Eric developed his improv teaching and performance style under the mentorship of Ben Taxy—the founder of Santa Fe Improv. He went on to complete training in character-based improv at The Groundlings, Los Angeles and studied extensively with Will Hines, along with other notable Upright Citizens Brigade instructors Alex Berg, Shannon O’Neil, and Brandon Gardner.
Ben Taxy is the founder of Santa Fe Improv and a former writer for network TV (Family Guy). He was trained by Jeff Michalski and Jane Morris (founders of the Second City ETC), Stan Wells (founder of The Empty Stage), and Judy Carter (founder of Comedy Workshops). Ben is the CEO of Storytelling for Technology and consults for tech companies to develop product narratives and storytelling training programs. He volunteers as the Communication Advisor for Tomorrow’s Air, a climate-focused startup, and as the Technology Instructor for the HP Senior Center. He graduated from Harvard University. Currently, Ben is teaching the SFI Writing Program.
Michael Lovato has been performing improv since 2006. He is a graduate of The Groundlings Writer Lab in LA, studied at WGIS in LA with Will Hines and Jim Woods and has also appeared on the Improv4Humans podcast. He performs in Santa Fe with The Faculty Lounge. He was a longtime performer on “The Show,” New Mexico’s longest running improv show. Having accumulated over 500 performances.
Charles Gamble is thrilled to be back with Santa Fe Improv. After years of bar-prov, Charles was fortunate to begin training with improv luminary (and founder of SFI) Ben Taxy in 2010 – an experience that continues to have deep resonance. In New Mexico, Charles has performed as an actor or dancer with the Tricklock Company, Theater Grottesco, The Santa Fe Opera, Shakespeare Santa Fe, Moving People Dance, Theaterwork, Fusion Theatre, the National Dance Institute, and NO HOLDS BARD, an improvised Shakespeare troupe. Outside New Mexico, Charles has developed original work and toured with Angel Exit Theater in Dublin, Ireland, and acted with Shakespeare Santa Cruz and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. He trained in physical theater at L’Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris and at Shakespeare and Co. in Lenox, Massachusetts. Charles has been on the faculty at the University of Colorado – Boulder, and the College of Santa Fe and was part of the founding faculty in the theater department at the NM School for the Arts, a charter school that offers conservatory arts training for high school students throughout New Mexico.
Kristin has been working professionally as an actor in theater for the past 24 years. She has a passion for storytelling through collaboration. Her primary focus in her theatre career has been performing but she has also worked as a stage manager, house manager, playwright, director and instructor.
