Oratory
Arts

About me

Michael Langlois is a theatre artist, lecturer, performer, and storyteller with decades of experience in directing, performance, and arts education. He has directed productions throughout New England, served for 20 years as Artistic Director of the Ashford Youth Theatre, and spent more than a decade as Associate Artist with New London, Connecticut’s Flock Theatre. Working with audiences and students of all ages, he has helped individuals discover their voice and tell their unique stories through performance and creative expression.  His directing credits include Macbeth; Othello; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Godspell; The Crucible; Lysistrata; Antigone; The Imaginary Invalid; and The Tempest.  Acting credits include: The Stage Manager in Our Town; King Henry in Henry V; Brutus in Julius Caesar; and the Baker in Into the Woods.

Drawing on his theatre background, Michael lectures nationwide on topics ranging from acting and directing to the ways passion and storytelling can bridge divides and foster meaningful connection. His recent focus, exploring the intersection of culture and history, is seen in many of his lectures including From Liberty to Legacy: Exploring American Ideals in the Musicals 1776 and Hamilton; Shakespeare Through Performance; The Crown and Compass: Leadership Lessons from Shakespeare’s Kings; Performing for the Powerful: The Influence of the Monarchy on Shakespeare and His Contemporaries; Toil and Trouble: The Supernatural in Shakespeare; and A Taste of the Colonial Tavern. Recent appearances include OLLI at the University of Rhode Island; The Mark Twain Library’s “Voices of Independence—A Special Live Conversation Event”; and The Fairfield Museum and History Center’s “Reflecting at 250” 2026 Fall Speaker Series.

In addition to his lectures, Michael presents a wide range of public readings that blend the immediacy of theatrical performance with the richness of history and culture. Drawing from classic literature and dramatic storytelling traditions, his readings invite audiences to experience the spoken word as a living event rather than simply a recitation. His performances include Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown, and selections from the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Through these presentations, Michael combines vivid storytelling, theatrical resonance, and historical atmosphere to create engaging programs that illuminate the enduring power of literature and performance.