Conservatory Program

Meet the 2026 Conservatory!

A young man with short, wavy light brown hair, blue eyes, and a light beard, wearing a red sweater with a pattern, sitting with his arms crossed over a table against a dark background. 
Instagram: @arrowoodcolin

Colin Arrowood

  • Hi. I'm Colin. I think I'm what they call an Atlanta "native", moved in at 4 from "out west". I may have desert in my bones, but the swamp is my home. I was raised by two microbiologists, so science is like, my love language. I have a cat named Cat, he didn't like his birthname so now he's nameless slob. I suppose I got into this whole "improv thing" after playing Dungeons and Dragons for years. I really enjoyed coming up with whacky voices with friends, so much so, that we started a tabletop roleplaying podcast together. I couldn't shake the notion of how cool it would be to do the same thing, but like, on a stage bigger than a dining table. That lead me to my first improv classes at Dad's Garage! Then onto stand-up and acting, and now I guess the rest is history! In my free time I enjoy running, jump rope, and staying up real late on Google maps looking up weird unpopulated islands in the Pacific. Recently I've been doing stand-up for the non-profit Science for Georgia, which has been a real collision of worlds for me and greatly rewarding. My favorite part of improv is supporting someone's ideas and making them a star! I'm always excited to get out there and see what beautiful stories we can make together!

Close-up of a smiling man wearing a green shirt against a gray background. 
Instagram: @alexdevilliers

Alex Devilliers

  • Alex is an Atlanta-based improviser who began his improv journey at Dad's Garage back in 2023. Since then, he's completed nearly every course Dad's Garage has to offer (shy of burlesque, which he refuses to take of the table). Over the years, he's developed an expansive skillset covering long- and short-form improv, sketch writing, stand-up, and even a touch of modern French-style clown! A long-time staple of Atlanta's indie improv jam communities, Alex is excited to bring his penchant for strong characters, big choices, and high-energy play into the 2026 Dad's Garage conservatory ensemble.

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Instagram: @sophthepigeon

Sophia Doctoroff

  • Alex is an Atlanta-based improviser who began his improv journey at Dad's Garage back in 2023. Since then, he's completed nearly every course Dad's Garage has to offer (shy of burlesque, which he refuses to take of the table). Over the years, he's developed an expansive skillset covering long- and short-form improv, sketch writing, stand-up, and even a touch of modern French-style clown! A long-time staple of Atlanta's indie improv jam communities, Alex is excited to bring his penchant for strong characters, big choices, and high-energy play into the 2026 Dad's Garage conservatory ensemble.

Close-up of a smiling man with brown, wavy hair and a gray beard, wearing a dark gray shirt, with a background of blurred warm-toned vertical wooden slats. 
Instagram: @cole.earnest

Cole Earnest

  • Cole fell in love with improv and sketch comedy at the University of Georgia performing with Improv Athens and Sharkwing. He spent 7 years in Chicago producing, writing, and performing in shows at iO, the Annoyance, the Apollo, and various Second City stages (the de Maat, Donny's Skybox, and Judy's Beat Lounge). These days, you can see him performing with his indie team Referential. He couldn't be more excited to join this year's conservatory class at Dad's Garage!

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Instagram: @the.jawara

JAWARA

  • JAWARA is an improviser who tries his best to be whatever the team needs in the moment. Whether that’s initiating the scene or making car nosies to support the scene from the back line. Growing up, he got bit by the improv/sketch bug watching Wayne Brady, Jay Pharoah and countless hours of Key and Peele. Now Jawara is excited to be part of the Renowned Dad’s Garage Conservatory as he inches closer to his childhood dream of being on SNL.

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Instagram: @noahkitchens

Noah Kitchens

  • Noah began his improv journey after graduating from Georgia State University in 2022. He can be seen performing most weekends as a cast member at Whole World Improv Theatre.

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Instagram: @luhneez
TikTok: @luhneeznavidad

Lenise Lyons

  • Lenise is Atlanta improviser/comedian/writer/Auntie. She regularly promises to fold the clothes straight out the dryer...but this is a lie. But she does make a conscious effort to recycle and compost. Her future plans are to make people laugh as loud as she does.

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Instagram: @courtycash

Courtney Overcash

  • Courtney Overcash is a marketer, performer, and comedian. She believes strongly in love, feminism, and the healing power of a good Netflix binge. When she’s not on stage, she’s usually baking elaborate desserts and trying to convince people that cake counts as dinner.

