Michael Chamberlin is a Washington, DC based theatre director whose productions combine passionate acting, intimacy of performance and arresting design to create experiences that are fierce, funny, visceral and immediate.

He recently directed the regional premiere of Irish playwright Mark O’Rowe’s The Approach for The Waterwell at Capital Fringe. His work on the production was declared “…stunningly well executed…” by DC Theatre Arts and “…an auspicious inaugural event…” by Washington City Paper.

He directed the DC premiere of A Clockwork Orange at Studio Theatre. His work on the sold-out extended production was celebrated as “…an evening that’s disturbingly entertaining.” by The Washington Post and “…a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” by Metro Weekly.

Other credits include Old Wicked Songs at 1st Stage which was extended and received 4 Helen Hayes Nominations, Middletown at NextStop Theater, Optimism ! or Voltaire’s Candide at Spooky Action (2 Helen Hayes Nominations) and Bat Boy: The Musical (3 Helen Hayes Noms) at Studio Theatre.

His work has also been seen at The Chocolate Factory Theater, Manbites Dog Theater, Millbrook Playhouse and Edge of the Universe. He received a Helen Hayes Nomination for ‘Outstanding Director’ for Chay Yew’s Porcelain at Tsunami Theater Company and his productions have received a total of 11 Hayes nominations.

He was the Founding Artistic Director of Fist in the Pocket in NYC which received Drama Desk and NY IT Theater Award Nominations for Washing Machine, a one woman show Michael developed and directed about a 5 year old girl who drowns in a laundromat washing machine. The production was featured on National Public Radio.

As an assistant director, Michael has had the privilege of working with actors Dana Ivey, George Grizzard, Carrie Preston, Jefferson Mays, Mary Stuart Masterson, Kate Burton, Boyd Gaines, Andrea Martin, Rebecca Luker, John McMartin, Stephen Kunken and Hunter Foster. While assisting directors Mark Lamos and Robert Longbottom he also worked with designers John Lee Beatty, Jane Greenwood, Howell Binkley, Paul Tazwell, Ann Hould-Ward,  John Gromada and Michael Yeargan.

He is a member of Directors Lab West, Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, The KCACTF Director/Design Intensive with Ming Cho Lee and Constance Hoffman and the 2003-2005 SDC Foundation Observership Class. He studied with Joy Zinoman and is a graduate of Studio Acting Conservatory in Washington, DC.