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Michael John Moynihan

Actor/ Filmmaker

Michael Moynihan is an originating multi-media artist, born in New Berlin, Wisconsin. He has worked as an actor, director, producer, writer, designer, composer, lyricist, graphic artist, cartoonist, mask & prop artisan, manager, administrator and playwright. In 1973 he co-founded Milwaukee Public Theatre (then named Friends Mime Theatre) and has been involved in the creation and production of more than 150 original theatre and video plays and revues.

A graduate of Carroll College, Michael also conducted advanced studies at UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee and Trinity College. He has worked with the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre as an instructor and a director, and has also worked with Theatre X, the Skylight Comic Opera, First Stage Milwaukee, The Milwaukee Playwrights Theatre, Paradox Studio Theatre, The Wisconsin Music Theatre, The Lake Placid Playhouse,Theatre Playhouse of British Columbia and The Bunny Gumbo Theatre Company. His short films have been honored and exhibited at festivals in North America, Europe, and Asia. His writing and cartoons have published by a variety of news organizations. He has taught at over 100 schools, colleges and universities as an instructor and Artist In Residence.

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As an artist in residence, creativity consultant and trainer he has worked in schools, communities and corporations throughout Wisconsin. As a teacher with the Milwaukee Public Schools, he created the first high school film and video classes in Milwaukee and also led teacher-training classes. He has also taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Carroll College, Alverno College and the Milwaukee Art Museum. He has recently worked with the students at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Numerous grants and fellowships from government agencies, corporations and individuals have supported his creative work. At the Milwaukee Access Telecommunications Authority (MATA) he has served as the Assistant Executive Director, the Organizational Development Manager and while working in development, he obtained funding to create an Artist In Residence project and a Technology In Education Project. Enabling artist, students and educators to create their own television productions shown on cable TV. He also produced the Milwaukee Public Theatre Television Show, which was honored with a Philo T. Farnsworth Award in.

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Mr. Moynihan has worked to improve Arts, Education and Cultural support, funding & cooperation in Milwaukee as a founding member of the Lincoln Center for the Arts, The Milwaukee Theatre Festival, The Milwaukee Artist Foundation, MARN and the Bay View Neighborhood Association. He has served on the Board of Directors of Achoice and as an advisor to the Walker's Point Art Center.

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Michael Moynihan passed away in 2018.

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Obituary.

 

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