Shayne Mims

Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre
Office Location: Fine Arts Center 262
shayne.mims@drake.edu

Shayne Mims comes to Drake originally from Dallas, TX but has managed to live coast to coast and many places in between over the last 15+ years as a professional actor.  He completed his undergraduate degree from Adams State University in Colorado and is also a proud graduate of the Integrated Musical Theatre Program from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. 

After graduation from AMDA, Shayne lived in NYC for 5 years working in all mediums from regional theatre, summer stock, off Broadway, films, television, and a national tour (Professor Bhaer in Little Women) which was a personal highlight. 

After spending a year in TN and 2 years in Branson, MO on acting contracts, he landed in southern California where he continued to work in film, television and theatre.  He spent multiple summers as a cast member at The Moonlight Stage in San Diego.  Shayne did improv with Finest City Improv in San Diego and also was fortunate to study with some of the great acting teachers in Los Angeles: Anthony Meindl, Lesly Kahn, Stuart Rogers and even attended a masterclass with Eric Morris. 

Always feeling a burning desire to teach and share the information that he has absorbed from many years in the business, Shayne completed his M.F.A. in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University. 

On paper, his area of expertise may be Musical Theatre, however he is fascinated and always studying the craft of acting, voice production (both as a speaker and singer), dialects, screenwriting and directing. 

Shayne has a passion for seeing people become the best version of themselves while also becoming excellent at their craft.  His pedagogy is derived from study of classic acting teachers such as Stanislavsky, Meisner and Uta Hagen while incorporating modern techniques from his teachers in Los Angeles.  He is grateful for the mentorship of Adrian Alita, Hank Stratton, Robert Meffe and Stephen Brotebeck for helping shape him as an educator.