ColdTowne Theater: Always in Motion

The comedy venue is home to diverse audiences and performers, but needs a permanent home of its own

"...they eventually lost the lease at that spot. Then, Michael Jastroch, the last managing founder, left the ownership team..."

Jan. 5, 2024 Arts Feature by Valerie Lopez

The Frank Mills Call It Quits After 500th Show

Why is one of the city’s top improv troupes breaking up?

"...Dave Buckman. Rachel Madorsky. Bob McNichol. Erika May McNichol. Michael Jastroch...."

Dec. 12, 2017 Arts Post by Wayne Alan Brenner

Out of Bounds Comedy Festival 2016: The Frank Mills, Loverboy, People of Earth

These three improv troupes gave us an earful at this year's OoB

"...way Rachel Madorsky, Erika May McNichol, Bob McNichol, and Michael Jastroch all accepted the idea and subtly adjusted their..."

Sept. 9, 2016 Arts Review by Robert Faires

Guide to Austin Improv

The venues, events, troupes, and individuals who have transformed Austin into a "Yes, and" boomtown

"...since 2005. Bob McNichol, Dave Buckman, Erika May McNichol, Michael Jastroch, and Rachel Madorsky – all founding faculty members..."

Aug. 26, 2016 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

FamiLIES at ColdTowne Theater

In taking characters beyond improv to a scripted format, this ColdTowne project delivers an exaggerated imitation of life

"...J. Coleman, Bonnie Cordova, Joseph Robert Dailey, Chaz Formichella, Michael Jastroch, Jae Long, Kyle Moore, Frank Netscher, Kristen Samuelsen,..."

June 17, 2016 Arts Review by Wayne Alan Brenner

Funny, Inc.: ColdTowne Ownership Expands

Because making people laugh, sometimes it's a real business

"...has been honcho'd by Arthur Simone, Justin York, and Michael Jastroch pretty much since they fled to Austin after..."

Nov. 9, 2015 Arts Post by Wayne Alan Brenner

Welcome Back, Neighbor

SNL-starry Good Neighbor to headline Austin Sketch Fest

"...Out of Bounds Comedy Festival. Sketch Fest Executive Producer Michael Jastroch remembers them booking "a secret show at ColdTowne..."

Jan. 28, 2015 Arts Post by Robert Faires

Still the Fading Stains of Some Bad Improv Blood

Because: You have Five Families, you're gonna have some dysfunction.

"...Michael Jastroch: I think part of it – and this..."

Aug. 28, 2014 Arts Post by Wayne Alan Brenner

Making Offers No One Can Refuse

The Five Families of Austin improv go Out of Bounds with the 13th annual comedy festival

"...Badr of the Hideout; Shana Merlin of Merlin Works; Michael Jastroch of ColdTowne; Michael Foulk of the New Movement;..."

Aug. 29, 2014 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

ColdTowne Theater's Been Repainted For Your Viewing Pleasure

(They say there's good stuff going on inside, too.)

"...We asked ColdTowne's Michael Jastroch to fill us in with the deets:..."

Oct. 23, 2013 Arts Post by Wayne Alan Brenner

'The Show!' Goes On

Comedy/film mashup lands at Spiderhouse Ballroom for good

"...the comedy booking side, he admits he depends on Michael Jastroch, founder of ColdTowne Theater and producer of the..."

July 28, 2013 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Comedians With Theatre Damage

The fourth annual Austin Sketch Fest scripts itself silly

"...The man is Michael Jastroch of ColdTowne Theater, and he's in the mood..."

May 24, 2013 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

Five New Things In Austin's Comedy Scene

A quintuple shot of Lakkalikööri for all my friends

"...Out Of Bounds Comedy Festival, right? Says ColdTowne Theater's Michael Jastroch, executive producer of this Sketch Fest, "We want..."

