Merlin Enchantment at Zach

Shana Merlin, that is – making improv magic with Wizards

"...January saw the debut of the Institution Theater. Now Merlin Works, the improv institute founded by Shana Merlin, blasts..."

Jan. 13, 2013 Arts Post by Robert Faires

Merlin Works Institute and Gnap! Theater Season: Making the improv pie higher

Austin's strong improv scene is about to get even stronger, with a new training center and performance space

"...stronger. This week sees the grand opening of the Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation and Gnap! Theater Projects Improv..."

Feb. 22, 2008 Arts Feature by Avimaan Syam

Guide to Austin Improv

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

"...of acclaimed duo Get Up (the other half is Shana Merlin), the guiding force (and talented star) of such..."

Aug. 26, 2016 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Making Offers No One Can Refuse

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

"...The Hideout. Merlin Works. ColdTowne. The New Movement. The Institution Theater. Ladies..."

Aug. 29, 2014 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

Mission: Improvable

Austin's improv community gathers intelligence

"...half of Kazillionaire, and by himself as Bearded Lamb; Shana Merlin of Girls, Girls, Girls, also the improv teacher..."

Aug. 25, 2006 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

Today's Special: I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It ...

Shana Merlin's life may not be as tragic as those of most women who turn their lives into one-woman shows, but the youngest-child adorability and wry observations she displays in Today's Special warrant rapt attention anyway.

"...Shana Merlin's right; one-woman-shows are indeed all too often about..."

May 12, 2000 Arts Review by Ada Calhoun

Everybody Must Get 'Stoned'

Improv Guru Keith Johnstone brings his Maestro to the Long Center

"...brings Austin's duo Get Up – Shannon McCormick and Shana Merlin – immediately to mind...."

Jan. 15, 2010 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

Home for Heroes (and Others)

Transforming the storefront at 617 Congress into The Hideout, a multilevel arts venue, has been a learning process for proprietors Shana Merlin and Sean Hill. But after $250,000 of investment, the developer's dance of securing permits, and many hours of hard labor, they have created one of Austin's most user-friendly theatre spaces.

"...most of the Nineties, but as Sean Hill and Shana Merlin tell it, the building is not without history...."

Aug. 4, 2000 Arts Feature by Phil West

Be Prepared

The secret to improv's split-second successes is in years of training

"...a suggested location where their musical may take place. Shana Merlin, who's been with GGG since its earliest days..."

Sept. 2, 2011 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Ladies Are Funny Festival

More East Coast comics and a full night of stand-up add more laughs to LAFF

"...the other two are Valerie Ward of Parallelogramophonograph and Merlin Works' Shana Merlin – producing the diverse array of..."

April 30, 2010 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

OoBer Alles

A guide to the troupes of the 2006 Out of Bounds Improv Festival (aka OoB V)

"...Get Up: Long form from improv vets Shana Merlin (We Could Be Heroes, Girls Girls Girls) and..."

Aug. 25, 2006 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

Ladies Are Funny Festival: Are ladies ... funny? Girls Girls Girls insist, 'Yes, yes, yes.'

The second round of the comedy fest spotlighting women adds sketch, stand-up, and more

"..."This is our sophomore year," says Shana Merlin, "and it's bigger and better than last year...."

April 25, 2008 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

Get Up: How funky and strong is their fight

Shannon McCormick and Shana Merlin – who make up the improv duo Get Up – are comfortable working together, like two parts of an interlocking dream machine

"...comrade with the cue-ball noggin and wild eyes, and Shana Merlin, that shortish fox with the million-watt smile. That's..."

June 15, 2007 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

FronteraFest 2013

Performance jamboree's 20th brings back old faves and welcomes new stars

"...su Teatro 2012). They've already lined up improv queen Shana Merlin (Merlin Works Improv), composer/singer Content Love Knowles (Sleeping..."

Jan. 11, 2013 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Wonder Stories: Artists in Space and Unstuck in Time

Austin artists and arts leaders reveal which work of science fiction affected them the most

"...Shana Merlin..."

