The Faculty Lounge is a New Mexico long-form improv ensemble founded in the summer of 2019 by Rachel Michaela and Brian Crane. Performing at partner venues across the state including Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe and venues in Albuquerque, the group bills itself as New Mexico's longest-running professional long-form improv team. Rachel Michaela continues as executive producer and lead performer, and the ensemble has appeared at festivals including the District Improv Festival in Washington, D.C.
History
Founding (2019)
Rachel Michaela and Brian Crane met while teaching at a school in New Mexico in 2019 and founded The Faculty Lounge that summer as a long-form improv ensemble. Rather than operating a dedicated building, the group performs at partner venues across New Mexico, with recurring appearances at Jean Cocteau Cinema in Santa Fe and venues in Albuquerque and Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Ensemble Development
Crane later relocated to Chicago, and Rachel Michaela continued as executive producer and lead performer. The roster expanded to include Max Maliga, who joined in 2025, and Garner Jarrett among its regular members. Rachel Michaela also teaches independently through her own practice.
Festival Appearances
The Faculty Lounge has appeared at the District Improv Festival in Washington, D.C. (2023) and the Santa Fe CloudTop Comedy Festival (2024), where the ensemble performed with guest Will Hines. The group has also appeared on Improv4Humans with Matt Besser.
Artistic Identity
The Faculty Lounge performs long-form improv exclusively, and its model of booking into existing partner venues rather than maintaining a dedicated building keeps it mobile across New Mexico. Workshops and classes extend the ensemble's work as a training resource for the state.
Key Events
The Faculty Lounge Founded in New Mexico
Rachel Michaela and Brian Crane founded The Faculty Lounge in the summer of 2019 as New Mexico's first dedicated long-form improv ensemble, performing at partner venues across Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). The Faculty Lounge. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/companies/faculty-lounge-improv
The Improv Archive. "The Faculty Lounge." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/companies/faculty-lounge-improv.
The Improv Archive. "The Faculty Lounge." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/companies/faculty-lounge-improv. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.