Remember your favorite teacher growing up? How they made you actually enjoy class and left a mark you? Well, at Merlin Works your teachers are at least quadruple the awesome of your favorite childhood teacher and I want to take a minute to brag about them.

In improv, one thing that the amazing instructors at Merlin Works will teach you is that one of your goals in a show is to engage your audience, which in turn is actually something they do for students. From warms ups to words of wisdom (take a class and you’ll know what I’m talking about) there is never a dull moment! For me, seeing these improvisers turned instructors is truly inspiring and not in the sense that I want to be like them when I grow up ( I kinda do), but they inspire me to let go of all my hesitations and dive into the unknown world of improv. It’s so surprising and exciting to see what your brain, imagination and experiences come up with and with the endless encouragement of the Merlin Works crew.

My current teachers are Ted Rutherford and Michael Joplin. I’ve actually am lucky enough to have been taught by all the Wizards of Improv but Kevin Miller (Shucks, I guess I’ll have to take another class!) and each teacher is as energetic and encouraging as the next. To be allowed the freedom of expression for a full 2 ½ hours once a week with these teachers paving the path for you is truly an experience that I believe to be necessary to keeping a sane life. When I’m in class and see Ted and Michael perform these on the spot examples of what were to do, I can’t help but think that these guys are creative geniuses. I never stop wondering where do the things they do and say come from and how does it come to them SO quickly??

I could go on and on about how wonderful these teachers are, but the point of it all is to say that I’ve never felt so excited and comfortable to learn since I’ve started improv classes. The skills in improv not only have given me the ability to get adrenaline rushes from standing in front of audiences, but skills that translate to my professional and personal life as well. I couldn’t thank these talented goofball of teachers enough for boosting my self-confidence and introducing me to so many talented people!