March 22, 2013 Arts Post by Wayne Alan Brenner

'The Best Man'/'44 Plays for 44 Presidents'

Just in time for the election, presidents take the stage

"...improvisers and actors Jay Byrd, Eva Claycomb, Jeanne Harris, Michael Jastroch, and Briana McKeague to embody all our presidents...."

Oct. 5, 2012 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Austin Sketch Fest

Rise of the planet of the skits

"...and from across the nation. According to ColdTowne majordomo Michael Jastroch, "We started Sketch Fest because we wanted to..."

May 18, 2012 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

ColdTowne Theater

The cream of local comedy leaves improv for one night to present a pair of plays

"...done by Dasariski," says ColdTowne co-founder and Executive Director Michael Jastroch. "They've never had their work put on by..."

Dec. 31, 2010 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Shanty Town Lake

ColdTowne as Sketch Central? With this comedy show, the club is halfway there.

"...All these parts are performed – by Elizabeth Brammer, Michael Jastroch, Josh Krilov, Rachel Madorsky, Bryan Roberts, and Justin..."

June 4, 2010 Arts Review by Wayne Alan Brenner

FronteraFest Schedule

"...Austin has to offer, with troupe members Lance Gilstrap, Michael Jastroch, Joel Keith, Delaney Liming, Andy Petruzzo, Nick Ramirez,..."

Jan. 8, 2010 Arts Feature

Off the Cuff and in Your City

A roundup of Austin improv schools

"...– is still felt. The school is directed by Michael Jastroch and taught by him and the other ColdTowne..."

Aug. 28, 2009 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

Risk Immersion

Time again to sink deeply into FronteraFest's exhilarating experiments in performance

"..."Calm" by Nigel O'Hearn (book) and Michael McKelvey (lyrics). Short play for six voices and one..."

Jan. 16, 2009 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

2008 B. Iden Payne Awards

A strong sense of community at possibly the funniest Payne Awards ceremony ever

"...Dave Buckman, the Frank Mills; Roy Janik, Parallelogramophonograph; Michael Jastroch, ColdTowne; Shana Merlin, Girls Girls Girls; Tami Nelson,..."

Oct. 31, 2008 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Lovey and Lovey: Tippling twosome toasts the town (but no titillation, please)

The gin-soaked alter egos of comedians Tami Nelson and Michael Jastroch dish on Austin, alcohol, and their new show

"...Lovey and Lovey? The comic alter egos of ColdTowne's Michael Jastroch and Tami Nelson swill enough hooch to make..."

July 11, 2008 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

ColdTowne: Getting Upright with the originals

Core members from cult comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade raid Austin for the first time since 2000

"...UCBcomedy.com, during South by Southwest was coincidental, surely.) ColdTownie Michael Jastroch says that having UCB in the house is..."

March 7, 2008 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

see.hear.speak.three: They said 'yes and' and had a festival

ColdTowne's comedy fest grew out of the fundamental improv principle of saying, 'Yes, and ...'

"...in mid-2005. "We started out in New Orleans," says Michael Jastroch, one of the five people who officially make..."

Jan. 25, 2008 Arts Feature by Barry Pineo

Anything Goes

That free-for-all spirit is part of the kick of FronteraFest

"...Lovey & Lovey. ColdTowne's Tami Nelson and Michael Jastroch present sketch comedy about a ridiculous, booze-addled relationship...."

Jan. 11, 2008 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

ColdTowne: Home on the strange

When it comes to the improvisers of ColdTowne, you're in for a really enjoyable time watching these guys do their stuff

"...we went to get reacquainted with ColdTowne's ever-changing act, Michael Jastroch, Justin York, Tami Nelson, Arthur Simone, and Chris..."

Aug. 3, 2007 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

ColdTowne Theater: Comedy moves uptown

You can count all the comedy venues in Austin on the fingers of one hand, so the opening of a new one, ColdTowne Theater, qualifies as a real occasion

"...horseshoe. Based on a preview performance, ColdTowne troupe member Michael Jastroch says the theatre has a nice "living-room-esque" quality...."

Oct. 27, 2006 Arts Feature by Robert Faires