Michael Shipley is an actor, director, teacher, and coach whose work is rooted in his love for acting and theatre. His creative scholarship focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of the rehearsal process and expanding actors’ creative freedom. Drawing on contemporary and historical approaches to actor training and rehearsal, he developed an innovative rehearsal method that integrates detailed text analysis with improvisational exploration. This process not only enriches artistic opportunities for actors but also re-centers the playwright in the collaborative rehearsal space, encouraging deeper dialogue between actor and director.

As a voice and speech professional, Michael helps students integrate vocal expressiveness with acting technique, with a particular emphasis on heightened and poetic texts. He is especially interested in working with actors to communicate vivid imagery clearly and dynamically to modern, diverse audiences in the age of social media.

Michael received his BS in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University, his MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, and his MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theatre.  He is also a Certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework, Certified Teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork, and a Certified Trainer and Coach of Vocal Combat Technique. 

Michael was the founding Voice and Text Director for the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Minnesota and has coached and taught at Shakespeare festivals across the country.  As an actor, he has performed with many regional theaters including the American Conservatory Theater, Missouri Repertory Theatre, American Players Theatre, Sacramento Theatre Company, and numerous Shakespeare festivals.  Michael was also a founding member of the San Francisco Bay Area performance group Monday Afternoon Productions, which produces live theatre and web content, and he is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association.

Education

MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theatre

MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University

BS in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University

Certified Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework

Certified Teacher of Knight-Thompson Speechwork

Certified Trainer and Coach of Vocal Combat Technique

Honors and Awards

Eldon J. Gardner Teacher of the Year Finalist 2024

Caine College of the Arts Teacher of the Year 2024

Utah Division of Arts and Museums Artist Career Advancement Scholarship 2023

Research and Scholarly Activities

Publications:                                                                                                   

          Active Analysis in the Beginning Acting Classroom. Stanislavski Studies 2023

          Opportunities: A Contemporary Play Reading Series and the Pandemic. Etudes 2022        

Supplemental Instructor Video Materials for:                                   

Experiencing Speech: A Skills-Based, Panlingual Approach to Actor Training: A Beginner's Guide to Knight-Thompson Speechwork®  by Andrea Caban, Julie Foh, and Jeff Parker, 2021

Presentations and Panels:

            Voice and Speech Trainers Association – 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

            Association of Theatre in Higher Education – 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

            The S Word Stanislavski Studies Symposium – 2022, 2023, 2025

            Freedom and Focus Fitzmaurice Voicework Symposium – 2023, 2025

            Southeastern Theatre Conference – 2022

Research Interests

Teaching Interests: Acting, Text Analysis, Voice, Speech, Dialects

Research Interests: The intersection between acting methodology and vocal technique, with emphasis on voice and language in performance.