It is with a heart full of gratitude (of course, this blog will be released two days from Thanksgiving) and a touch of disbelief that I sit down to write this post. I’m hitting a couple of major milestones in 2026, and I can’t help but feel like the most fortunate guy in the world—a real cliche, if you will, but in the best possible way.
I’m approaching 25 years as an improvisational theatre professional, and my/our nonprofit, Planet Improv, Incorporated, will be marking its 20th year!
When I first started this journey, using applied improvisation to empower people to grow socially and emotionally, I never imagined the scope of the impact we could have. It’s been an incredible ride, and I owe a massive “thank you” to so many people who have supported and encouraged me along the way.
To the wonderful educators, students of all ages, mentors, business associates, community leaders, administrators, and many, many more: you are the reason I get to do what I love every single day. Your trust, your enthusiasm, and your willingness to say “yes, and” to our programs have been the fuel for this amazing adventure. You’ve allowed me to work with thousands of schools and tens of thousands of scholars, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
My passion for teaching creativity, imagination building, and social-emotional education is stronger than ever. I truly believe in the power of the improv mindset to help people build resilience and real-world skills for life.
Sure, navigating the “Bermuda Triangle” of education, the arts, and the non-profit world seems to be more challenging than ever (pure speculation on my part, of course!), but the smiles, the laughter, and the transformative moments I witness with our scholars make every hurdle worth it. And yet, this is where I need to be frank with you. Despite the passion and the history, I sleep very restlessly most nights with the concern that our organization may not survive 2026 due to financial challenges.
I will be sharing more about how you can help us face this challenge in the coming weeks.
For now…
Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to the next chapter of empowering resilience through creativity!
Warm regards,
Scott Pacitti
Founder and Executive Director of Planet Improv, Inc.
Founder and President of Planet Improv Educational Services, LLC.