Tom Huston Orr

Director School of Drama (Acting/Camera Acting)

MFA 1996 University of Texas, Austin
BFA 1988 Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX

640 Parrington Oval
OSH Room 121
Norman, OK  73019
(405) 325-4021
thorr@ou.edu

Tom Huston Orr:

Tom has successfully served as a performer, producer, director, or combat choreographer on over 250 theatrical productions.  As an actor, Tom most recently appeared in the title role of Hamlet with the Oklahoma Shakespeare Chautauqua. New York credits include Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, Stanley in The Glass Mendacity, and Silvio in PVT. Wars, Horatio in Hamlet, Brat in Advice from a Caterpillar, the Narrator in Kafka’s The Trial, and Jonathan Harker in Dracula, The Journals of Jonathan Harker. His work has been seen in theatres from Boston to Austin: Clifford in the critically acclaimed production of Sideman at the Zachary Scott Theatre, the Caldwell Theatre in Florida where he played Jonathon in the regional premier of Snakebit, the Cape Cod Playhouse where he played Philip in The Lion in Winter, the North Shore Music Theatre, the Orlando Shakespeare Festival, the Ft. Worth Shakespeare Festival, the Fairfield Shakespeare Festival, the Hip Pocket Theatre, the State Theatre, the Zachary Scott Theatre, and over 25 productions with the Casa Manana Theatre where he served as a resident company actor and teacher for many years. Selected regional roles include Cole in Keely and Du (Critic’s Table nomination for Best Supporting Actor), Prince Hal in Henry IV, p.I, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Cliff in Cabaret, Dr. Johnny in Summer and Smoke, John Wilkes Booth in Two Booths and a Lincoln, Scarecrow in The Wizard of OZ, Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew, Roy in Lone Star, and Jimmy in 110 in the Shade (Critic’s Table Award for Best Actor), where he was lucky enough to play opposite his very talented wife, Robin Huston. He has shared the stage with other notable performers such as Debbie Reynolds, Van Johnson, Shelly Berman, Jon Amos, Dee Hoty, Cathy Rigby, Noel Harrison, Randal Duk Kim, Tom Poston and Tim Conway. Tom holds an MFA in Theatre from the University of Texas, has worked in film and television, taught for the Professional Performing Arts School and The Actor’s Institute, both in NYC, and is professionally affiliated with the various actor’s unions and industry organizations. Tom’s directing and fight choreography credits include It’s a Wonderful Life, Noises Off,  Harvey, Texarkana Waltz, The Crucible, Pippin, Macbeth, Henry IV, p1, Le Bourgeois Gentleman, Hamlet, Two Booths and a Lincoln, Man of La Mancha, My Favorite Year, The Pirates of Penzance, Metamorphoses, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Zoo Story, West Side Story, Romeo and Juliet (5 times), Our Town, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Dining Room, The Hollow, The Odd Couple, and Crimes of the Heart.  He is professionally represented by Switzer Agency.

Tom Huston Orr
James Garner Chair
Director, School of Drama