Improv rock star Bill Stern (of Austin troupes Well Hung Jury and Available Cupholders) is back from Chicago and ready to share the wisdom of his world travels.

Over four weeks Bill will walk students through his unique take on what make improv tick and how to train yourself to improvise better faster and as painlessly as possible.

In particular, Bill is basing his class off of one his favorite books of all time, The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey.

Here’s a quote:

“The player loses himself in the action, continually breaking the false limits placed on his potential. Awareness becomes acutely heightened, while analysis, anxiety and self-conscious thought are completely forgotten. Enjoyment is at a peak pure and unspoiled.”

About Bill

Bill Stern has been performing the improvised arts in the streets and theaters of America since the year 2000. He has studied improvisation at iO, Annoyance, and directly under Keith Johnstone. With the Austin based troupe, Available Cupholders, has toured to over 50 cities in 24 states and has played at tens of festivals for audiences of 8 to 800. Bill is an original member of Dart, one of the longest running Harold teams at iO at 6+ years. He has coached the Harold team Winter Formal for 3 years as well as many independent teams in Chicago and Austin. He’s led workshops for every walk of performer from nervous corporate business person to excited high school theater-junkie to entrenched improv long hauler.

Bill also plays tennis. He’s a solid NTRP 3.5 player with a pretty big serve and inconsistent groundies. Favorite shot: backhand down the line.