Merlin Works

Merlin Works classes are so much fun and they’ve clearly designed their curriculum to get everyone to forget whatever self-​consciousness they came in with and join in and create scenes with each other. My initial fears were forgotten within minutes of the first class starting.
They create such a positive and supportive atmosphere. You find yourself doing things you never thought you could do. I made a lot of new friends in their classes, too. Shana is a terrific teacher, as well as Michael Joplin and Ted Rutherford — they clearly know how to attract great teachers.
The classes prepare you for all kinds of performing — I’m performing in two bands now and film acting — the experience with Merlin Works helped me get over my fears about performing in general.

This program is great! I signed up for improv 201 with Lacey S., and she was amazing. There is NO reason to be shy or worry about doing something wrong — everything is a learning experience. If there’s a learning opportunity for a student, the teacher will stop the exercise and deep dive into figuring out the «why» of the situation: then study other options and run it by the whole group. I’m super excited to start 301 in January– we get to put on a performance!!! Thanks Merlin Works!!!

Are you interested in improv? Are you a human being? Do you love to laugh and learn and open up new, confident parts of yourself?
If the answer is a resounding yes to any of the above, then you’ll want to attend classes at Merlin Works. This improv school employs fantastic teachers who will enhance you in the best ways possible. Whether you wish to make people laugh onstage, concisely think on your feet in public, or speak to a room confidently, their techniques via improvisation will provide.
Thanks Merlin Works! Shout out to Shana! Sup.

I cannot recommend Merlin Works highly enough! Shana Merlin is a delight to work with and learn from. Whether or not you are interested in performing, I believe that everyone should take improv classes. The lessons that you learn and the fun that you have through playing with others in the safe and welcoming environment that Merlin Works creates, will improve your overall quality of life and have a significant impact on the happiness that your experience in your everyday. You will expand your creativity, sharpen your communication skills, become aware of and overcome negative judgements of yourself and others, and most of all have a blast while doing so!

merlin works and its brilliant queen bee, shana merlin, initiated me into the world of improve more than six years ago, and my life has never been the same.
after countless suggestions that i try my hand at improv over the years, i signed up for a merlin works class in early 2009. having not read the fine print very well, i was surprised to realize that a class on improvised singing is not necessarily recommended for novices, but everyone accepted me with open arms. to this day, people tell me they still remember my song from the very first class («new shoes, here on my feet./my new shoes are really, really neat.»)
six years, who-​knows-​how-​many classes, and four or five graduation shows later, i am honored to be able to write a review about how incredibly, supremely, indescribably awesome merlin works is. it’s so awesome, my wife and i even asked shana to officiate our wedding, which she did, and it too was awesome! i’m just going to paste the word «awesome» a bunch of times now.
awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome superb awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome groovy awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome spectacular awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome capra-​esque awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome tubular awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome pants-​wettingly-​brilliant awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome are you really still reading this? awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome wankel rotary engine awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome boobies boobies boobies boobies awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome and a partridge in a pear tree.

The Merlin Works teachers and classes are the best!

Shana is a born teacher. She thinks carefully about curriculum, hires great teachers (shout outs to Aden, Ted, and Lacy), and creates an incredibly fun, supportive environment. I even took the musical improv classes, which believe you me I wouldn’t ever have imagined. Shana particularly likes to teach 101 classes herself, which says a lot about her delight in welcoming students and gives her a direct relationship with every student.
Since finishing at Merlin Works, I’ve taken other classes and workshops in Austin. While I’ve enjoyed them, I’m always glad I started at MW. I’m not sure I would have stayed in improv without the confidence the teachers there gave me and I continue to rely on the skills and thorough grounding they provided. Whether you’re planning to perform on stage or just want to dip your toes into improv, I can’t recommend Merlin Works more highly.

I took an improvised singing class at Merlin Works and had an absolute blast. Aden Kirschner taught the class with great wisdom and humor. By the last class, I felt confident putting on an entire musical complete with dance numbers!

Took singing improv 101, 201, and 301. Great time, great instructors!

I’ve taken all three of Merlin Works’ singing improv classes, and I loved all of them! The instructors took a very scary subject (getting up on stage and singing completely made up songs) and made it very accessible and easy to take risks.
I also made some great friends in the classes. They’re small group sessions, and everyone was super-​supportive. I had a little improv experience before I started, but for many of my classmates it was the first time they had done any improv at all, and they all loved it! Definitely worth giving it a try!

Three years ago I shakily and scared out of my mind in fight or flight mode walked into a Merlin Works 101 class — and today I’ve taken all nine classes Merlin Works offers and perform regularly in a musical improv troupe.
Great place to get introduced to improv. Great teachers (Joplin, Kevin M., Ted, Lacey, Shana, Aden, Quinn) — great method — great fellow students. I met people I never would have met otherwise in imrpov (including my boyfriend).
It’s a crazy supportive environment — I mean the teachers laugh at everything you do — everyone is kind. I keep waiting for the façade to break but it never does (or hasn’t yet and I’ll update this when it does).
Highly recommended.

