Michael Golding – 2nd Generation Improv Pioneer

Michael GoldingMichael Golding has been improvising for over 40 years. Michael is a writer, director and improv teacher who studied with the “father of Improv” David Shepherd and pioneered many innovative improv programs.  Michael participated in the evolution of the Improv Olympics & Canadian Improv Games and is the  Artistic Director of the Comic Strip Improv Group in N.Y. & created the Insight Theatre Company for Planned Parenthood, Ottawa.  In addition to being a performer and coach, Michael is an accomplished writer and his book Listen Harder is a wonderful collection of essays on his journey in improv and working with at-risk youth in various settings.

His blog can be found at All Things Michael .He wrote and co-produced the documentary  David Shepherd: A Lifetime of Improvisational Theatre  This film is the most thorough history of improvisational theatre I’ve ever seen. Many of the founders of improv are featured in this video. He is a faculty member at El Camino College in Los Angeles, working with at-risk teens and traditional students.

Michael holds a BFA degree in Drama from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts & an MA degree in Educational Theatre from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education & Human Development.

Photo Michael Golding, Willy WIley, Howard Jerome, David Shepherd
Michael Golding, Willy Wiley, Howard Jerome, David Shepherd

Michael and I had a wonderful chat about his journey in the wonderful world of improvisational theatre!

Michael can be contacted for workshops, festivals and private consultations at migaluch@yahoo.com