Michael O'Connell joined the school in 2003 teaching acting and voice. O'Connell has served as a program director and teacher for Portland Center Stage and Vision & Voices since 2002, taught and performed with the Artists Repertory Theater, Actors to Go from 2000 to 2001, and worked as a private acting coach both in Portland and New York City since 1998. O'Connell's directing credits include One for the Road (2001) with the Profile Theater Project and Secret Hope (1999) for Theater Outrageous in New York City. He has performed in Another Fine Mess for Portland Center Stage, The Middle Watch for Theater Outrageous, and Lear Rex for La Mama, as well as television work on Unsolved Mysteries and As the World Turns. His film credits include Why Don't You Dance? , The Last Innocent Summer , and Kaarismo's Opening . He is a member of the Actors Equity Association, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He holds an MFA from U. of Missouri, KC.