Lionel Walsh is an actor and director and teaches acting, improvisation, and character study in the BFA in Acting programme. Lionel is a certified Master Teacher of the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique (Michael Chekhov Association), specialising in using the technique to facilitate the development of original solo productions based on life studies. He has also has trained at the Moscow Art Theatre School, Russia.

As an actor, Lionel appeared most recently as Lyle in Whale Riding Weather at the 2009 Brighton Festival Fringe, UK. He also appeared as Luni-Mato in the award-winning film, Commedia Fantasia, for Gina Lori Riley Dance Enterprises; the film has had showings in Houston, New York City and Monte Carlo.

In September 2012, he directed Afterplay for Alternative Theatre Works in Stratford, Ontario. Other professional directing credits include The Orphan Muses (Breathe Art Theatre Project, 2011), Salt-Water Moon (Constellation Theatre); Plaza Suite (Sunshine Festival). Other recent directing credits include Summer and Smoke (Hilberry Theatre, Wayne State University), and at the University of Windsor, Down Dangerous Passes Road. He will direct Brave Hearts for Ryan Rep, Brooklyn, New York in May 2013.

He has conducted workshops in Improvisation and in Michael Chekhov Acting Technique at Universities, conferences, and in private studios in Canada, the United States, and Great Britain, and has coached professional productions with Rose Theatre and Shakespeare in the Square, Brampton, ON and the Hilberry Theatre, Wayne State University. He is founding Co-Artistic Director of the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium, which offers a certificate in the teaching of Chekhov Technique through Kent State University, and of Michael Chekhov Canada.

In 2007, Lionel received the Alumni Award for Distinguished Contribution to University Teaching and has also been nominated for an OCUFA Teaching Award. In 2005, Lionel received the Alumni Association's Excellence in Mentoring Award for his commitment to the growth and development of his students.

Lionel is Past President, Council of Ontario University/College Theatre Programmes; a member of Canadian Actor's Equity Association; The Michael Chekhov Association; and has served as Vice-President, Awards, Association for Theatre in Higher Education. He is Associate Professor of Acting, School of Dramatic Art, University of Windsor, where he served as the Director of the School from 2002-2012. He is currently Associate Dean, Academic and Student Affairs, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Contact Information:
Room 110, Chrysler Hall Tower or Room 206 Jackman Dramatic Art Centre
walsha@uwindsor.ca
519-253-3000 ext. 2029