About me
Welcome to my page! I'm Dale O'Dell. Originally from Hudson Valley, NY, I currently live in Minnesota with my spouse and our cute but crazy pup. As a kid, playing pretend was always a passion of mine, but I became hooked on acting in elementary school when I played Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh. Since then, I've been in a countless number of musicals and plays.
I began coaching acting in 2014, driven by a passion to provide the guidance I wished I had received as a young actor. Although my journey was interrupted by a testicular cancer diagnosis in 2015, I'm thrilled to have reached nearly a decade of being cancer-free.
Besides performing I am passionate about lifting weights, traveling, cooking, baking, writing, reading, and spending time with family. I find joy in hosting gatherings and entertaining friends. I am inspired by trying new restaurants, and love supporting local theatre and art. I also proudly serve on the board of directors for our town's local ballet school.
Actor
I've spent most of my life performing in musicals, studying with esteemed vocal instructors such as Celeste Simone, Barbara Farruggia, and Robert Farruggia, 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. After relocating to Minnesota, I was motivated to engage with the local theatre scene. I participated in our community playhouse, playing Prince Charming in Prince Street Players' version of Cinderella, a role I also performed in Yorktown Heights, New York, in 2016. Then, I was cast as Orin Scrivello, DDS, in Little Shop of Horrors for the playhouse's main stage dinner theatre. I then landed both male leads in Highland Summer Theatre's summer stock, playing Danny in Grease and Delmount in the Miss Firecracker Contest. Since playing Delmount, I have been eager to do more plays. Some of my other favorite roles have been Starbuck (110 in the Shade), Finch (How to Succeed in Business), Prince Eric (The Little Mermaid), Nephew Fred (A Christmas Carol) & Jason (Rabbit Hole)
Writer
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
YA/Contemporary/LGBTQIA/Fantasy
Heartstopper x Hocus Pocus
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.
YA/ Contemporary/LGBTQIA/Fantasy
Heartstopper x Ghost x High School Musical
Cas’s secret relationship with Beck is starting to haunt him. But after four years of hiding, Beck is finally ready to live his truth – that is, until he dies.
Now, Cas is haunted by the ghost of the boyfriend no one knew he had. And it’s up to him to do the one thing in life Beck was never able to do himself… come out.
Commissioned art from the incredible @NotSoBadAArt on Instagram.
Teacher
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 playhouse. This setting offers young actors the opportunity to hone their craft on stage under professional lighting, fostering comfort and growth in a theatrical environment. 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 events 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, particularly during adolescence. Acting serves as an excellent platform for developing vital life skills, including communication, public speaking, collaboration, emotional intelligence, active listening, problem-solving, and, notably, confidence-building.
My coaching hours are located below. Send me a message for more details! (Ages 8+)
Student Success Stories
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 M.
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 W.
Dale helped me get 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 C.
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 B.
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 C.