Michael Frizell
Michael Frizell is an educator, writer, public speaker, and performer. He received his BA in Theatre from College of the Ozarks, where he was the recipient of the Jean Cantwell scholarship for performance. While there, he performed in over forty productions as well as worked in Branson, Missouri, as a stand-up comedian, an actor in The Shepherd of the Hills outdoor drama, and many, many more. He was the writer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: A Reader’s Theatre Parody (with A Class Act Productions), for two seasons. For Harvest Moon Productions, he is the writer of Star Trek: Live in Springfield and Star Trek: The Next Generation Live in Springfield.
He also holds an MA in Theatre from Southwest Missouri State University, an MA in Creative Writing from Missouri State University, and a MFA in Creative Writing – Nonfiction from the University of Arkansas – Monticello.
Michael currently serves as the Director of Student Learning Services at Missouri State University. In that capacity, he is co-director of the Bear CLAW (Center for Learning and Writing), where he is the Director of the Writing Center, providing support for classes, departments, and organizations on all aspects of creative and academic writing. He is also the Director of the Peer Assisted Study Session Program. PASS is designed to assist students in classes where the D, F, or Withdrawal rate is at or around 30%. His unit supports close to forty classes each semester. He is also the Director and creator of the Absent Professor Program, providing effective workshops which focus on student success.
In addition, he is Director of the In-School Players. In-School Players are a small cast of Missouri State University students who travel the local elementary school and Springfield Public Library circuit to bring live theater performances to children. Created in the fall of 1984 by Sharon Ellis, the cast consists of eight to twelve members who present roughly 40 performances of stories, poems, and music per school year. It is estimated that the In-School Players Touring Group has entertained over 500,000 children since it was formed.
Michael is the editor of the peer-reviewed journal, The Learning Assistance Review, the official education journal of the National College Learning Center Association. Published twice a year, the journal provides articles from learning professionals around the world whose expertise is teaching students how to learn and acquire the knowledge necessary for future employment post-college. He holds Level 4 Certification for Learning Center Leadership, a lifetime certification granted to those in the field of student learning whose work has contributed significantly to development of learning center scholarship.
Michael’s work in education has been showcased at dozens of regional, national, and international conferences, where he has spoken on topics such as publishing, creative and academic writing, learning acquisition skills, literature, and more. He was invited to speak at the University of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland on study skills for the classroom using a technique he invented to assist students in anticipating and writing test questions for study.
As a writer, his work can be seen online in the National Gallery of Writing, in the Red Ink Journal, The Moon City Review, and others. During the summer of 2013 he was commissioned by Bluewater Productions to write comic books based on the lives of famous and infamous celebrities, literary figures, and politicians. To date, he has written close to three dozen books and several books on tape for the company. Recently published books include Tribute: Christopher Reeve (with cooperation from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation), Fame: Ian Somerhalder, Fame: Prince (of Prince and the Revolution), Political Power: Chris Christie, and Tribute: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Upcoming books include Tribute: Alice Cooper, Fame: Amy Winehouse, Tribute: Doctor Who, Fame: Miley Cyrus, Political Power: Rand Paul Political Power: Hillary Clinton, Tribute: Jerry Garcia, Fame: Selena, and audio adaptations of Beyond: Edward Snowden, Fame: Michael Jackson, Fame: Justin Bieber, and more.
In his spare time, he is a frequent performer at the Lander’s Theatre, the main stage at Springfield Little Theatre, and has appeared in local commercials. Favorite roles include Michael in God of Carnage, Gary in I Hate Hamlet, Captain Keller in The Miracle Worker, The Old Man in A Christmas Story (a role he’s performed twice), and Wardell in Sordid Lives. Recently, he performed with children’s poet and writer David Harrison in David Harrison and Friends for The Resident Artist’s Ensemble.
He has a son, Tristan, who is a chemist, and a step-daughter, Katherine, who holds a degree in Global Studies. He and his wife, Julia, a high school English teacher, reside in Springfield, Missouri.
