DRYDEN ZURAWSKI
Actor Collaborator
ABOUT ME
"Dryden jumps in with two feet always. Whether he's in an ensemble or defending his turf as Shakespeare's Macbeth, Dryden is riveting and dependable... He can lead a room, but be humbled by the craft; a great professional combination."
Karen Sheridan, Distinguished Professor of Theatre Oakland University
"Versatile, thoughtful and a risk-taker, Dryden is the kind of actor directors love to work with because you know he's going to arrive prepared, engaged and ready to push both himself and his colleagues to do their best work. His attention to detail and unyielding commitment to the work elevate the storytelling... Dryden has time and again proven himself an adept performer, equally at home in classical and contemporary work; on stage and in front of the camera."
David Gram, Assistant Professor of Theatre Oakland University
Born and Raised in Metro Detroit, currently based in Chicago, Dryden (He/They) made his acting debut as the Tweedledee to his older brother's Tweedledum in their high school's production of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. One could argue he's been on his own journey down the rabbit hole ever since. Now a proud Alumnus of Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance with a BFA in Acting, he has his sights set on a lifetime of storytelling.
In his time at University, Dryden dedicated himself to his work and broadening his education. He eagerly frequented the main stage and second stage working in many genres with every director he could, including his peers in their student directed work. Whenever and wherever the call came, he answered with as much of himself as he had to offer. For his devotion to the craft, Dryden has received distinguished honors in the form of two departmental MaTilDa Awards. He was also a 2x Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship nominee at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival where he performed and advanced to be a Regional Finalist for both nominations.
Dryden is an actor first, but he is also a director and a highly capable collaborator in almost any setting. He's acted in independent film projects, intimate storefront theatres, touring children's shows, zoom productions, parks, and Greek amphitheaters. Equally at home in comedy or tragedy, he thrives amidst the work, contemporary or classical. He can sing and dance his way through musicals, and he's studied Improv at The Second City. He can engage in thoughtful discussion in a production meeting, be a valuable asset to a devising process, design and build sets, work on a run crew, and ignite an editing room with interest. He has a considerable amount of experience with violent storytelling as an actor combatant who also teaches, choreographs, and directs armed and unarmed fights. He can lead a room with tact and consideration or serve the story wherever his role lies. He likes to contribute. Most importantly, he has every intention to continue to learn from the mentors and educators in his life: past, present, and future.