Santa Ed Harris, Guest Instructor

Santa Ed Harris has a vast background in multi-media entertainment production and performance. Raised in suburban New Jersey, after majoring in Fine Arts at the University of Oklahoma, he performed in and produced music and entertainment projects, including record, film, and theatrical productions, He later served as Producer and Associate Director of Columbia Music Hall in Hartford, Connecticut, presenting concerts and industrial shows. As a singer, actor, emcee and musician, he has performed in numerous venues throughout the United States and internationally. 

He served as Executive Producer for The Gateway Group, Inc. in San Francisco, producing documentary films, and was engaged by ABC-TV’s Good Morning America and its late-night cousin, Good Night America, to field produce segments for Geraldo Rivera in the western United States and Mexico. 

Upon relocating to Hollywood, Harris established The Act Factory, a one-stop company unique to the entertainment industry, where he structured musical and comedic material and provided production services and direction to performing artists and industrial show producers. He successfully directed a series of Professional Performance Workshops at the Society For The Preservation Of Variety Arts in Los Angeles, Hollywood's Los Angeles Songwriter's Showcase, and for several years at the Los Angeles Songwriter's Expo, an annual musical event held at various colleges throughout greater Los Angeles. 

As a writer, producer and director, he has worked as an entertainment consultant to numerous show business personalities and major corporate clients. For his Los Angeles-based company, Myriad Productions, he co-created and was Executive Producer/Producer and Director of two television magazine series, The Clubhouse (Group W), and Boating World, starring John Davidson (ESPN). 

Presently, Harris is the principal in Ed Harris Artist Management, representing vocalists, entertainers and musical groups. He continues to create entertainment projects as a producer and consultant, while coaching professional performing artists, groups and young performers, structuring and directing their stage performances. A repeat winner of the 2012, 2015 and 2018 Lawrence Awards competition, he has fronted and has been the featured male vocalist for several big bands in Los Angeles and Atlanta, entertains at nightclubs and concerts with his solo act, and has additionally served as Music Director and featured vocalist in Glory Days, a musical revue of hit songs from the 1950’s through the current day. 

Giving back to the community, he has taught at Summer Drama Camps at Atlanta art and community centers, and annually participates in S.T.E.A.M. Day/Artist Day In The Schools, instructing children to sing music jingles from well-known television commercials. Additionally, he has played Santa Claus at venues across the country for over 40 years and has taught at other Atlanta Santa schools, instructing Santas and Mrs. Clauses in the art of performance. He also continues to serve as Co-Chair of Tower of Talent, an annual concert showcasing Atlanta’s most talented young performers, held at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center and benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

He married his wife, actress Chris Cole, on the original set of the Johnny Carson Tonight Show, at the Roof Garden of the Variety Arts Center in Los Angeles. 

Show Business is his life.