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Instagram: @kimberlyvanlan

Kimberly Van Laningham

  • Kimberly is a performer and writer who has trained here at Dad's Garage and at The Second City in Chicago. She's thrilled to be newly back home in Atlanta, closer to her wonderfully supportive family and friends. When not on stage, you can find her creating content for her WFH corporate job from anywhere that's not a desk OR sharing a tiny couch with her husband, dog, and two cats while bickering about which movie to watch.

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Instagram: @faiththegreat

Faith Volpe

  • Faith grew up in Michigan and discovered improv when she moved to Atlanta. After accidentally walking into a jam at Bibliotech, she started taking classes at Dad’s. Since then, she has been hooked on performing and has fallen in love with the friends she’s made through it. Faith also enjoys puppetry, paper crafts, and going on tandem bike rides with her husband, Josh.

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Instagram: @pineapplesuggestion

Michael Williams

  • Michael Williams is a comedian who’s been performing improv and sketch comedy since 2012. After getting his start in his hometown of San Francisco at Endgames Improv, he continued studying and performing comedy at institutions like UCB Theater and People’s Improv Theater (up until the world shut down). Since coming to ATL in 2021, he’s performed at the Atlanta Fringe Festival and at venues all across the city such as Village Theater, Dynamic El Dorado and The Alley Stage. When he’s not running doing comedy, he can be found at home, being the proud parent to 6 unruly cats.

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Instagram: @julietdevette

Juliet Yi Rou DeVette

  • Juliet Yi Rou DeVette is so excited to be a part of the 2026 Dad's Conservatory! A graduate of Robert Mello Studio, Village Theatre, and University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, she is based in Atlanta and Malaysia, and is Taiwanese and American. Some of her recent theatre roles include Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire: The Musical, at Georgia Ensemble Theatre, and the interactive horror dystopian play, Witch Cake, at the 2025 Atlanta Fringe Festival. She is lactose intolerant.

What is the Conservatory?

The Dad’s Garage Conservatory program is an audition-only training program for students who are ready to take their improv to the next level.

Our conservatory is the southeast’s premiere improv training program designed for the most dedicated and advanced performers and led by our most seasoned educators.

 

  • Prospective Dad’s Garage conservatory members must have complete training in one of the following ways prior to auditioning:

    Completed improv levels 1-4 at Dad’s Garage. (It is also recommended, but not required, that Dad’s Garage students take level 5)

    OR

    Completed at least one year of improv training at an approved school.  Examples of approved schools:

  • From March to October, the Conservatory meets Sundays for workshops and performs in every Tuesday night Community Jam.

    The program is $1,200.

  • Conservatory Members have the opportunity to:

    • Audition for Dad’s Garage shows

    • Perform weekly at Community Jams

    • Host Community Jams

    • Feature in special events at Dad’s Garage

    • Participate in three showcases on the main stage

    • Potentially participate in main stage performances October - December

    • Shadow directors, technical improvisers, teachers, and more

    • Teach at Dad’s Garage youth camps

    • Work directly with Dad’s Garage ensemble members

 

Program Highlights

The Dad’s Garage Conservatory supports the ongoing development of artists through sustained collaboration and practice. Grounded in the belief that long-term ensemble work is essential to artistic growth, the Conservatory creates space for performers to deepen their skills, refine their craft, and evolve a distinct artistic voice over time.

 

Dad’s Garage Theory

Take a deep dive into performing, producing, and developing improv in the Dad’s Garage style. Participants explore Dad’s Garage’s unique philosophy, approach to humor, and theatrical sensibilities while building the specific creative and improvisational skills used in signature productions such as Murder She Improvised, SCANDAL!, and The Tight Acquaintances.

 

Ensemble Building

Forge strong connections with fellow advanced improvisers and develop a supportive, collaborative community. Ensemble work focuses on trust, shared language, and creative risk-taking—celebrating both individual growth and collective success.

 

Advanced Improv Skills

Expand your performance toolkit through advanced improvisational techniques and theory, paired with personalized feedback. Participants cultivate a deeper understanding of how humor functions within improvisation and theatre, strengthening both performance instincts and intentional choices onstage.

 

Narrative

Explore story structure, character development, acting skills, genre, and theatrical storytelling. This track challenges performers to push beyond traditional improv forms and expand what’s possible within long-form and narrative-driven work.

 

Showcase

In addition to weekly performances at community nights, Conservatory participants culminate the program with a public showcase, highlighting their growth and ensemble work.