T. Mychael Rambo

T. Mychael Rambo who portrays Thurgood Marshall, makes his home in Saint Paul, Minnesota and is a Regional Emmy Award winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer. He has made an indelible mark in the Twin Cities, performing countless principle roles at numerous theatres, including Penumbra, the Guthrie, Ordway Theatre, Illusion Theatre, Mixed Blood, Park Square Theatre, Children’s Theatre, Ten Thousand Things, Theatre Latte Da and Minnesota Opera. He has toured nationally and internationally, and his stage credits include Carnegie Hall and performances in Africa, Europe and South America. He has appeared in several feature films, including “The Cure,” “Justice,” “Crossing the Bridge” and “Wooley Boys” and in local and national television commercials, as well as in the HBO mini-series “Laurel Avenue” and “Equinox.” He is an Associate Professor of Theatre Arts and Dance in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota  and has conducted numerous artist residencies for COMPAS, Young Audiences, the Minnesota State Arts Board and VocalEssence.  As a recording artist, Mr. Rambo has released two popular CDs, “Simply” - a collection of jazz standards, and “The Gift; A Christmas With Love,” a selection of original and holiday classics. He has had the great honor of singing the National Anthem for both President Barack Obama and former President Jimmy Carter.  Mr. Rambo is the recipient of the 2010 Sally Award in Arts Education, presented by the Ordway Theatre, and the 2010 Minnesota Black Music Award. His numerous other honors and awards include Young Audience Artist of the Year, McKnight Theatre Artist Fellowship, Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Fellowship, Bush Finalist and both the University of Minnesota Century Council Community Award and Outstanding Community Service Award.

Mr. Rambo is also a dedicated community volunteer and works closely with many groups, including the African American AIDS Project, African American Family Services, Peace House Foundation, Arm in Arm in Africa and the Urban League. One of his great-aunt’s favorite sayings was “Service is the rent due for living on this planet.”  Mr. Rambo, who views himself a “citizen of the planet,” has spent a great deal of his professional life giving back as an arts activist and community organizer - seeking and engaging social change through the mediums of theatre, performance art, spoken word and song.  He firmly believes that we are all powerful agents of change. Each of us through our creativity, personal efforts and life force has the power to be and create the change we want to see in the world.