intermediate improv
levels 3-4
now enrolling

IMPROV LEVEL 03: LONGFORM WORLD-BUILDING

Prerequisite: must have taken a Level 2 improv class at ColdTowne

Strong group work, or “group mind,” is the focus of Level 3, where students take a deeper look at their scenework and begin to create shows that are more than just a montage of disconnected scenes. While continuing to strengthen and build on the lessons of past levels, various storytelling techniques and other skills are introduced to help students go from improvising a single scene to creating an entire longform improv show. This class includes a student performance!

Saturdays at 12:30pm
starting August 10

8 WEEKS + SHOWCASE
SKIPS LABOR DAY WEEKEND

EMMA HOLDER is an actor, improviser and sketch comedy writer with a background in theater and literature. She has been performing, writing and directing at ColdTowne theater since 2008 and has taught improv, sketch, youth improv, youth playwriting, and creative writing for over 10 years. Emma performs regularly with her improv teams Kinkade and Stupid but Brave. She was a founding member of one of the longest running ColdTowne sketch teams, Pendulum, and has written and produced two solo sketch comedy shows: Kennedy Women and I'll Allow it. Emma has performed at UCB Theater's Dell Close Marathon, Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, New York Sketch Fest and Austin Sketch Fest.

Wednesdays at 6pm
starting August 14

8 WEEKS + SHOWCASE
– – – – – – – – – – – –

MIKE OOI is delighted to be part of the ColdTowne teaching team. A Texas native, Mike earned his BFA in Theatre just up the road at Southwestern University. Most of Mike’s professional career has been spent in Chicago, where Mike worked with several companies as an actor, director, playwright, and technician. Before leaving Chicago, Mike turned his attention to sketch, improv, and on-camera work, graduating from the Sketch Writing Program at The Second City. Since moving back to Texas, Mike continues to work professionally in theatre, improv, and on camera. Currently, Mike teaches younger students at ZACH, and performs with the ColdTowne house team, Dr. Jack. Mike’s credits include NBC’s Chicago Fire as well as several commercials, voice overs, and industrials. Mike is represented by Pastorini-Bosby.

IMPROV LEVEL 04: THE HAROLD

Prerequisite: must have taken a Level 03 Improv class at ColdTowne

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. This level builds on and challenges all of the skills the students have learned up to this point. Students weave together multiple story lines and characters to create shows that are each a unique tapestry spun from what has come before. This class includes a student performance.

Mondays at 8pm
starting August 12

8 WEEKS + SHOWCASE
SKIPS LABOR DAY WEEKEND

KAT ELLISON WILLIAMS has been improvising since 2018 and graduated from the Coldtowne Conservatory in 2021. He has played in many Coldtowne shows including Sextet, Hysteria, and Stool Pigeon. He loves live music, strange art, and the Harold.

Tuesdays at 6pm
starting August 13

8 WEEKS + SHOWCASE
– – – – – – – – – – – –

MIKE OOI is delighted to be part of the ColdTowne teaching team. A Texas native, Mike earned his BFA in Theatre just up the road at Southwestern University. Most of Mike’s professional career has been spent in Chicago, where Mike worked with several companies as an actor, director, playwright, and technician. Before leaving Chicago, Mike turned his attention to sketch, improv, and on-camera work, graduating from the Sketch Writing Program at The Second City. Since moving back to Texas, Mike continues to work professionally in theatre, improv, and on camera. Currently, Mike teaches younger students at ZACH, and performs with the ColdTowne house team, Dr. Jack. Mike’s credits include NBC’s Chicago Fire as well as several commercials, voice overs, and industrials. Mike is represented by Pastorini-Bosby.

Saturdays at 2:30pm
starting August 10

8 WEEKS + SHOWCASE
SKIPS LABOR DAY WEEKEND

WILL CLEVELAND brings 20 years of theatre experience into his class. He has served as Artistic Director of ColdTowne since 2016 and trained in improv and sketch writing at New York's Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. He wrote and produced works for UCBComedy.com as well as produced for Above Average, Funny or Die, Official Comedy and more. His show "One Hour Til Air" received the B. Iden Payne award for best Improv Cast in 2019.