Mia Iseman
- Lance Gilstrap
Shirley
- Devon Coleman
- Erica Lies
- Chris McKeever
- Kyle Romero
Preliminary Round – January 31st
Kinkade
- Javier Ungo
- Jake Milward
- Jared Robertson
- Sanjay Rao
Critters
- Emma Holder
- Kyle Romero
- Kristen Samuelsen
- Will Sitters
Honey Mustard
- Linzy Beltran
- James Fernandez
- Stephanie Ard
- Laura de la Fuente
Finals – February 7th
For more information contact coldtowne@coldtownetheater.com or (512) 814-8696. Tickets and more details at www.coldtownetheater.com.