ACTING

René Collins' career began in San Francisco with a background in theatre and circus performing. He was an actor, singer, and acrobat for Make-A-Circus. After receiving a scholarship to study with the Califonia Shakespeare Festival, he quickly received many offers to perform in the San Francisco Bay Area theater community. Some of the roles René played included Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Gratiano in "The Merchant of Venice", The Villager in "Down the Dark Well", and Andre in "Ain't Misbehavin".

When René moved to New York he toured with Theatreworks USA in the production of "Freedom Train" and performed as the chorus and semi-chorus in "The Acharnians". For five years he held the starring role of High Priest for a performance ritual theatre company, Body Temple. Most recently René acted in the movie "Vote and Die: Litzt for President" by director Mark Mitchell which, in 2008, won both the Best Non-European Dramatic Feature at the European Independent Film Festival and The Accolade Film Awards' Award of Excellence/ Film.

For three years René Collins studied film technique at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts with Julia Carey and Rawleigh Moreland.

Film
Vote and Die (Supporter) Dir. Mark Mitchell
Complaints (Complainer) Dir. David Wiessman
Clowning Around (Acrobat) Dir. Ellen Osborne

Theater
Love's Labour’s Lost (Servant) California Shakespeare,
Dir. Michael Addison

Henry IV Part 1 (Warrior) California Shakespeare, Dir. Stephen Hollis

Twelfth Night (Antonio) California Shakespeare

Julius Caesar (Lucius) California Shakespeare, Dir. Chris Barton

Ain't Misbehavin’ (Andre) Oregon Cabaret Festival

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck) San Francisco Shakespeare

The Acharnians (Semi Chorus) Freshly Squeezed Productions

Little Nemo in Slumberland (Mr. Sandman) Make A Circus, Dir. Paoli Lacy

Queen of Swords( Enki) Theater Rhinoceros, Dir. Adele Prindini

Merchant of Venice (Graciano) Second Wind Productions

Bodywise Traveling Menagerie (All Parts)
Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre

Pluribus Tree (Ollie) Make A Circus, Dir. Paoli Lacy

Medicine Show (Hugo) Make A Circus, Dir. Ken Grantham

Cafe Noir (Mr. Cairo) Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre

Training
On Camera: The School for Film and Television
Rawleigh Moreland, Julia Carey

Shakespeare: California Shakespeare Festival
Joe Vincent, Susan Irving, Michael Addison

Singing: Dorothy Rae Studios

Clowning: Make A Circus Tumbling: Make A Circus

Music: Singing /Songwriting, Rhythm acoustic guitar

Fighting Styles: Capoeira, Jeet Kune Do, Boxing, Tai Boxing,
Stick, Daggers, Swords

Dance: Capoeira, Brasilian Dance, Square Dancing, Russian,
African Dance, Morris Dancing

Skills Puppetry, Meditation, Yoga, Mask, Noh, Kabuki Theatre

AEA • SAG (elibible)
Height: 5'5” • Eyes: Brown • Weight: 140 • Hair: Black

download Acting Resume (PDF)

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MUSIC

Réné Collins is also a solo singer/songwriter and the former lead vocalist for the NYC band Blue Ceiling. On this website you'll find lyrics, information on upcoming events and pictures of his performances. Welcome and enjoy!!

In his songs, Rene effortlessly weaves together the subjects of spiritual progress, love, and nature to create a unique musical and lyrical style. Charismatic, charming and energetic, he woos the audience with his powerful vocals, sensitive lyrics and down-to-earth manner. His polyrhythmic strumming style creates head-bobbing grooves, with memorable hooks that will linger in your head the next morning. His second CD with Blue Ceiling, "Tales from the Spiritual Lost and Found" has been released, and he is currently recording his solo CD "Afromystic", which evokes his unique blend of acoustic folk-rock, hip hop and reggae influences.