Improvisation in Austin
Companies
Historical Moments
The Hideout Theatre Opens on Congress Avenue in Austin
Sean Hill and Shana Merlin co-founded The Hideout Theatre in Austin, Texas in 1999, opening at 617 Congress Avenue in a building that had previously housed a pawn shop. The theatre operated at that address for more than twenty-five years as Austin's primary dedicated improv venue.
ColdTowne Theater Founded in Austin
Brian Lazzaro and Mary Borsellino founded ColdTowne Theater in Austin, Texas in 2007, establishing a community-focused long-form improv and sketch comedy venue in the East Austin arts district.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Austin. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/united-states/texas/austin
The Improv Archive. "Austin." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/united-states/texas/austin.
The Improv Archive. "Austin." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/locales/north-america/united-states/texas/austin. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.