MICHAEL VENSKE

Affiliations

Actors Theater of MN
Stages Theater Company
Talent Poole

Awards

PRAISE

  • "The only way I can adequately describe working with Michael Venske is by saying it's like riding a unicorn made of lasers." - Ben Egerman, Co-Producer / Co-Founder Questionable Company Theatre
  • VOTED AUDIENCE FAVORITE

    • "The Chinchillas" in Master Works: The Goya Plays - Izzie - Commedia Beauregard - Michael Agnew, Dir.

    Experience

    ++Bold indicates current / up-coming productions++

    THEATER

      NOW:
    • Bye Bye Liver: The Twin Cities' Drinking Play - Ensemble - Actors Theater of Minnesota - John Haynes, Dir.
    • SEPTEMBER 2010:

    • Snapped Shot - Frank - 4Playwrights Project - Benjamin Wagner, Dir.
    • OCTOBER 2010:

    • The Frog Prince - Ron - Stages Theatre Company - Cassandra Proball, Dir
    • The Outsiders - Doctor - Stages Theatre Company - Steve Barberio, Dir.
    • Master Works: The Rembrandt Plays - Son - Commedia Beauregard - Bethany Simmons, Dir.
    • The Gay Mob (staged reading) - Sean Foss - The Show So Gay - Anthony Stanton, Dir.
    • Master Works: The Goya Plays - Izzie - Commedia Beauregard - Michael Agnew, Dir.
    • Panda Sandwich Sketch Comedy - Various Characters (Writer) - Questionable Company Theatre - Teagle/Egerman
    • The Weekly… - Various Characters (Writer) - Got Nothin’ To News, Prod.
    • Two Gentlemen of Verona - Ensemble - Guthrie Theater - Joe Dowling, Dir.
    • The Fam - Owen - Urban Samurai Prod. - Aaron Christopher, Dir.
    • Freedom: Some Restrictions Apply - Various Characters (Writer) - Brave New Institute - Caleb McEwen, Dir.
    • Casanova Man - Bartender Pete - Fringe Festival 2008 - Chris Frank, Dir.
    • Christmas Attitudes - Various Characters - Homeward Bound Theatre - Bruce Kirkpatrick, Dir.
    • Your Private Apocalypse - Ralphy - Fringe Festival 2007 - Lindsey Dorsey, Dir.

    COMMUNITY / EDUCATIONAL THEATER

    • Now Serving - Lawrance Bernabo - Rubber Chicken Theater, Duluth, MN
    • Star Wars...Finally. - Han - Rubber Chicken Theater, Duluth, MN
    • Strike! Turn – Out at the Mill - Henry Hazard - Stepping Stone Theatre - Richard Hitchler, Dir.
    • Poetry Slam Underdogs - M.C. - Rubber Chicken Theater, Duluth, MN
    • The Thorn - Simon (Jesus, understudy) - North Heights Productions - Mark David Williams, Dir.
    • HONK! - Ugly - Duluth Playhouse, Duluth MN - Rob Marshall, Dir.

    IMPROVISATION

    • Stevie Ray's Company Member '09 - '10 - Various Characters - Stevie Ray's Improv Company - Maureen Tubbs, Dir.
    • Dudley Riggs’ Improv Marathon - Various Characters - Brave New Institute - John Haynes, Dir.
    • Improv A Go-Go - Various Characters - Five Man Job, Prod.
    • Monday Night Comedy Show - Various Characters - Mime Rifle, Prod.
    • Religious Pretense - Corinthia - Four Humors Theatre - Jason Ballweber, Dir.
    • 6 Ring Circus - Various Characters - Brave New Institute - John Haynes, Dir.
    • Last Laugh - Various Characters - La Vie Theatre - Jason Schommer, Dir.

