BIOGRAPHY

Dale Calandra is a versatile ...       ACTOR     DIRECTOR    WRITER                          PRODUCER

SEE     "ShowBiz Designs"  for:                   <  "CREATIVE LIFE" COACH   >         SHOWBIZ DESIGNS Company Info   

Dale did a McDonald's Commercial when he was 10              (He thinks he was paid in hamburgers) & has been hooked on SHOW BIZ ever since.                                                                    A FULL CAREER has FOLLOWED

SHOWBIZ DESIGNS, His New COMPANY, provides  the ARTIST a GUIDE to a SUCCESSFUL CAREER! 

As an ACTOR he has appeared in over 200 PRODUCTIONS. Highlights include:       >CHARLIE(Best Actor Nomination 2013) in"THE WHALE" (Victory Gardens),                               >EDNA in "HAIRSPRAY" the 1st Nat'l Broadway Tour 2004-2006,                                                              >Puck in "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" (Festival Theatre),                                             >Squeaky Clean in the world premiere of Stephan Daly's "Lifeidreamedof" (Center Theater)              , >Otto in "The Food Chain (Organic Theatre),         >Allen Ginsberg in "The Chicago Conspiracy Trial" (Remains Theater)                                                    >and several seasons as Mr. Fezziwig in Goodman Theater's annual "A Christmas Carol".            TV/FILM:Enrico Caruso in THE UNTOUCHABLES  Mr. Biebeau in EARLY EDITION, Leo Persini in JOSHUA with Tony Goldwyn & F. Murray Abraham. And many Commercials. 

As a DIRECTOR he has Produced over 50 produtions.  FOUNDER/INTERIM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR  of CENTER THEATER ENSEMBLE (20 years)               Directing/Acting/Producing                                  Center Productions include "The Scarecrow", a wireless verion of "Peter Pan", "Kingdom Of Earth", Blithe Spirit", "The Marriage of Bette and Boo", and the cult classic "Lysistrata 2411, A.D." published by Doubleday (1995) with productions across the country annually                                                        CREATIVE DIRECTOR of Chicago's Premiere Meisner-Based ACTING STUDIO: "The TRAINING CENTER FOR THE WORKING ACTOR, DIRECTOR, & PLAYWRIGHT".                                

As a WRITER his Cult-Classic Hit          "LYSISTRATA,2411 AD" is published by DoubleDay  &  has seen over 50 productions nationwide                    (Find it on Amazon.com)                                             His Adaptation of "THE ADVENTURES OF DON QUIXOTE" was produced by Festival Theater.             ALSO, Multiple Film & TV scripts.                                 WATCH for his new play: "MARY & THE MONSTER"           

 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR (12 years) of FESTIVAL THEATRE, Illinois' oldest outdoor Shakespeare Company. Productions include: a rock-n-rock "Taming of the Shrew", "The Tempest" starring Tom Mula, "Hamlet" starring Henry Godinez, and his award-winning adaptation of Cervantes' "The Adventures of Don Quixote". He recently DIrected the HIT production of SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH at The Artistic Home.

He has specialized in directing One-Person Shows. Examples:  Tom Mula's "Circus of Dr. Lao"(Next Theater), Rob LaMont's "Wit, Wisdom & Romance" (Cuneo Museum Theater), and Denise LaGrassa's "Is There Anything Really Going On Upstairs?" (Royal George Cabaret) & "The Blues Ain't A Color" (Theater Wit), and Jenny Riddle's "Diana Nyad". He also has developed Club Acts/Concerts for Charlene Brooks, Judy Rosignolo-Rice, The Sparkle Sisters, Shane Taylor, Thalia Tarsino & Robin Trilling, Charles West, Carol Moss and Becky Menzie. He recently was GUEST SPEAKER at Actor's Equity Workshop in SOLO PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT

In 2008 he created the ICONIC Character:           AUNT LOLA CABANA: "America's Favorite Aunt!" Aunt Lola is a HOST for Special Appearances, Benefits, Private Parties, Custom "ROASTS", and (believe it or not) a Tupperware Show-Party!                  Ask about the New CABARET COMEDY SHOWS

Dale has a BFA Degree, Suma Cum Laude, from the University of Illinois in Urbana and studied professionally with Edward Kaye-Martin. He is on the Faculty at Columbia College & Roosevelt University. He was an Original member of the AT Team of the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee and an Adjudicator for the Michigan Arts Council Grants.     He is a Guest Lecturer/Master Teacher and has worked with numerous Acedemic, Civic and Professional organizations. He currently is CREATIVE DIRECTOR of Planet III Entertainment, an Independent Film production company.

REPRESENTATION:  See "CONTACT"