MICHAEL J. SMITH (Professor, Head of Performance) teaches a number of courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including acting, voice, directing, dialects, and acting for the camera. He earned his B.A. in Theatre from California State University at Fullerton and his M.F.A. in Directing from the University of Oklahoma. Over the past thirty-five years, Michael has worked extensively as a professional actor and director. A proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA, he has many credits from regional theatres throughout the Northwest, including originating the roles of Red Gibbs in the Seattle Repertory Theatre production of The Ballad of Soapy Smith, Wallace in Angry Housewives at Pioneer Square Theatre, and Ben in Kosher Lutherans at Snowy Range Summer Theatre. Michael has extensive commercial credits and has been featured in a number of TV shows and films. Currently, he is playing Sprecks in CHALDEA, a web-TV series. Michael has also acted in such CWU productions as Man of La Mancha, Concrete Dreams, Art, Rounding Third, and A Christmas Carol. Recent CWU productions he has directed include ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Adventures of Sam Spade: The Dead Duck Caper.