Us: The Cast of Empire Comedy
Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis, who began his foray into improvisation over fifteen years ago with the Hermit Colony in the hub of art and culture Bakersfield, California, founded Empire Comedy. He performed with ComedySportz in Bakersfield off and on for more than seven years. He began teaching for Bakersfield ComedySportz in 1996 and directed the high school league there for two years.
An alumnus of iO West (formerly Improv Olympic West), Michael studied and performed there for five years. While at iO he performed with Harold teams G.U.S. and Pit Boss as well as The Award Winning Documentary. He was on two retired Champion teams of the iO West Cage Match, first with The Backstreet Bards and then with Blaine is Obviously Gay.
The Backstreet Bards went on to become the crowd favorite Spontaneous Shakespeare Co. performing a forty-minute-long Shakespearean-style one-act play. They were twice invited to perform at the Annual Los Angeles Improv Festival and Michael was invited to teach workshops at the annual festival.
Michael spent two years as an artistic advisor for Major League Improv, teaching several workshops for them. For two years he worked as an artistic consultant for iO Chicago's wildly successful Improvised Shakespeare Co.
Now, of course, he runs Empire Comedy, creating the class curriculum and teaching Levels 1, 2, and 3. Last spring he began teaching improvisational theater at University of Nevada Reno through the theater department. For two years he performed with the now retired Police Cops!. He also performs with Empire's house team Like a Banshee and Hostel Greetings.
Comments by Michael's past students.
"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 of Magnet Improv Theater, New York
“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 Co. Chicago, Illinois
"Michael is an amazing teacher and really knows his 'stuff'. Even after doing improv theatre for years, a few classes with him made me realize I still had a lot to learn." - Kim Canfield Major League Improv
"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 Empire Comedy alumni.
"Michael understands what it takes to create great improvised scenes and shows, and is able to convey this to his students. He is the best improv teacher I have had outside of Chicago." - Ben Craig Empire Comedy Student and performer.
Groups
LIke a Banshee
Empire Comedy's house team.
Hostel Greetings
Police Cops
Police Cops is an improvised cop drama.