Michael's Info
Michael Lewis, a UCLA graduate, began his foray into improvisation over twenty years ago with the Hermit Colony in the hub of art and culture Bakersfield California. He performed and taught with for ComdeySportz Bakersfield for more than seven years. An alumnus of iO West, Michael studied and performed there for more than five years under the direction of Dave Razowsky, Ed Herbstman, and James Grace among many others. He performed with Harold teams, The Award Winning Documentary, The Backstreet Bards and the crowd favorite The Spontaneous Shakespeare Company. Michael has taught classes at the Los Angeles Improv Festival, Made Up Theater, Major League Improv, Blacktop Comedy, the University of Nevada Reno and worked as an artistic consultant for Chicago’s Improvised Shakespeare Company. Michael founded Empire Improv in 2007 and is the owner and director. Michael has performed with Police Cops!, and Hostel Greetings, and several other groups at Empire Improv. In addition to teaching and creating the curriculum for Empire’s three levels of classes Michael continues to improvise in Reno and Northern California and with the improv duo Bakersfield.For more info: http://empireimprov.com
"I wouldn't be doing half of what I am today if Michael hadn't suggested that I might like improv. Working with him and taking his advice about where to study and what to read, I started to get a feeling for just how deep the waters get--how much is down there, and how much has yet to be found." - Alex Marino Co-Founder Magnet Theater
"Michael has a keen ability to perceive obstacles that prevent a student's progress and to develop solutions which empower the student to overcome those obstacles." - Blaine Swen founder/director Improvised Shakespeare Company
"Training with Michael has made me into a much more confident and competent improviser, writer, and person. Whether it be performing on stage, giving a speech at a wedding, communicating in the workplace, or creating a piece of fiction , I will return to the lessons I've learned from Michael Lewis for the rest of my life." - Tim Dufrisne Magnet Theater Peformer