TS McCormick - Acting Instructor
TS McCormick is a professional actor, musician and educator from upstate New York. A recent transplant to Portland, he has appeared on stage and screen throughout the continental United States for over 20 years. TS has been a teaching artist for numerous professional theatre companies along with his work as a collegiate lecturer.
He holds a BFA in Acting from The University of Rhode Island, where he received the Academic Excellence Award in Arts and Sciences for his work both on stage and in the classroom. He completed his MFA in Acting at Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2016.
During that time TS won three Outstanding Achievement in Performance awards; in addition, he was recognized nationally (along with his fellow cast) by the Kennedy Center, for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in Titanic: The Musical. He has written papers on acting theory and pop-culture. This includes a paper that was accepted to the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association conference in 2014.
Having advanced training in these areas, TS specializes in teaching Uta Hagen, Meisner Technique, and Shakespeare.
He holds a BFA in Acting from The University of Rhode Island, where he received the Academic Excellence Award in Arts and Sciences for his work both on stage and in the classroom. He completed his MFA in Acting at Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2016.
During that time TS won three Outstanding Achievement in Performance awards; in addition, he was recognized nationally (along with his fellow cast) by the Kennedy Center, for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in Titanic: The Musical. He has written papers on acting theory and pop-culture. This includes a paper that was accepted to the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association conference in 2014.
Having advanced training in these areas, TS specializes in teaching Uta Hagen, Meisner Technique, and Shakespeare.
Testimonials
“I first met TS at The Gamm theatre’s summer Shakespeare intensive. He came on board as a
teaching artist and acting coach for the program I began as an institute for serious young
actors. As the director of the program and a professional equity actor, I was thrilled with TS's
work ethic, quality of instruction and knowledge of the classical material we were staging. TS
had a very unique and special talent for connecting with students and taking as long as they
needed to understand and feel confident moving forward with their character. He met them
exactly where they were. He was able to coach the most advanced acting students as well as
those who were completely new to the theater. He also collaborated well with his peers and
was continually positive and supportive. “
Steve Kidd (AEA)- Actor/ Theatre Educator, Sandra Feinstein GAMM Theatre (NEAT) (Pawtucket, RI)
“TS is a patient technician with a keen diagnostic eye. He is a quick problem solver with a wide
array of tricks and resources which he is capable of communicating effectively to his
students/actors. He is a wonderful addition to the classroom...”
Charliey Libra- Actor/Artist (Minneapolis, MN)
“TS brought immense creativity, organization, clarity and poise into his classes. He challenged
the students to work on difficult material and empowered them to grapple with the ‘difficulty’
and achieve success. I was particularly impressed with his ability to engage all of his students
with the material and experience; he treated the young students with respect and genuine
regard for their ideas and points of view. He saw the best in them which helped them to see the
best in themselves and believe in their ability to succeed in the work. His curiosity and passion
for the work spread to his students; his work with the students was productive, creative,
playful, and sophisticated.”
Chaya Gordon-Bland, MFA (AEA)- Artistic Director, South Dakota
Shakespeare Festival/Professor of Movement and Shakespeare, University of South Dakota
(Vermillion, SD)
“TS is one of the best acting Instructors and mentors I’ve had. He always pushed me to find the
limits of my abilities, strengthen my weaknesses, and play with who the character is beneath
the surface. He helped me rediscover my love for theatre from a new perspective.”
Colee Ludtke- Actor (Minneapolis, MN)
“I have been able to witness TS as a guest lecturer in my classes. Not only was I impressed with
his level of knowledge, but also his ability to engage the students. TS was able to coax and
inspire them to not only participate, but engage in the exercises through his use of a variety of
pedagogical means, including brief lecture, demonstration and direct coaching.” Matt Caron,
MFA- Director/Assistant Professor of Theatre Oklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee, OK)
“I learned more in his class about acting than I did in the rest of my college career.”
Ben Merz-Actor/Theatre Artist (Minneapolis, MN)
“I don’t the know that anyone has helped me grow as much as an actor as TS did. He knows
notably how to pull great work out of his actors but in ways that you will carry with you through
all future performances.”
Alyssa Mordal- Actor/Director (Los Angeles, CA)
“TS has an amazing passion as an instructor that inspires his students to push the boundaries of
their abilities. He has a teaching style that is both energetic and engaging. TS is approachable,
knowledgeable, and always willing to make time to help his students flourish.”
