Shana Merlin's Page

Where do you live and work? (City)

Austin, TX

Professional Skills

Merlin-Works does all things related to improv. We provide public workshops on improvisational theatre, custom training for businesses and organizations using tools from the world of improvisation, and perform improv comedy shows for private groups and public audiences.

What is your main interest in this network?

Education, Social, Networking, Finding Partnerships, Improv Resources

What kind of person are you?

Day

What kinds of improv-related services are you involved in?

Teambuilding, Creativity, Innovation, Problem Solving, Communcation, Life Skills, Presentation Skills

Share a favorite 'improv epiphany'

When given an offer:
To say Yes is good.
To say Yes And is better.
To Be Changed is the best of all.

More about you: (Short Bio or any other details you'd like people to know)

With over a thousand hours of teaching under her belt, Shana Merlin is one of the most experienced and effective improv teachers in Central Texas. The former Dean of The We Could Be Heroes School of Improvisational Theatre, some of her clients have included Sea World, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and The University of Texas McCombs School of Business, as well as adults and children throughout the Austin Area. Shana founded her own company, Merlin-Works, in 2003 to provide custom training, interactive presentations, and comedy shows to businesses and organizations using improvisation. Most recently she was awarded "Best Improv Teacher" and "Best Improv Class" by the Austin Improv Collective.

In addition to her teaching and corporate training career, Shana Merlin is a highly acclaimed performer. Since 1996, Shana has been a professional improviser, performing from Calgary to San Francisco to Atlanta to Las Vegas to London. Named "Funniest Person at the University of Texas" during her college career, Shana graduated with Highest Honors from the prestigious Plan II Honors Program at UT and went on to write and perform her funny and topical one-woman shows. where she was awarded "Best of the Fest" at Frontera Fest. Shana is a founding member of Girls Girls Girls Improvised Musicals, winner of Best Improv Troupe in Austin in the Austin Chronicle Reader's Poll and two time winner of "Best of the Week" at FronteraFest, and Get Up, a two person improv troupe with Shannon McCormmick.

Shana has trained with some of the top teachers in the field of improvisation 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; Gary Austin, member of The Committee and founder of The Groundlings; and Charna Halpern founder of Improv Olympic and co-author of Truth in Comedy.

Work Website

http://www.merlin-works.com

Blog or other personal website

http://merlin-works.com/blog.php

Other contact info (Your choice for phone, email, facebook, myspace, etc.)

shana@merlin-works.com