Ashland Center for Theatre Studies

Theatre Teacher Training Faculty

James Edmondson

James Edmondson has been a resident director and actor with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival since the summer of 1972. He has directed thirty productions for OSF. Recent work includes Rabbit Hole, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, King Lear, Wild Oats, Titus Andronicus, Fuddy Meers, Force of Nature, Much Ado About Nothing and Rough Crossing. Festival audiences have seen Jim in over 60 roles in all three of its theatres, including the title roles in productions of Richard II, King John and King Lear. In addition to his work with OSF, Jim has directed and acted in productions for the American Conservatory Theatre, the Utah Shakespearean Festival, PCPA Theaterfest and San Jose Repertory Theatre, and Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. He has also been a guest director for Alaska Repertory Theatre and the Pioneer Theatre Company. Recent guest acting credits include Willy Loman in Death of A Salesman at GeVa Theatre in Rochester, New York and Niels Bohr in Copenhagen at Indiana Repertory Theatre. Jim has taught in the actor training programs at PCPA Theaterfest and the American Conservatory Theatre, and has directed productions of Angels in America: Millenium Approaches, The Laramie Project, The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, Of Mice and Men, and Women of War for the theatre department at Southern Oregon University. Jim is the founder/producer/director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's annual AIDS benefit, The Daedalus Project. He has an MA in Theatre from the University of Colorado.

In 2005, 2006, and 2008, Jim also co-taught the a la carte course The Director and the Rehearsal Process.