Faculty

• T. Mychael Rambo
  • T. MYCHAEL RAMBO is an accomplished actor, vocalist, and educator. The recent recipient of a 2008 Regional Emmy Award, T. Mychael has made his mark nationally and abroad. Mr. Rambo has performed with numerous regional theatre companies, Carnegie Hall with the Minnesota Orchestra, as a member of national touring companies and throughout Europe, Africa, and South America. A resident of St. Paul, Minnesota; he has performed locally at the Guthrie Theatre, Penumbra Theatre, Mixed Blood and Illusion Theatre to name but a few. As a solo-performer his role in Thurgood Marshall's Coming! was awarded the 2005 ABA Silver Gavel Honorable Mention Award in Theatre. He has also received critical acclaim for other solo performances, most notably for his role as Martin Luther King Jr. in the Mixed Blood Theatre production of “Dr. Kings Dream.” Now his most cherished performance moment proves to be the recent honor bestowed upon him, where he met President Obama and sang the National Anthem during the President's 2009 Health Rally Tour to the Twin Cities. As an actor, Mr. Rambo's film credits include Mighty Ducks, Crossing the Bridge, Grumpy Old Men, The Cure, Equinox, The Wooly Boys and a most recent independent feature film, Justice, which was nominated for a NAACP Image Award. He has appeared in local and national television commercials and programs, including the HBO mini-series "Laurel Avenue," the TV pilot "Endeavor" and the NBC movie of the week She Led Two Lives. As a vocal recording artist, Mr. Rambo has released two CDs, “Simply” (a collection of jazz standards) and "The Gift: A Christmas With Love” (a selection of original and holiday classics.) He is currently in the process of creating a third recording, “Chasing the Sun," songs of inspiration, spirit and healing. Mr. Rambo is an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance at the University of Minnesota. He is an artist in residence for the Minnesota State Arts Board and serves as artist in residence for several programs in St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN, teaching classes and workshops in improvisation, creative dramatics, theatre, voice and creative writing to students of all ages. His many honors and awards include the 2001 Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Fellowship and a McKnight Artist Fellowship for Theatre Artists in 1999. He received the 2006 and 2007 Century Council Community Award from his peers at the University of Minnesota for his efforts to engage the community through artistic collaboration. He and his teaching colleague, Anita Ruth, received the 2006 Young Audience Artist of the Year Award. He is a dedicated community volunteer and works closely with many groups, including the African American AIDS Project, African American Family Services, Peace House Foundation, Arm in Arm in Africa and the Urban League. One of his great-aunt's favorite sayings was "Service is the rent due for living on this planet." Mr. Rambo, who views himself a "citizen of the planet," has spent a great deal of his professional life giving back as an arts activist and community organizer - seeking and engaging social change through the mediums of theatre, performance art, spoken word and song. He firmly believes that we are all powerful agents of change. Each of us through our creativity, personal efforts and life force has the power to be and create the change we want to see in the world.