Michael Wainstein, M.F.A.

Director
Michael.Wainstein@ucf.edu
407-823-2519
Office Hours: 9-5
Campus Location: PACM119T
View personal website

Michael Wainstein began his career as a professional performer but quickly became a director. After stints in opera at companies like Cincinnati Opera, Chautauqua Opera and Chicago Opera Theatre, he earned his MFA in Directing at the famed Cincinnati Conservatory. In addition to extensive freelance work as a director all over the country at companies that included the Seattle Repertory Theatre (as assistant director to Tony Award winning director Douglas Hughes) and Michael Kahn’s Chautauqua Conservatory Theatre, Michael was the artistic director of the Lincoln Playhouse, Topeka Civic Theatre, The Firehouse Center for the Arts and Florida’s own Naples Music Theatre. He has directed more than 200 productions of plays, musicals and opera. He was the founder of the Cincinnati New Works festival. In 1992, Michael was featured in a PBS documentary about an exchange program he created between Russia’s Theatr Na Liteynom and the Topeka Civic Theatre.

In 2007 he transitioned into academia and a year later became the Chair of Savannah College of Art and Design’s Performing Arts program where he also served as head of the graduate program and founder of their musical theatre program. Michael was chair for 7 years. During his time at SCAD, he revamped both the undergraduate and graduate programs, launched an in-house casting office, and led the department to be named one of the top 25 drama schools in the country by the Hollywood Reporter in 2016. Michael is a member of the Society of Stage Director’s and Choreographers, immediate past chair of the Southeastern Theatre Conference musical theater committee and has been active with the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Michael’s book, A Director’s Itinerary, was published by Hackett Publishing in 2012 and a fully-revised second edition will be released in mid-2018. He received his BA in Theatre and Music from City University of New York – Hunter College and his MFA in Directing from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM).

Education

M.F.A. in Theatre Directing from Cincinnati Conservatory (1989)
B.A. in Music/Theatre from Hunter College (1985)

Research Interests

Michael's passionate interest is finding ways for higher education in the arts to remain relevant in a 21st century environment and to move the arts forward. He has been deeply involved in creating bridges for students to employment and to that end, has fostered many connections to the professional world for students. He works closely with faculty to insure those links are vital and giving our students the best chance for successful careers.

His professional passion has been stage directing. First in Opera and then in musical theatre and drama/comedy, Michael has directed Shakespeare and other classics, many contemporary plays, avant-garde theatre and musicals. He loves the classic musicals but also has directed many contemporary musicals, understanding that the future of musical theater lays in our ability to reflect the culture we live in and to discover new and exciting ways to tell stories through music.

Selected Publications

Books

Stage Directing: A Director's Itinerary

Activities

PUBLICATIONS

Wainstein, Michael L. Stage Directing, A Director’s Itinerary. Newburyport, MA. Hackett Publishing, 2012.

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTING CREDITS

SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN, 2007 - present

Peter and theStarcatcher, by Rick Elice
The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee,William Finn
Ragtime, by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Terrance McNally
39 Steps,by Patrick Barlow and John Buchan
Doubt,by John Patrick Shanley
Gee’s Bend, byElyzabeth Gregory Wilder
God of Carnage,by Yasmina Reza
Into the Woods, by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine
Urinetown, by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollman
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, byLanieRobertson
Spring Awakening, by Stephen Sater and Duncan Sheik
Beehive,by Larry Gallagher
A New Brain,by William Finn and James Lapine
Violet, by Brian Crawley and Janine Tesori
Carousel, by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Hair, by Jerome Ragni and Galt McDermott
Lend Me a Tenor, by Ken Ludwig

ACTOR’S THEATRE OF NEWBURYPORT (2009)

JacquesBrelis Alive and Well,by Eric Blau and Mort Shuman

BLOWING ROCK STAGE COMPANY (2009)

Bye, Bye Birdie,book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams, music by Charles Strouse

NAPLES MUSIC THEATRE (AKA NAPLES DINNER THEATRE, 1998-2007)

Lucky Stiff,by Ahrens and Flaherty
South Pacific,by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Showboat, by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II
Dames at Sea,by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller
Sugar,by Peter Stone with music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Bob Merrill
Pal Joey,by Rodgers and Hart
Always, Patsy Cline,by Ted Swindley
My Fair Lady,music by Frederick Loewe, book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Evita,music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice
Once Upon a Mattress,music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer, and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer.
Tommy,by the Who
A Chorus Line,with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban
A Year with Frog and Toad,by Robert and Willie Reale
Victor, Victoria,book by Blake Edwards, music by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Two by Two,music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Martin Charnin, book by Peter Stone
Lend Me a Tenor,by Ken Ludwig
Guys and Dolls,music by Frank Loesser, book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling
How to Succeed in Business,by Frank Loesser
The All Night Strut,conceived by Aaron Theilen and Mark Robin
Jesus Christ, Superstar,music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice
The Rocky Horror Show,book, music and lyrics by Richard Green
Funny Girl,book by Isobel Lennart, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Bob Merrill
La Cage AuxFolles, book by Harvey Fierstein and lyrics and music by Jerry Herman
I Do, IDo!,book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt
Cabaret,by Kander and Ebb
The Pirates ofPenzance,by Gilbert and Sullivan
Ain’tMisbehavin’,conceived by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr.
Gigi,book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe
The King and I,by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Ol’ Blue Eyes,revue conceived by Michael Wainstein
Mame, book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman
Charlotte’s Web,music and lyrics by Charles Strouse, and a book by Joseph Robinette
Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding,by Artificial Intelligence
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,book by Texas author Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall.
A Doo-wop Christmas Carol,original musical with book by Michael Wainstein
The Beat Goes On,original 70’s jukebox review by Michael Wainstein
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart
Carousel,by Rodgers and Hammerstein
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,music and lyrics by Clark Gesner
Nunsense,book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin
The Odd Couple,by Neil Simon
The NiftyFifites,50’s musical review conceived by Michael Wainstein
DrakulaIn New England,by Michael Wainstein
42ndStreet, book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,by Lanie Robertson
Fiddler on the Roof,by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick
West Side Story,music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents
Chicago,by Kander and Ebb
I Love you, You’re Perfect, Now Change, book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts
Grease,byJim Jacobs and Warren Casey
Run for Your Wife,by Ray Cooney
Joseph and the Amazing TechnicolorDreamcoat,lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Steel Magnolias,by Robert Harling
Prisoner of Second Avenue,by Neil Simon

