"NYC's Mission: Improv-able is high flying-death defying comedy without a net!"
Robert L. Kerstner
Artistic Director & Veteran Improvisor
Robert L. Kerstner is a professional actor, theatre educator, and performing arts advocate with a dynamic career spanning stage, screen, and educational settings. His performance work encompasses musical theatre, Shakespeare, improvisational comedy, cabaret, classical opera, and Renaissance Faire performance, reflecting a deep commitment to ensemble‑based storytelling and embodied performance.
A longtime performer on the Renaissance Faire circuit, Robert brings a distinctive blend of theatrical storytelling, historical performance, and physical discipline to immersive environments. As a trained horseman, he pairs equestrian skill with commanding stage presence, honing his sense of movement, timing, and character in large‑scale live productions. His professional credits include work with Hudson Valley Opera Company, BergenStages, BergenStages Radio Theatre, Renaissance Entertainment Productions, Broadway Concerts Direct, NYC’s Mission Improv‑able, Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, and The New Jersey Foundation for Dance & Theatre Arts. In addition to theatre, he has appeared in film and multiple web series.
With over a decade of experience as a performer, director, and theatre teacher, Robert is a passionate advocate for arts education and accessibility. His teaching philosophy emphasizes collaboration, confidence‑building, communication, and physical storytelling. He views theatre as a powerful educational tool—one that cultivates empathy, discipline, creativity, and transferable social skills applicable far beyond the stage.
Robert is also an accomplished line dancer and an active member of the dance community. He has served as a judge for multiple dance competitions, bringing both technical insight and a performer’s appreciation for disciplined artistry to the evaluation process.
Currently, Robert serves as Artistic Director of NYC’s Mission Improv‑able, where he leads the troupe into its next chapter. His focus includes rebuilding the performance company, training emerging improvisers, and expanding the organization’s mission to promote theatre and performing arts awareness through laughter, education, and community engagement throughout the Hudson Valley.
A thoughtful artistic leader and dedicated educator, Robert L. Kerstner brings depth, discipline, and heart to every space he enters—on stage, in rehearsal, and in the classroom.