Michael Frizell is an educator, writer, public speaker, and performer. He received his BA in Theatre from College of the Ozarks, where he was the recipient of the Jean Cantwell scholarship for performance. While there, he performed in over forty productions as well as worked in Branson, Missouri, as a stand-up comedian, an actor in The Shepherd of the Hills outdoor drama, and many, many more. He was the writer of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: A Reader’s Theatre Parody (with A Class Act Productions), for two seasons. For Harvest Moon Productions, he is the writer of Star Trek: Live in Springfield and Star Trek: The Next Generation Live in Springfield.
He also holds an MA in Theatre from Southwest Missouri State University, an MA in Creative Writing from Missouri State University, and a MFA in Creative Writing – Nonfiction from the University of Arkansas – Monticello.
Michael currently serves as the Director of Student Learning Services at Missouri State University. In that capacity, he is co-director of the Bear CLAW (Center for Learning and Writing), where he is the Director of the Writing Center, providing support for classes, departments, and organizations on all aspects of creative and academic writing. He is also the Director of the Peer Assisted Study Session Program. PASS is designed to assist students in classes where the D, F, or Withdrawal rate is at or around 30%. His unit supports close to forty classes each semester. He is also the Director and creator of the Absent Professor Program, providing effective workshops which focus on student success.
In addition, he is Director of the In-School Players. In-School Players are a small cast of Missouri State University students who travel the local elementary school and Springfield Public Library circuit to bring live theater performances to children. Created in the fall of 1984 by Sharon Ellis, the cast consists of eight to twelve members who present roughly 40 performances of stories, poems, and music per school year. It is estimated that the In-School Players Touring Group has entertained over 500,000 children since it was formed.
Michael is the editor of the peer-reviewed journal, The Learning Assistance Review, the official education journal of the National College Learning Center Association. Published twice a year, the journal provides articles from learning professionals around the world whose expertise is teaching students how to learn and acquire the knowledge necessary for future employment post-college. He holds Level 4 Certification for Learning Center Leadership, a lifetime certification granted to those in the field of student learning whose work has contributed significantly to development of learning center scholarship.
Michael’s work in education has been showcased at dozens of regional, national, and international conferences, where he has spoken on topics such as publishing, creative and academic writing, learning acquisition skills, literature, and more. He was invited to speak at the University of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland on study skills for the classroom using a technique he invented to assist students in anticipating and writing test questions for study.
As a writer, his work can be seen online in the National Gallery of Writing, in the Red Ink Journal, The Moon City Review, and others. During the summer of 2013 he was commissioned by Bluewater Productions to write comic books based on the lives of famous and infamous celebrities, literary figures, and politicians. To date, he has written close to three dozen books and several books on tape for the company. Recently published books include Tribute: Christopher Reeve (with cooperation from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation), Fame: Ian Somerhalder, Fame: Prince (of Prince and the Revolution), Political Power: Chris Christie, and Tribute: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Upcoming books include Tribute: Alice Cooper, Fame: Amy Winehouse, Tribute: Doctor Who, Fame: Miley Cyrus, Political Power: Rand Paul Political Power: Hillary Clinton, Tribute: Jerry Garcia, Fame: Selena, and audio adaptations of Beyond: Edward Snowden, Fame: Michael Jackson, Fame: Justin Bieber, and more.
In his spare time, he is a frequent performer at the Lander’s Theatre, the main stage at Springfield Little Theatre, and has appeared in local commercials. Favorite roles include Michael in God of Carnage, Gary in I Hate Hamlet, Captain Keller in The Miracle Worker, The Old Man in A Christmas Story (a role he’s performed twice), and Wardell in Sordid Lives. Recently, he performed with children’s poet and writer David Harrison in David Harrison and Friends for The Resident Artist’s Ensemble.
He has a son, Tristan, who is a chemist, and a step-daughter, Katherine, who holds a degree in Global Studies. He and his wife, Julia, a high school English teacher, reside in Springfield, Missouri.