I am halfway through my first improv class ever. I am enrolled in Merlin Works Singing Improv 101. I was a little nervous to sign up since I’ve never been into theater but I am new to town, love to sing and thought it would be a good place to meet people. IT HAS BEEN AWESOME! I am having a complete blast, jumping outside my comfort zone in a totally judge free environment. The improv community is so welcoming. I highly recommend trying improv with Merlin works — don’t be afraid just have fun!

I took the ‘free intro’ at 3 different places and got the impression that this place was more diverse in age instead of all 20-​somethings (nondiscriminatory voice) — And was thankfully right!
I have a hard time in classroom settings but we’re always moving, keeping it interesting, and time flies so all good for my A.D.D. self. We’re sorta paying to be kids again.; } But it’s challenging too.
Shana and Ricky (assist) are a blast and i couldn’t ask for more helpful and easy going teachers. P. s. Shana (if u see this), if i look super tired or my eyes are closed at times, it’s because of the florescent (?) lights, not u… almost as if i’m allergic.

For the sake of transparency, I am a teacher at Merlin Works. Having said that, I will share that lots of students have told me that we have top notch curriculum and structure. Students consistently refer their friends for classes (probably the best endorsement).
I can say from personal experience that the staff at Merlin Works truly cares about our students and strive to give them an amazing experience. We make it a point to build relationships with the folks that choose to take classes with us. In addition, the student showcases are always in front of packed houses who leave exhausted from all of the laughter. That wouldn’t happen unless students were well trained and well taken care of by the faculty along the way.
I love Merlin Works and I think you will too! :-)

Merlin Works has been one of the best choices to reclaim my sense of play, curiosity, and risk. Everyone involved in Merlin Works — the instructors, fellow classmates, support staff have created a supportive and fun atmosphere. Great way to break out of the dullness of life and reclaim joy. Every class built up skills and confidence. I’ve gone through 101 – 601 and would do it again in a heartbeat!

My teachers (Michael, Shana and a few subs: Quinn, Kevin and Jason) have all been amazing! I have had a blast so far in 101 and 201 and am looking forward to learning and practicing even more in 301 this summer. The classes have been great to help you build the fundamentals and «toolkit» needed to do improv.
I love the «YES, AND» mentality that also helps in others areas of life as well. I’m planning to implement icebreakers and names games in to a group of college students I work with so I know it will also have a positive effect on my work.
If you are looking to do something really fun, joyful, positive and meet great people, improv is a great class to take — and you can take one or more depending on your interest level.

I’ve taken the Merlin works classes twice now. I have been absolutely thrilled with how fun and informative they are. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, friendly and fun. If you’re apprehensive to take an improv class because you don’t know what to expect, just do it. It’s more fun than you could ever imagine. The first course is titled «the spirit of play» and that is exactly what you’ll learn. It’s the one place you can go every week and just leave your worries behind, play and have fun. But while you are having fun, you are learning skills like listening, quick thinking, public speaking that are useful in everyday life. I know there are cheaper classes out there, but in my humble opinion you get what you pay for. Merlin Works has the best curriculum in Austin. The staff is also very well organized and professional and know how to deliver a top notch educational experience.

Shana Merlin was my first improv teacher in 2005, and I still send beginners to her school because her classes are a safe place to play, very fun and well very structured. I was so scared when I started improv, I had to pretend that instead of going to class, I was going to party where the party games were great. And that’s the atmosphere Shana and her teachers create.
If you want to get out of your shell, have fun with others, and find out how funny you are, I highly recommend Merlin Works classes. They changed my life. I have been performing improv and sketch comedy for years now, and I thank Shana for helping me find the skills and confidence to get out on a stage again and play.

I love me some Shana Merlin. I have taken improv classes in LA, Boston and in Austin, and I would have to say that Shana is my favorite teacher. Her basic improv curriculum is solid, and she creates a really open and safe environment. She makes it absolutely okay to try something new.
She also does a phenomenal job of teaching the skills you need to be a good improviser. I especially like her series on Long Form Narrative, which I really don’t think you can get anywhere else. The other teachers at Merlinworks are great as well. They have a curriculum, and they always have a plan for your class. Great people, you learn a lot, and it’s really fun. Improv classes are a great way to meet people, and to just have a blast.

The classes at Merlin Works are outstandingly fun! I started practicing improv a year ago in Merlin Work’s 101 class. I was initially a little scared about the prospect of trying improv in front of my classmates but Shana ensures the environment remains comfortable and encourages you to stretch yourself and make mistakes.
My teachers at Merlin Works, I’ve only had Shana and Ted, have both been outstanding. Not only are they exceptional improvisers but they both demonstrate higher knowledge about the art and creative ways to help the students grow. Plus they are always entertaining to be around!
If you are considering taking improv classes, I highly recommend taking them here. Don’t be afraid if you are not good at acting-I’m horrible-​or if you’re scared about the performing in front of others. The 101 class eases students into improv with entertaining group games. And the teachers here are the best.
I highly recommend it to anyone who is curious!