ABOUT

Summer 2019: Rachel Michaela meets Brian Crane ( Baron’s Barracudas) while teaching for a small school in New Mexico. They hit it off like fast friends and create The Faculty Lounge®,  (TFL™) New Mexico’s longest running professional longform improv team. 

Fall 2019 – 2021: Brian moves back to Chicago for health and family. Rachel keeps his spot warm while performing with a new crew of improvisers, producing monthly shows for live audiences throughout New Mexico with Stage Santa Fe (now Improv New Mexico).

2022-2023: TFL™ shares the stage with improv legends like Neil Casey, Matt Besser, and Danielle Schneider, as the resident team at the Jean Cocteau Cinema (Santa Fe), while bringing performances to multiple cities across New Mexico.

Fall 2023: TFL™ performs at the 2023 District Improv Festival in Washington, D.C. by invitation. 

2024: TFL™ shares the stage with improv legend Will Hines at the Santa Fe CloudTop Comedy Festival.

2025: TFL™ begins historic collaboration with The Exodus Ensemble to produce groundbreaking improv shows in New Mexico. 

2025: TFL™ welcomes the extremely talented class act Max Maliga (Killing My Lobster, San Francisco)  to the team. 

2025: TFL ™ begins new residency at The Shop NM, continuing to perform in multiple cities across New Mexico.

2026: TFL ™ unveils a brand new show with The Exodus Ensemble in Santa Fe, NM.