FIREHOUSE CENTER FOR THE ARTS (1993-1997)

12thNight, by William Shakespeare
Hamlet, by William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare
GlenGarryGlen Ross, by David Mamet
Angels in America, by Tony Kushner
Ain’tMisbehavin’, conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire
Falsettos, by William Finn and James Lapine
Broadway Bound, by Neil Simon
Dames at Sea, by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller
Nunsense, book, music and Lyrics by Dan Goggin
Lost in Yonkers, by Neil Simon
She Loves Me, book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and music by Jerry Bock
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, by Edward Albee
Evita, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice
Oliver, by Lionel Bart
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,music and lyrics by Clark Gesner

NORTH SHORE GILBERT AND SULLIVANSOCIETY (1994)

HMS Pinafore, by Gilbert and Sullivan

UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (1995)

CosiFanTutte,by Mozart

TOPEKA CIVIC THEATRE (1991-1993)

A Christmas Carol,adapted by Michael Wainstein
A Little Night Music, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler
CrossingDelancey,by Susan Sandler
Annie, book by Thomas Meehan, lyrics by Martin Charnin, music by Charles Strousse
Nunsense II,book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin
The Cocktail Hour,by A.R. Gurney
For Colored Girls Who’ve Considered Suicide,by Ntozake Shange
Tintypes,conceived by Mary Kyte with Mel Marvin and Gary Pearle
Pirates ofPenzance,by Gilbert and Sullivan
Daddy’sDyin’, Who’s Got the Will?by Del Shores
Fools,by Neil Simon
Crimes of the Heart,by Beth Henley
Ain’tMisbehavin’, conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire

LINCOLN PLAYHOUSE (1989-1991)

TheFantasticks, music by Harvey Schmidt and lyrics by Tom Jones
The Immigrant, by Mark Harelik
Some Enchanted Evening, conceived by Jeffrey Moss
Working, book by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, music by Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers, and James Taylor, and lyrics by Schwartz, Carnelia, Grant, Taylor, and Susan Birkenhead
Gypsy, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents
Nunsense, book, music and lyrics by Dan Goggin
Sizzling Showstoppers, conceived by Michael Wainstein
Merrily We Roll Along, book by George Furth and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim
A ShaynaMaidel, by Barbara Lebow
A Lie of the Mind,by Sam Shepard

THE SHOWBOAT MAJESTIC (1989)

Summertime Rhapsody, Gershwin revue conceived by Michael Wainstein
Tintypes, conceived by Mary Kyte with Mel Marvin and Gary Pearle

BUXTON FESTIVAL (1989)

Orfeo, by Claudio Monteverdi

ACADEMY THEATRE, ATLANTA (1989)

A Christmas Carol, adapted by Michael Wainstein

HORSE CAVE THEATRE(1988)

I’m Not Rappaport, by Herb Gardner

JENNY WILEY SUMMER THEATRE (1988)

The Mystery of EdwinDrood, by Rupert Holmes

CINCINNATICONSERVATORY (1987-1989)

The Dutchman, by Amiri Baraka
The House of Bernarda Alba, by Frederic Garcia Llorca
A Midsummer’s Night Dream, original musical conceived by Michael Wainstein
Stephen and Slim, Winner, Cincinnati New Play Festival
Road, by Jim Cartwright

CINCINNATIOPERA (1985-1987)

Carmen, by Bizet
The Barber of Seville, by Rossini
The Tales of Hoffman, by Jules Offenbach
Slow Dusk, by Carlisle Floyd
Susannah, by Carlisle Floyd
Broadway goes to the Movies, original musical conceived by Michael Wainstein
LaBoheme, by Puccini
MadamaButterfly,by Puccini
La Forza DelDestino,by Guiseppe Verdi
The Girl of the Golden West,by Puccini

SEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE (1985)

Assistant Director to Doug Hughes

TheForest, by Ostrovsky
Endgame,by Beckett

CHAUTAUQUA OPERA (1985)

Leo, by Michael Chang
Carmen, by Bizet, Assistant Director to Cynthia Auerbach
Guys and Dolls,music by Frank Loesser, book by Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling, Assistant director to Cynthia Auerbach
Street Scene, byKurt Weill, Langston Hughes, and Elmer Rice, Assistant director to Cynthia Auerbach

CHAUTAUQUACONSERVATORY THEATRE (1985)