Ryan Welsh

welshry2@msu.edu
(517) 355-6690

FacultyTheatre

Assistant Professor
Media Acting

Biography

Ryan Welsh earned his MFA from the University of California, Irvine. He has worked professionally as an actor, director, and writer in Los Angeles for nearly a decade. His films have been showcased at festivals around the world and distributed with Gaiam TV, and Gunpowder & Sky’s network, Dust. One of his recent films, It’s Okay, has been showcased at multiple international film festivals including Pasadena International Film Festival, Woods Hole FF, and Vail International Film Festival. His first film, This Is Normal, received the Best of Festival award at the Seattle Deaf Film Festival, as well as acclaim from the Deaf/HoH community for the film’s nuanced approach to living with hearing loss. As an actor, Ryan most recently worked with Center Theatre Group (Los Angeles) at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. He was awarded Best Lead Actor for his work on Outpost at the FilmQuest International Film Festival. He was also a series regular for two seasons on the Lionsgate Entertainment show Bite Me which earned him a nomination for a Streamy for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy. Additionally, he has appeared in numerous commercials both at home and abroad. As a writer, he had several screenplays produced, and several commissioned with companies like Lunacy Productions, Epic Level Entertainment, and Baby Under The Moon Productions. His plays have been featured at The Road Theatre (Los Angeles) and the Activate Midwest New Play Festival.

University News

Faculty Find Creative Ways to Integrate Technology in the Classroom to Enhance Student Experience
Published February 7, 2024 in College of Arts & Letters
Photo of woman in a strange position with technology strapped to her joints. In front of her a green animated character in following her same movement.
Innovation by Michigan State University faculty isn’t limited to their research. Faculty continuously look for ways to engage students in their own instruction and prepare them for opportunities…Read now »
MSU Theatre Presents Hilarious Whodunit Inspired by Iconic Movie and Game ‘Clue’
Published September 28, 2023 in College of Arts & Letters
Photo of three people in front of black background looking at one another.
Drawing inspiration from the beloved 1985 Paramount Pictures motion picture and the classic Hasbro board game, Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre presents Clue…Read now »
Theatre Assistant Professor Ryan Welsh Receives 2023 HARP Large-Scale Development Grant
Published April 4, 2023 in College of Arts & Letters
A man stands behind a screen with a notepad. His hand is near his chin and he has an ear bud in his ear.
The 2023 MSU Humanities and Arts Research Program (HARP) large-scale development grant has been awarded to Ryan Patrick Welsh, Assistant Professor of Media Acting in MSU’s Department of…Read now »
MSU Theatre Presents Pulitzer-Winning Play About Race, Economy, and Humanity
Published March 9, 2023 in College of Arts & Letters
Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre presents Lynn Nottage’s 2017 Pulitzer-Prize winning play “Sweat” March 22-26 in Studio 60 of the Auditorium…Read now »
Conversations With CAL Features Ryan Welsh Discussing ‘Mealworms’ Film
Published October 21, 2022 in College of Arts & Letters
Profile graphic of Man with labeling under photo: Ryan Welsh, assistant professor of media acting, Department of Theatre. To the right of the photo says: Conversation on Making of MEALWORMS: Building inter-departmental collaborations centered on student experience
https://youtu.be/vI5pfmqKVgI In this Conversations with CAL, Ryan Welsh, Assistant Professor of Media Acting in the Department of Theatre, discusses the making of “Mealworms,” a short film…Read now »
MSU Department of Theatre Announces 2022-2023 Season
Published August 5, 2022 in College of Arts & Letters
Theatre Poster
Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre announces its 2022-2023 season, which focuses on the exploration and celebration of community.  “These scripts are intended to provoke…Read now »
MSU Theatre Freshmen Premiere Original Web Series Satire About College During COVID-19
Published February 9, 2021 in College of Arts & Letters
A person with long blonde hair stands with back to camera, wearing a black backpack, looking at a collegiate building with a tree with pink flowers on it, and a sign that says Danger Keep Out
The cast of Pandemic’d! rehearsing via Zoom The freshmen class of Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre have created a mockumentary-style web series satire about…Read now »
Department of Theatre Announces Fall 2020 Experimental Season
Published October 19, 2020 in College of Arts & Letters
The Michigan State University Department of Theatre announces an experimental season for Fall 2020, rooted in diversity, equity, inclusion, and public discourse. While conventional…Read now »
New Adaptation of ‘Frankenstein’ Examines Gender Norms Through Non-Traditional Casting
Published October 8, 2019 in College of Arts & Letters
Man with brown eyes has a dirty hand covering his mouth. Behind him, a scary, dirty, disgruntled woman is staring creepily with her hand over his mouth.
Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre is presenting a new adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic gothic horror novel, Frankenstein. Through the use of some…Read now »
Department of Theatre Announces 2019-2020 Season
Published September 12, 2019 in College of Arts & Letters
Poster with white background. Theres an outline of a lightbulb with the words "Invention and Reinvention" written across it. There a few wooden puzzle pieces in the bottom right corner, a typewriter in the bottom left corner, and a clock in the upper lefthand corner
The Michigan State University Department of Theatre announces its 2019-2020 Season, which focuses on invention and reinvention, adaptations of…Read now »
Department of Theatre to Present ‘A Wrinkle in Time’
Published March 7, 2019 in College of Arts & Letters
Two boys and a girl standing in the dark with a blue light shining on them
A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle has endeared itself in the hearts of readers for generations. Using Tracy Young’s truthful and supremely theatrical adaptation,…Read now »
Department of Theatre Announces 2018-2019 Season
Published September 12, 2018 in College of Arts & Letters
Black and white graphic titled "Breaking Down Borders"
Michigan State University’s Department of Theatre is “Breaking Down Borders,” the theme of its 2018-2019 season, in which the department will present plays with meaning and…Read now »
College Welcomes 30 New Faculty and Staff Members
Published August 30, 2018 in College of Arts & Letters
brick building with a blue sky surrounded by trees
This year, the College of Arts & Letters welcomes 30 new faculty and staff members. They include the following:  Qais Assali Qais Assali, Visiting Assistant Professor and…Read now »