User Profile

Shana Merlin is a highly acclaimed performer, improviser, and teacher. Named "Funniest Person at the University of Texas" during her college career, Shana graduated with Highest Honors and went on to continue writing and performing her funny and topical one-woman shows. Most recently, she was awarded "Best of the Fest: at Frontera Fest. Since 1996, Shana also has been a professional improviser, performing from Calgary to San Francisco to Atlanta to London. The former Dean of The We Could Be Heroes School of Improvisational Theatre, some of her clients have included Sea World, The University of Texas McCombs School of Business, and the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest as well as adults and children throughout the Austin area. With over a thousand hours of teaching under her belt, she is one of the most experienced and effective improv teachers in Austin. Shana has trained with some of the top teachers in the field including Keith Johnstone, creator of TheatreSports and author of Impro and Impro for Storytellers; Paul Sills, founder of Second City and The Compass and editor of Improvisation for the Theatre; and Gary Austin, member of The Committee and founder of The Groundlings. Hailed by her students as "an incredibly great teacher: fun, open, organized, focused, and so very talented," Shana continues to offer improvisation workshops to all ages and skill levels.

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