Welcome to Santa Fe Improv - the best place in New Mexico to learn improv!

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Santa Fe Improv was formed in 2009 as an LLC, but, in 2019, became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the benefits of improv to adults and teens in New Mexico. Our students and community members thrive on a common love of improv and a love of laughter. Due to the efforts of a lot of smart, funny, hardworking people, our organization has grown to the point where, in January of 2024, Executive Director, Eric Weiss, launched community-based programs for school students and educators.

Here’s a quick look at our history:

  • 2009: Ben Taxy, a writer (Family Guy) founded Santa Fe Improv with help from key staff including Maddi Knox, Brian Crane, Ruby Peru, Charles Gamble, Kate Chavez, and Robin Holloway, and later moved out of state, during which time the organization was run by Kita Mehaffy.
  • 2019: Santa Fe Improv became a nonprofit entity, and began to grow.
  • 2020: Eric Weiss (now Executive Director) came to Santa Fe to teach improv, having successfully taught at The Box in Albuquerque, and became the Artistic Director of Santa Fe Improv. Santa Fe Improv took a commercial lease and built an exciting theater space on Parkway Drive.
  • 2021: Clare Maraist (now a board member) took a turn as Executive Director, before turning it over to John Cullinan, formerly a Reverend of the Unitarian Church in Los Alamos. John broadened the community program offerings.
  • January 2024: A new Board of Directors was elected in January of 2024. Lucy River, an attorney with significant experience as a working actor, and former Director of Leadership Santa Fe (a highly successful nonprofit that ran both youth and adult civic leadership development programs) became President of the Board of Santa Fe Improv. Eric Weiss took over as Executive Director of Santa Fe Improv. Eric refocused Santa Fe Improv around longform improvisation, authenticity in performance, and community engagement, founding the trademarked Improv4Schools™ program, which offers improv to schools at no cost to students, and the Improv4Educators™ program, which teaches school teachers how to teach improv to their students, all under the umbrella of the Improv4NewMexico™ community initiative.
  • November 2024: Lucy River transitioned from Board President to Managing Director in November. Patrick McAndrew, Business Coach and Speaker, was elected President of the Board.

We at Santa Fe Improv want to give back to our beloved New Mexico and we are grateful for the chance to contribute in a positive way. We are excited to be a part of a thriving arts education community in Santa Fe. If you want to know more, please sign up to receive the Santa Fe Improv newsletter and check our website for updates.