Logan Sulentic-Actor (Minneapolis, MN)
“TS has a way of connecting with his students that pulls out their strengths as theatre artists
and takes them to the next level. He pushes his students to find their full potential while
maintaining a fun and open environment. I have learned so much as an artist from TS that I
never realized I could do. His Uta lessons have allowed me to grow and create truthful,
moment to moment work.”
Alex Blesi- Actor/Theatre Artist (Portland, OR)
“TS’s expertise and experience combine with his energy and interactive teaching style to create
a professional and positive learning environment. He provides his students with a solid
foundation on which to experiment, learn, and grow as artists.”
Rachel Howard- Actor (Minneapolis, MN)
“I first met TS at The Gamm theatre’s summer Shakespeare intensive. He came on board as a
teaching artist and acting coach for the program I began as an institute for serious young
actors. As the director of the program and a professional equity actor, I was thrilled with TS's
work ethic, quality of instruction and knowledge of the classical material we were staging. TS
had a very unique and special talent for connecting with students and taking as long as they
needed to understand and feel confident moving forward with their character. He met them
exactly where they were. He was able to coach the most advanced acting students as well as
those who were completely new to the theater. He also collaborated well with his peers and
was continually positive and supportive. “
Steve Kidd (AEA)- Actor/ Theatre Educator, Sandra Feinstein GAMM Theatre (NEAT) (Pawtucket, RI)
“TS is a patient technician with a keen diagnostic eye. He is a quick problem solver with a wide
array of tricks and resources which he is capable of communicating effectively to his
students/actors. He is a wonderful addition to the classroom...”
Charliey Libra- Actor/Artist (Minneapolis, MN)
“TS brought immense creativity, organization, clarity and poise into his classes. He challenged
the students to work on difficult material and empowered them to grapple with the ‘difficulty’
and achieve success. I was particularly impressed with his ability to engage all of his students
with the material and experience; he treated the young students with respect and genuine
regard for their ideas and points of view. He saw the best in them which helped them to see the
best in themselves and believe in their ability to succeed in the work. His curiosity and passion
for the work spread to his students; his work with the students was productive, creative,
playful, and sophisticated.”
Chaya Gordon-Bland, MFA (AEA)- Artistic Director, South Dakota
Shakespeare Festival/Professor of Movement and Shakespeare, University of South Dakota
(Vermillion, SD)
“TS is one of the best acting Instructors and mentors I’ve had. He always pushed me to find the
limits of my abilities, strengthen my weaknesses, and play with who the character is beneath
the surface. He helped me rediscover my love for theatre from a new perspective.”
Colee Ludtke- Actor (Minneapolis, MN)
“I have been able to witness TS as a guest lecturer in my classes. Not only was I impressed with
his level of knowledge, but also his ability to engage the students. TS was able to coax and
inspire them to not only participate, but engage in the exercises through his use of a variety of
pedagogical means, including brief lecture, demonstration and direct coaching.” Matt Caron,
MFA- Director/Assistant Professor of Theatre Oklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee, OK)
“I learned more in his class about acting than I did in the rest of my college career.”
Ben Merz-Actor/Theatre Artist (Minneapolis, MN)
“I don’t the know that anyone has helped me grow as much as an actor as TS did. He knows
notably how to pull great work out of his actors but in ways that you will carry with you through
all future performances.”
Alyssa Mordal- Actor/Director (Los Angeles, CA)
“TS has an amazing passion as an instructor that inspires his students to push the boundaries of
their abilities. He has a teaching style that is both energetic and engaging. TS is approachable,
knowledgeable, and always willing to make time to help his students flourish.”
Logan Sulentic-Actor (Minneapolis, MN)
“TS has a way of connecting with his students that pulls out their strengths as theatre artists
and takes them to the next level. He pushes his students to find their full potential while
maintaining a fun and open environment. I have learned so much as an artist from TS that I
never realized I could do. His Uta lessons have allowed me to grow and create truthful,
moment to moment work.”
Alex Blesi- Actor/Theatre Artist (Portland, OR)
“TS’s expertise and experience combine with his energy and interactive teaching style to create
a professional and positive learning environment. He provides his students with a solid
foundation on which to experiment, learn, and grow as artists.”
Rachel Howard- Actor (Minneapolis, MN)
