Our mission is simple: we’re transforming lives and communities across New Mexico through the power of improv.

team

/tēm/
noun

  1. 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

Guest 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) launches statewide outreach initiative IMPROV4NEWMEXICO™ (IMPROV4NM ™): transforming lives and communities across New Mexico through the power of improvand produces classes, workshops, performances, trainings, and community events across New Mexico.  

A new ChapteR

2024-2025: Mission accepted. Improv New Mexico forges meaningful partnerships with local non-profits, theater venues, performance groups, acting studios, corporate entities, educational institutions, mental health clinics, and community leaders. The Community Sponsorship and Scholarship programs are launched along with a boots-on-the-ground statewide outreach to underserved communities. 

Improv New Mexico dba Improv NM dba Albuquerque Improv dba Abq Improv is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 
FEIN: 84-2713587