The Phantom Sheep Players

Writer, Director, Arts Educator, Performer, Producer Inspired at an early age by the Muppets and Saturday Night Live, Eric became a co-founding member of PSP to bring that love of parody, satire, and improv locally to the greater Springfield area.  He accidentally landed on puppetry professionally performing custom puppet shows for almost a decade where he co-created the "Phantom Sheep" character; but his talents and passion are mostly in writing and performance of sketch comedy with a purpose. Influences include The Second City, Kids in the Hall, his alma mata Sleeveless Theatre, his current co-troupe members, and of course SNL...and there's still a bit of Jim Henson's work in his heart. He holds degrees in Communications and Theater. He studied improv, clowning, and character work with Sleeveless Theatre (instr. Kate Nugent, Van Farrier, Lisa Channer) progressing up to Masters course and Power Improv ensemble, along with continuous workshops with various other artists. Eric has also created, scripted, and produced over 40 original shows for the theme park industry including licensed properties working with Warner Bros. & DC Comics writing for Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and The Joker; as well as many shows featuring his own characters in such Phantom Sheep hits as Mayhem Mission, Totally Timeless, StoryTale:Fumbled Fables, and Graveyard Groove.  He currently serves as the troupe's artistic director and head writer.  As an instructor, he teaches improv, puppetry, and theater ranging from youth and beginners to advanced professional performers.  Eric also serves on the Artistic board and production advisor for Opera House Players in Enfield, CT, where he has designed several shows and directed "RENT", "Rock of Ages", "Little Shop of Horrors", and "Avenue Q" being nominated for several Broadway World CT awards including "Best Director". Eric is married to Debbie (the sister of PSP co-founding member Jon Gill), and they have a wonderful smart amazing daughter who now sometimes even assists as a tech at improv shows. Together they love going to theater, playing video games, and building LEGO.

Actor, Improviser, Instructor, Professional Idiot Jeff met Eric and Zippy when hired to play "Mort the Used Coffin Salesman" at Riverside Park. A couple years later, Eric and Jeff wrote a spin-off show for Mort that ran for nearly 2 decades later (featuring many other actors in the role). Also during this time, Jeff created his one-man comedy magic act "Sidewalk Sorcery" and was part of the weekly improv classes taught by Phantom Sheep at HCC. Over the years, Jeff has been a driving force in the troupe as a writer, performer, and instructor often seen in LaughCrafters shows, sketches, and workshops. He performed roles in several other Phantom Sheep shows including "Puppetworks PhantoSeize", "Showdown in GhostTown", "Verdict of Sorcery", and "Splashbucklin Scalleywags". Jeff is known for his clowning and lyrical interpretive dance skills. He has also directed several of our shows and even created props and puppets for many of our productions. Jeff studied Theater at Salem State and HCC. He also studied clowning and interactive performance with Avner the Eccentric at the renowned Celebration Barn. Jeff is also a published comic book writer & artist. You can check out his titles "Doberman" and "Heretic Hex" at Rare Earth Comics.

Actress, improvisor, dancer Paige first started as a improv student in the early 2010's when she took a Phantom Sheep workshop at her local library. Years later, she started studying with them at the Springfield JCC, and continued with their move to Unity House Players. She started appearing on stage (and screen) as an advanced student, along with assisting at workshops with our younger students and Sunshine Village; and officially joined as a featured player in the fall of 2021. Paige has also appeared as a performer in local theater including "Newsies", "Shrek", "Legally Blond", "Footloose", "Rock of Ages" (dance captain), and more. She has recently also started helping behind the scenes on set construction and sketch writing and was stage manager for OHP's RENT and UHP's "The Prom". Paige is a graduate of HARTT with a degree in Arts Management.

Actor, improviser, writer, director We first met Josh working with Opera House Players. Soon, he joined us for improv jams and then our weekly classes. His first time appearing with Phantom Sheep Players on stage professionally was when he filled in at The Big E show in 2022. He has since assisted as an instructor and continues to appear on stage and in sketches as an official member of the troupe. Josh has also written several plays that have been produced and has directed for Suffield Players, Opera House Players ("American Son", nominated for Broadway World CT best play and director), and Unity House Players ("Every Brilliant Thing").

Performer, Instuctor, Assoc. Producer. Tommy was raised by television and his work out jam is compromised of TV theme songs.  One of his first jobs was working at a video store before becoming a theater usher at Riverside Park where he met Jeff and Eric. As the park transformed to Six Flags, Tommy grew as a performer, director, and entertainment coordinator.  He was an early student of the Phantom Sheep workshop series and classes taught at HCC before eventually becoming a LaughCrafters featured player in late 2000.  Tommy currently works as a repertoire troupe member, writer, and producer.  He also is an instructor for many of our youth classes.  Tommy has originated roles in several PSP shows such as "Mayhem Mission" and "On Location" as well as directed a few productions such as "Mort" and "Mrs. Claus' Christmas Eve".  He also serves on the artistic board of Opera House Players as audience advisor and house manager along with assisting on several set builds.  In LaughCrafters, Tommy has some of the most memorable moments and characters. It's hard to put into words what makes Tommy tick on stage...he just is. Tommy has an Associates degree in Television Production and a Bachelor's in Communications.

Performer, Improviser Jesse officially joined the troupe in 2012 after serving as a tech on many PSP shows becoming a skiled improviser and sketch writer/performer. He is known for his portrayal of "Geegore" in "Mayhem Mission" and often still appears in LaughCrafters sketches.

Comic actor, Improviser, Video content producer Aaron started studying with Phantom Sheep at J-ART in the fall of 2016. He has also performed in Phantom Sheep original shows as an actor, singer, and puppeteer such as "Totally Timeless"(Brad Parker), "Graveyard Groove"(Fred Ascare), and "Mrs. Claus' Christmas Eve" (Pepper). Other theater roles include "The Little Mermaid" (JART) , "RENT" (Squeegeeman & others, OHP), Avenue Q (Princeton), The Prom (Trent Oliver), and "Rock of Ages" (Franz, OHP, nominated BWWCT award). Aaron also works with ECT as stage manager (Matilda, Guys & Dolls) and director (Spongbob the musical). You can also follow him on Tik Tok @aaronjohn12

Actress, Singer, Improviser Stevie first started studying improv with Phantom Sheep in 2015 as part of the JART program. She officially joined the troupe in 2023. She also originated the part of Mrs. Claus in Phantom Sheep's show "Mrs. Claus' Christmas Eve", a musical filled with parody and puppetry that ran at Six Flags for 3 seasons of Holiday in the Park. Stevie was nominated for best supporting performing by Broadway World CT for her portrayal of "Maureen" in RENT (directed by Eric Boucher) and for her costume work in "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Rock of Ages". She has also been on the production team for such shows as "Little Shop of Horrors", "Avenue Q", and "Kinky Boots" (stage manager). She also starred as Dee Dee Allen in "The Prom" (UHP, spring '26) and directed "Grease" (summer 2026). Stevie has a Bachelors in Music with an emphasis in Opera.