Michael James Reed

Michael James Reed has been working professionally on stage and screen for over 30 years with a career that started in London, moved to New York, then Los Angeles, and finally now resides, of all places, St. Louis, MIssouri. A graduate of the three year professional acting program at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, Michael made his London stage debut in the Royal Shakespeare Company's acclaimed production of "Richard III" starring Antony Sher. In London he also appeared in the award winning national tour of "The Illusion" with the Actors Touring Company. He appeared in the films "The Dressmaker" and "Love Potion" as well as numerous television appearances including "Small World," "Saracen," and "Beadle's About." Michael's work in New York included the original infamous Broadway production of "La Bete," as well as Edgar in "King Lear" starring the late Hal Holbrook at the Roundabout Theatre. Other New York credits included the title role in Eric Overymyer's adaptation of "Amphitryon" at the Classic Stage Company, and numerous shows with the Pearl Theatre Company, including "Twelfth Night" and "The Venetian Twins" both directed by John Rando. Also while in New York, Michael starred as Pip in "Great Expectations," and Darnay in "A Tale of Two Cities" for the Papermill Playhouse, both adapted and directed by Robert Johansson. Regionally, he has played leading roles at some of the most acclaimed theatres in the country, including Marc Antony in "Julius Caesar" at the Old Globe (directed by Daniel Sullivan), Pericles in "Pericles" at the Old Globe (directed by Darko Tresnjak), Brick in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" at ACT in San Francisco (directed by Israel Hicks) and Joe Pitt in "Angels in America" at Houston's Alley Theatre (directed by Michael Wilson). Other regional theatres Michael has appeared in include South Coast Repertory (Costa Mesa, CA), Great Lakes Theatre Festival (Cleveland), Asolo Theatre (Sarasota, FL), Syracuse Stage, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and the Berkshire Theatre Festival. In Los Angeles, Michael co-starred and guest starred on numerous television shows, including "24", "JAG", "Six Feet Under", "King of Queens", "That 70s Show", "The Shield", "Silk Stalkings", "So Notorious", "Method and Red", and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." In addition, Michael was seen in dozens of national commercials during his LA years, playing young dads to offbeat corporate types and everything in between for products such as Kia, Nissan, Church's Chicken and Dell Computers. Michael's greatest accomplishment in Los Angeles was the arrival of a healthy & beautiful daughter. Since 2010, Michael has been a resident of St Louis, Missouri, and continues a very active local acting career including frequent appearances at The Rep (most recently "Pride & Prejudice," "Dolls House, part 2," "Hamlet," All the Way," and "A Midsummer Night's Dream"); The MUNY (most recently "1776," "Paint Your Wagon," "Gypsy," "Fiddler on the Roof," and "The Music Man"); and over 10 Shakespeare Festival St. Louis productions (including "Romeo & Juliet," "Henry IV & V," and "Twelfth Night."). He has ventured up to Chicago a few times since relocating to the Midwest to appear in multiple episodes of "Chicago P.D." Michael has also been an adjunct professor at University of Missouri St Louis, Saint Louis University, and Washington University. He also is a current member of the adjunct faculty at Webster Conservatory, where he teaches 2nd year Auditions, 3rd year Musical Theatre Scene Study, and 4th year Camera Acting. Founded in 2015, The Michael James Reed Studio was created as a place where Michael could take his years of experience from the bigger acting markets outside of St. Louis and mentor and coach actors of all ages take the next steps in their careers. Michael's on-camera and audition coaching in particular has been invaluable resource for many local actors, drawing on a wealth of industry knowledge and personal experience unmatched in St. Louis. He also offers a complete self-taping service for actors including preparation, taping, editing and submission.