Our mission is simple: we’re transforming lives and communities across New Mexico through the power of improv.
team
/tēm/
noun
- A fearless crew and trusted circle, united by grit and loyalty, where everyone knows they’ve got each other’s backs.
Rachel Michaela
Board Chair, Executive Director, Instructor
Peter & Danette Sills
Founders, Advisors
Russell Maynor
Officer, VP Director, Artistic Advisor
Patsy Staehlin
Director, Operations Manager
Cody Dove
Instructor
Tonia Caselman
Ph.D., LCSW
Mental Health & Wellness Advisor
Will Hines
Curriculum & Improv Advisor
Shannon O’Neill
Curriculum & Improv Advisor
Carla & Craig Cackowski
Curriculum & Improv Advisors
Aaron Alexander
Community Outreach & Media Advisor
Ben “Lightning” Acosta
Physical Wellness Advisor
Kevin Chambers
Resilience Advisor
Sherriff & John Rambo
Burnout Team
Emilio Estevez
Burnout Team
our story
And so it begins
2019: Peter and Danette Sills create Stage Santa Fe, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to promote all forms of creative expression in Santa Fe, NM. They begin their community efforts at 3209 Mercantile Court in Santa Fe.
Class is in session
2019-2023: Stage Santa Fe builds the best teaching team in New Mexico while hosting top-tier improv classes and acting workshops. They become the initial sponsors of The Faculty Lounge™, New Mexico’s longest running professional longform improv team. Rachel Michaela, co-founder, producer, manager, and lead performer of The Faculty Lounge™, is named the lead improv instructor in Santa Fe.
Goodfaith efforts
2023: Stage Santa Fe donates tens of thousands of dollars in teacher salaries to a neighboring improv school experiencing diminishing success. In an act of goodwill, they become a temporary rental partner to the neighboring school to stop them from losing their lease and going out of business. Stage Santa Fe also pays for the construction of the only improv comedy stage in Santa Fe in this shared space.
The legacy Continues
2024: Peter and Danette Sills transition Stage Santa Fe out of the temporary rental agreement with the neighboring school. They move out of executive leadership and name Rachel Michaela as Chair of the Board and Executive Director of Stage Santa Fe. A new board is also named. The Sills’ continue as trusted advisors to the organization.
First Launch of IMPROV4NM™
2024: Rachel Michaela renames the organization to Improv New Mexico™ and refocuses the non-profit’s mission. Under Rachel’s leadership, Improv New Mexico™ (Improv NM™) is the first organization in the state to launch a statewide outreach initiative, IMPROV4NEWMEXICO™ (IMPROV4NM ™): transforming lives and communities across New Mexico through the power of improv™ and the first to use it in commerce.
A new ChapteR
2024-2025: Improv New Mexico™ forges partnerships with mental health clinics, community leaders, and corporate training programs across the state of New Mexico to transform lives and communities through the power of improv.
Improv New Mexico™
dba Improv NM™ dba Albuquerque Improv
™ dba Abq Improv™
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
FEIN: 84-2713587