July 25, 2008 Arts Feature

Off the Cuff and in Your City

A roundup of Austin improv schools

"...We're definitely more about the comedy than the improv." Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation2803 Manor Rd., 657-3005..."

Aug. 28, 2009 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

MerlinWorks Works the Improv Wizardry at ZACH

Teaching that whole yes-and thing at the city's shiny core of theatre

"...The other schools remain with their originating venues, but MerlinWorks, that Shana Merlin-helmed powerhouse of improv training, has been..."

Jan. 16, 2015 Arts Post by Wayne Alan Brenner

Girls Girls Girls' Broad Ambition

In this improvised musical, the women of this acclaimed troupe take it to the Eighties and take over the workplace

"...several other people. Hella scary, right? Well, not for Shana Merlin, Cynthia Oelkers, Amy Averett, Kimberly Cox, Caitlin Sweetlamb,..."

April 27, 2018 Arts Review by T. Lynn Mikeska

Holy 1960s Batman, Batman!

This improvised bat-tribute to the old bat-TV show nails its campy spirit

"...Shannon McCormick, Mike Kinald, Asaf Ronen, Tom Booker, and Shana Merlin – with Lauren Zinn, Justin Davis, and Kareem..."

June 10, 2011 Arts Review by Wayne Alan Brenner

'The Intergalactic Nemesis'

The popular salute to old radio serials comes to the Long Center – with pictures!

"...is projected above the three actors – improv empress Shana Merlin as plucky newshound Molly Sloan, Mical Trejo as..."

Aug. 27, 2010 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Austin Improv

Three of Austin's top improv troupes get to play away this summer

"...audiences at the Chicago Improv Festival, while Dusk mastermind Shana Merlin and improv partner Shannon McCormick have taken their..."

July 2, 2010 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Girls Girls Girls: The female of the species

Girls Girls Girls launches its Boys of Summer series with guest male improviser Jeremy Lamb

"...the group who were able to show up) – Shana Merlin, Monique Daviau, Andrea Young, Kacey Samiee, and Aden..."

July 13, 2007 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

All Work, No Play

Gaming industry types converge on the Austin Convention Center

"...Lowe (Leisure Suit Larry) speaks, and local improv queen Shana Merlin hosts an interactive session called Improv for Writers...."

Sept. 1, 2006 Screens Feature by James Renovitch

Can't Tell the Players Without a Scorecard

"...Get Up – longform from improv vets Shana Merlin (We Could Be Heroes, Girls Girls Girls) and..."

Sept. 2, 2005 Arts Feature

My, My, Maestro

One reporter's firsthand account of exploring competitive improv at the Hideout

"...won, that evening, by the charming and stupendously talented Shana Merlin – was a newfound respect for my fellow..."

Aug. 5, 2005 Arts Feature by Wayne Alan Brenner

Short Fringe: Wednesday Jan. 26

The Short Fringe lineup on Jan. 26 covered juice enthusiasts, life in a small Texas county, an action TV parody with a ticking clock, and a fading friendship as a wrestling match

"...keypad pushed on a register), performers Shannon McCormick and Shana Merlin hilariously created impromptu scenarios of government agents, Highland..."

Feb. 4, 2005 Arts Review by Heather Barfield Cole

Unscripted: Sexy Future Space Lady

What says summer fun more than out-of-this-world lovin' with a Sexy Future Space Lady? Especially improvised!

"...classes are offered at all four improv theatres, plus Merlin Works, headed by improv empress Shana Merlin (Girls Girls..."

May 18, 2018 Arts Feature by Robert Faires

Do Women Rule The Austin Comedy Scene?

Kat Ramzinski suggests that, yeah, they sure as hell do

"...Castillo: Crapshoot Improvised Comedy (Fridays at The Institution Theatre); Shana Merlin of Merlin Works: Improv at Zach Theatre; Alex..."

Feb. 21, 2013 Arts Post by Wayne Alan Brenner

Improv Thanks

"...the excellent piece on the grand opening of the Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation and Gnap! Theater Projects Improv..."

Feb. 24, 2008 Postmarks

Postmarks

Our readers talk back.

"...Shana Merlin..."

Sept. 1, 2006 Column

1   2     NEXT ›    2 »