Joshua Finkel

Joshua Finkel is an actor, director and acting coach.

He heads up the Musical Theater Program at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, runs the three tiered training program, the ANMT Performers' Workshop in North Hollywood , coaches internationally doing his 11 master classes, as well as out of his private studio, the Creative Combustion Acting Studio. Joshua has also created classes and has taught at the Los Angeles campus of AMDA.

Recent directing credits include the world premiere production of TSARINA at the Grove Theater in Upland, LOVE BYTES and DECEMBER SONGS both at the Noho Arts Center in North Hollywood, INTO THE WOODS at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks (April /May 2009), the Los Angeles Premiere of THE SPITFIRE GRILL at Actors' Co-op, the Bay Area premiere of SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD in San Francisco and FALSETTOLAND at San Francisco's Phoenix Theater. Joshua directed Maccabeat for the Festival of New Musicals, LES MISERABLES at Hamilton High's Music Academy Magnet, and continues to direct and star in the ongoing corporate event HOLLYWOOD REVISITED.

Recent performing credits include Lew Fields in Richard M. Sherman's latest musical about Weber and Fields, PAZZAZZ!, Bamatabois/Dance Captain in LES MISERABLES at the HOLLYWOOD BOWL with LEA MICHELE and 11 characters in THE KID FROM BROOKLYN: THE DANNY KAYE MUSICAL at the El Portal Theater. Joshua has starred as the wild latin nightclub singer Ricardo Romero in the Los Angeles premiere of NEVER GONNA DANCE at Musical Theater West, and as Eddie Ryan in FUNNY GIRL at Robert Redford's complex in Sundance, Utah. And was in the original cast and cast album of BARK! He originated Jacob Finney in the original cast of THE GRAVE WHITE WAY at the Hudson Theater in Hollywood. Other theater credits include playing the Tony Award Winning role of Uncle Louie in LOST IN YONKERS, starring Erin Moran from Happy Days, Al in A CHORUS LINE starring Jane Lanier, and Buttons in a wild, burlesque version of CINDERELLA.

Television appearances include DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES with Marcia Cross, GENERAL HOSPITAL, Joshua was seen as the Singing Waiter on the Emmy Award winning 2000 Season Finale Episode of ALLY McBEAL, THE MUSICAL ALMOST, and can be seen in the movie THE KID playing opposite Bruce Willis. Joshua played Gary Carson opposite Kathleen Quinlan on FAMILY LAW, and was the Card Dealer/Mr. Zapatella in Reprise's FIORELLO! starring Tony Danza.

On Broadway, Joshua starred as Molina, the Window Dresser in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN with Chita Rivera and Vanessa Williams and was selected to play the role twice in India. Los Angeles audiences have seen Joshua appear as Thenardier in the original LA company of LES MISERABLES.

A classically trained actor with his MFA in Classical Theater from the University of Delaware Professional Theatre Training Program, Joshua's recent roles include Tybalt in Portland Stage's ROMEO AND JULIET directed by Tony Award Winning director Bartlett Sher, Birdie Bowers in TERRA NOVA at The Virginia Stage Company, and Juror #4 in TWELVE ANGRY MEN at Merrimack Rep. Khlestakov in THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, Edmund in KING LEAR, and the title role in HAMLET. Internationally, Mr. Finkel has performed Brecht in Germany in THE GOOD PERSON OF SETZUAN, the Greeks in Japan with the Suzuki Company of Toga in CLYTEMNESTRA.

Additional Musical Roles include Macheath in the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival's THE THREEPENNY OPERA, Jigger in Sacramento Music Circus' CAROUSEL, El Gallo in THE FANTASTICKS at the Hangar Theatre, Paul in A CHORUS LINE, Franklin Shepard in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, Cosmo Brown in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, and the Pirate King in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE. Other television appearances include CAROLINE IN THE CITY, THE TONY AWARDS, THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, and being a regular soloist on AMERICAN BANDSTAND.

Joshua can be heard on the original cast recordings of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, BARK! and on Voice-overs for ARTSCENECAL.COM, CHUBB INSURANCE, MILLER BEER, and HALLMARK. Joshua was the live action model for Prince Eric in THE LITTLE MERMAID.

Additionally, Joshua is a master class teacher and the Emcee on the Crystal Cruise Emerging Artist cruises featuring winners from the MUSIC CENTER SPOTLIGHT AWARDS PROGRAM and directs Hollywood Revisited on the Film and Theater Cruises aboard Crystal Cruises.

For more information on upcoming performance, projects and classes: www.joshuafinkel.com