    COMMERCIAL* / FILM / INDUSTRIAL**

    • In The Words of Dr. Will - Supporting - Mayo Clinic - Tom Williams, Dir.
    • The Stranger - Supporting - Indie Short - Ted Saydalavong, Dir.
    • Triage - Supporting - Urban Mountain Media - Harrison Reeder, Dir.
    • Grand Casino* - Extra - Fiend, Inc. - Joe Shock, Dir.
    • Red Sweater Girl - Supporting - Melissa Hoppe, Dir.
    • Slumberland* - Supporting - Lisa Illies, Dir.
    • A Tale of Delight - Lead - Edd Blott, Dir.
    • Next! - Supporting - John Gaspard, Dir.
    • Tempur-Pedic "Cloud*" - Extra - The Artists Company - Michael Cuesta, Dir.

    • Someone, Something - Lead - Joyer Joint - Matt Joyer, Dir.
    • Faux - Extra - Falling Up Sky Pictures - Christopher Beer, Dir.
    • Black Bear Casino "New Years Eve"* - Extra - Parthe, Inc. - Lance Parthe, Dir.
    • Pancho Villa "Decision"* - Lead - Marco Polo Advertising - Heidi Weitzer, Dir.
    • Anytime Fitness* - Extra - 185 Media, Inc. - Sam Fisher, Dir.
    • Great Book Heist - Lead - Ben Mudek, Dir
    • CyberDefender* - Featured - Marketing Architects - John Priess, Dir.
    • Commuter Challenge* - Lead - Periscope Productions - Charlie Koch, Dir.
    • Cox Communications* - Extra - Blue 60 Pictures - Greg Winter, Dir.
    • Forty Grand - Lead - Bancroft Entertainment - Brian Magarian, Dir.
    • The Share-A-Pult** - Supporting - Augsburg Fortress - Aaron Christopher, Dir.
    • Sealed With A Bullet - Featured - Urban Mountain Media - Harrison Reeder, Dir.
    • Fall Into Me - Extra - Indiewood Pictures - Tim VandeSteeg, Dir.
    • Toyota Dealership Pitch - Lead - Gaardhouse Productions - Zechariah Thormodsgaard, Dir.

    STUDENT FILMS

    • FML - Featured - Eric Binfet, Dir.
    • One Door Opens - Extra - Anthony Oslund, Dir.
    • God is Good - Supporting - Byron Knibb, Dir.
    • Be Still - Lead - A.R. Stevens, Dir.
    • Allie - Supporting - Lilly Ball, Dir.
    • Barman - Lead - Matt Joyer, Dir.
    • Bella And The Revolution - Supporting - Elizabeth Fox, Dir.
    • The Wedding - Supporting - Jasmine Navy, Dir.
    • Phillips Film Competition - Lead - Ted Saydalavong, Dir.
    • To Rest In Peace - Lead - MCTC Film Dept.

    WEBISODE

    • Dude Weather 9-30-08 - Featured - Jimmy Gaines, Dir.
    • Zipnosis* - Supporting - Elliot Robia, Dir.

    VOICE OVER

    • Minnesota Zoo Short - Narrator - Minnesota School of Business - Andy Kile, Dir.

    Contact information

    Send Email
    Primary telephone: (612) 877-2436
    Web site: Michael Venske's Website

    General availability

    • Weekdays
    • Weeknights
    • Weekends

    Training

    Physical profile

    70" tall
    Plays ages:   Teen   20s   30s  
    Slender build

    Onstage skills

    Actor

    Acting skills

    Character Voice
    improv
    Hosting

    Acting styles

    Comedy Situational
    Comedy Sketch
    Improvisation

    Instruments

    Saxophone

    Crew jobs

    Child Wrangler
    Light Board Operator
    Lighting Technician

    Design

    Lights
    Sound

    Writing skills

    Corporate Event
    Sketch Comedy
    Criticism
    Educational
    Humor
    Solo Monologue/Performance Art

    Writing influences

    Comedy Situational
    Comedy Sketch
    Solo Monologue

    Now playing

    The Taming of the Shrew, Sept 11-26, 2010.  Theatre Pro Rata.

    The Taming of the Shrew

    See it this week at The Gremlin Theatre in Minneapolis. Presented by Theatre Pro Rata.

    Theater talk

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    Katharine Moeller

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