James Mainard O'Connell

James is a theatre professional and educator with experience as an actor, director, designer, playwright, and technical director.  He is currently based in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he directs the theatre program at Episcopal Collegiate School.  For a summary of James' experience, see below.  For details, click on the links at the top of the page.

Education - MFA and MLitt in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance from Mary Baldwin College; BA in Theatre with an Education minor from Hendrix College.

Acting - Member of Actors Equity Association.  Roles in more than two dozen professional productions and numerous academic productions.  Musician in several productions, usually on violin.

Technical Director/Technician - Has been Technical Director or Assistant Technical Director for New Players Company, Long Island University, Episcopal Collegiate School, Debate Society, The Production Company, Columbia University, and the Peterborough Players.  Frequent overhire technician for McCarter Theatre.

Directing/Producing - Owner/Artistic Director of Golden Duck Productions for 1 year; during this time directed and/or produced 5 productions.  6 productions directed at Episcopal Collegiate School including Medea and Into the Woods Jr. 3 productions directed and 1 "24 Hour Play Festival" produced for New Players Company.

Playwright - 4 plays produced.  Winner of the Hendrix-Murphy playwriting contest in 2003 and 2004.  See doollee.com for play summaries.

Academia - Taught at James Madison University, Kingsborough Community College, and Episcopal Collegiate School.  Lectures/workshops presented at the American Shakespeare Center, Hendrix College, Actors Shakespeare Company, Fort Defiance High School, and Grace Christian Academy.  Papers presented at Southeastern Renaissance Conference, American Society for Theatre Research, and Maryland Shakespeare Festival Conference.  Published in Renaissance Papers 2008 and Shaksper.net online journal.