Dale O'Dell

Originally from Hudson Valley, NY, I now live in Minnesota with my spouse and our pup, Casper.

My imagination has always been my playground, and from a young age I knew that acting was where I belonged. 

Theatre became my haven, a place where I, as a closeted youth, could freely express myself and find others who shared the same passion for creativity and story telling. 

Some of my favorite roles include: Gaston in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, Finch in HOW TO SUCCEED..., Starbuck in 110 IN THE SHADE, Jason in RABBIT HOLE, Andrew in I HATE HAMLET, Paul in MOON OVER BUFFALO.

Besides performing I am passionate about writing, lifting weights, traveling, cooking, reading, supporting local art, and spending time with family.  I direct teen shows at our local playhouse and proudly serve on the board of directors for Mankato Ballet Company. I've been honored to perform in their production of The Nutcracker for the past four years! It's just so magical. 

I am a stage actor. I've spent most of my life performing in musicals, studying with such incredible vocal instructors such as Celeste Simone, Barbara Farruggia, Robert Farruggia & the late Dr. Stanley Ralph, which has provided me with a classical foundation and a healthy belt. I graduated with a BA in Theatre Arts with an Acting Concentration from Ramapo College of New Jersey in 2009. I was honored with the OnStage Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a featured role in a Musical in 2017 for playing Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. I also have basic on camera training from Actress/Teacher Brooke Bundy 

I love a good musical but I am looking to do more serious acting projects for both stage and film.

For commercial work I am represented

 by Moore Creative Talent 

Throughout my life, I have been compelled by a passion for storytelling, which manifested at a young age through my creation of plays and short stories. I was fortunate to have a teacher who supported my endeavors, allocating class time for me to direct my plays. Since moving to Minnesota, I have been able to devote more time to my passions, culminating in the completion of two manuscripts for young adult readers. My objective is to craft characters and stories that will provide LGBTQIA youth with the representation and validation that I personally lacked during my formative years. 

I am represented by Jenna Satterthwaite

at Storm Literary Agency

HOCUS POCUS X CEMETERY BOYS

**ON SUBMISSION**

Haunted by the death of his younger brother, Paxton has stopped celebrating Halloween. But when he moves to a new town where every season is Spooky Season, he’ll need to embrace the part of himself he thought he had buried with his brother. Or risk losing his only chance at starting over. 

Commissioned art from the incredible @NotSoBadAArt on Instagram.

Is your child interested in refining their acting skills? If you're located in the southern Minnesota area, I'd be delighted to provide one-on-one coaching at our local dance studio.  Through personalized instruction, students can develop their skills in character development, monologue delivery,  innovative thinking, and so much more. My students include those who attend regular sessions as well as those who seek guidance in preparation for auditions. I’m happy to help however you see fit! I take great pride in supporting my students during their performances, ensuring that I attend their performances whenever possible. I delight in their accomplishments and provide solace when they face disappointment. The world of acting is not an easy one; it demands perseverance and dedication. To succeed, one must be willing to take risks, be vulnerable, and accept rejection.

Acting serves as an excellent platform for developing vital life skills, including communication, public speaking, collaboration, emotional intelligence, active listening, problem-solving, and, my favorite, confidence-building.

 I work with adolescents from 10 years old and up who have a strong passion for acting. If your child is younger but truly dedicated to their craft, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm aware that acting opportunities are limited in our area, so I'm open to exploring possibilities together.

My coaching hours vary. I am also open to virtual lessons. Send me a message for more details!  (Ages 10 +) 

Thanks to Dale's guidance, I feel more comfortable making choices in my acting. My cold readings are now much smoother and I am more relaxed in an audition space. I’ve learned different ways to emotionally connect and motivate my monologues and my scenes. Since starting lessons with Dale, I have been cast as the title role in Sleeping Beauty, and I feel prepared to return to my college auditions with a new procedure and a new perspective on acting! I have loved working with Dale as my acting coach and highly recommend working with him!   

- Sydney 

Dale has been a massive help to me, and my acting. From guiding me through a tricky role, to helping me prepare for an audition, Dale has an eye for understanding characters and scenes on a deeper level. This ability stems from the passion he has towards his craft, and the years of experience he chooses to pass down onto others in a thoughtful and concise way. Dale was an amazing coach to work with, and I highly recommend him to anyone hoping to take their acting to the next level!

- William 

Dale helped me land the role of Jack Kelly in my school's production of Newsies! I've never had an acting coach, but Dale provided a comfortable space for self-expression while improving acting skills. I learned key audition skills and more. I recommend Dale to actors of any background or skill level.

- Ethan 

My one on one session with Dale before my Little Mermaid call back for Prince Eric was a game-changer. With Dale's prior experience in the role, I sought his counsel to gain insight into the character and deliver memorable cold readings. He helped me unlock the character's full potential and connect with my own inner self to bring the character to life on stage. I'm so appreciative of his mentorship, which helped me secure the role and helped me feel supported when he attended one of the performances. I highly recommend him.

- Maddox 

Dale is the best teacher I could have asked for; I've gained valuable insights into acting, self-expression, and character development. He's also provided guidance on safe singing and voice projection methods. I always appreciate our practice sessions, as Dale knows how to make me laugh and brighten my day. His instruction has been instrumental in my growth as a performer.

- Kylie

I have loved performing since I was little. Theater is my happy place. Dale has helped me enhance my theater experience and make it my own. He has helped me boost my confidence with my craft. He tailors his practices to my needs. Dale has increased my creativity, improvisation, and cold reading skills. I love developing my characters with him. His acting warm-ups and challenges foster creativity, collaboration, and communication skills. I'm very thankful to have him as my coach. Thank you, Dale

- Hannah 

I worked with Dale in preparation for Six, and I don’t think I could’ve done it without him. He helped my confidence and making me feel good in my body to properly convey such a role. From model walking on stage to randomly dancing to songs that he played, I was able to work with what I had and become secure enough in myself to earn such a wonderful role as Katherine Howard.

- Rebekah

Dale has been our daughter's acting and singing coach for over a year.  He has provided her with so much support and guidance, that her confidence and self worth has improved over 100%.  Dale works with her in a positive atmosphere while pushing her to improve her skills and talent.  His energy is infectious and we trust him to guide her down the right path in this industry.  He is an amazing influence on her and we feel very lucky to be working with him.   

- Amy 

  Parent

I truly appreciate Dale and everything he has done for me. His guidance, encouragement, and constant support have helped me grow both personally and professionally as an actor.  I’m grateful for the time and effort he puts into helping us succeed. He has always believed in me, pushed me to be my best, and created an environment where I felt supported and motivated. I genuinely enjoy working with him and am thankful for the positive impact he’s had on my journey.

-Chiara 

UP NEXT:

Summer 2026: On Golden Pond / Old World New World Theatre