Michael Amendola (he/him)
I'm an NYC & Philadelphia-based performer, writer, producer, deviser, aspiring teacher and clown. As a writer/deviser, I'm interested in creating work that celebrates the absurdity of the human experience and reaching for what feels unreachable. As a teacher, I'm interested in encouraging people to embrace 'failure' (whatever that means) as a gift and embrace 'play' as a path to joy, catharsis and community.
I'm currently in Philadelphia pursuing an MFA in Devised Performance at The Pig Iron School where you can find me undulating and miming the ancient discus!
I have performed in over 50 different productions across the US over the past couple decades. Some favorites include the solo show Every Brilliant Thing at Mill Mountain Theatred, 600 shows over two-and-a-half years Off-Broadway in Drunk Shakespeare and 100+ shows as Puck in MidSummer Night's Dream on tour with the American Shakespeare Center. I've also worked with regional companies such as ZACH, Paper Chairs and Austin Shakespeare, in Fringe Festivals in NYC, Cincinnati and Austin and Off-Broadway in The Last Jew of Boyle Heights.
I hold a BFA in Acting from Texas State University - studying under Lauren Lane, Charles Ney, Michael Costello, Nadine Mozan, Melissa Grogan, Jay Jennings and intensives with Richard Brestoff, Glenn Morshower and Mark Olsen. I've studied Shakespeare at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Bouffon with Sophie Amieva and Eric Davis, Voice Over and Puppetry with Paul Liberti, Improv at Upright Citizens Brigade, playwriting with Erika Phoebus, and clown with Giovanni Fusetti, Chris Bayes, Aitor Basauri and was a long-time regular at Clown Gym lead by the great Julia Proctor. I have also taken a number of classes and workshops in Non-Profit Arts Administration through ART/NY. I am currently reviewing this paragraph and feel a bit overwhelmed.
I acted as Assistant Producer of Brass Jar Productions from 2016 - 2022. Brass Jar Productions produces Drunk Shakespeare Off-Broadway, and in Chicago, DC, Phoenix and Houston. BJP previously produced Trainspotting LIVE! (Off-Broadway). I was also the founding member and Executive Director of Moonshot Theatre Company (currently on hiatus).
Michael has very flat feet.
I make a decent marinara, enjoy going to therapy, and likes ducks.
Some current influences: Sarah Ruhl, Wet Leg, Natalie Palamides, Black Mirror, Giovanni Fusetti, Aitor Basauri, Kate Owens, Chris Bayes, Julia Proctor, Kendrick Lamar, Keith Haring, The Muppets Christmas Carol, Stanley Tucci Italy thing, SpyMonkey, The Pixies, The Object Lesson by Geoff Sobelle, Dr. Seuss, Jabbawockeez dance crew, punk rock, Miyazaki films, still having a crush on Marisa Tomei, Miles Davis, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 2, reusable coffee filters and that duck that ran the NYC marathon.
