'Mission Impossible III,' 'CSI,' 'Weeds' Actor Joins Saddleback Theater Program

A few new faces will be popping up at Saddleback College this fall, and they aren't all students.

Last week Patch reported the arrival . On Thursday, Saddleback arts spokeswoman Nina Welch announced the arrival of a new theater professor.

Here's more on the new teacher:

The Department of Theatre Arts at Saddleback College is pleased to welcome new faculty member William Francis McGuire.  He will be teaching Voice and Diction, Acting Fundamentals, Scene Study I and Scene Study II.  Down the line, he hopes to add a Shakespeare class to his repertoire.  He will also be directing the play Almost, Maine by John Cariani on November 8-11 in the McKinney Theatre.

Department of Theatre Arts Chair Kent McFann, stated, “I am thrilled that Professor McGuire  has joined the Department of Theatre Arts faculty. He comes to us with a wealth of professional credits as an actor in film, television and theatre, as well as experience as an educator at the university level. Professor McGuire’s experience, knowledge and leadership will help to create a world-class actor-training program for the 21st century here at Saddleback College.”

Professor McGuire (Bill) has an extensive background of acting in plays, movies and television, but theatre acting is his first love.  Being on stage in front of a live audience is energizing to him.  As a new faculty member, Bill will work with Kent McFann, Department Chair, in growing the program and giving students the opportunity to work in all aspects of theatre.  When asked what his aspirations are for his students, Bill responded, “I want them to be challenged in their classes, successful in their lives and to learn acting skills along with life skills.  I would like them to ask questions and look beyond the easy façade in order to see what’s really underneath.”  Bill’s goal is for Saddleback College to be a strong acting program, and he wants to give students a solid foundation for growth and success.  He would also like to create more performance opportunities.  Bill mentored Saddleback College students at the Kennedy Center American College Festival (KCACTF) in Utah this year.  This was his first introduction to the Festival and he saw the great opportunity for the students to learn, grow and compete on a national level and to gain recognition for Saddleback College.

If Bill looks familiar, you might have seen him in movies like "The Day After Tomorrow" or "Mission Impossible lll," such television shows as "CSI," "Castle, Saving Grace," "The Mentalist," "Weeds," "Numb3rs," "Crossing Jordan," "Navy N.C.I.S.," "Without A Trace," "NYPD Blue," and "ER," to name a few, or maybe as the Dodge Ram Hemi Guy fending off a couple of losers. Bill works regularly at South Coast Repertory. Recent appearances there include "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," "A Wrinkle in Time," "The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow," "A Christmas Carol" and "Tartuffe." Other theatre credits include being a company member of the Guthrie Theater, where he played a variety of roles including Frederick in "The Rover," Kapanna in "Naga Mandala," Geert in "The Good Hope," Medvedenko in "The Seagull," Professor Beggriffenfeldt in "Peer Gynt" and many more.  Also "Henry V" and "Macbeth" at the Shakespeare Theatre, "Tropeano Paints" at the Bay Street Theatre, "The Boys Next Door" at the American Repertory Theatre, "Search and Destroy" at Yale Repertory, and numerous others.

Bill has taught at CSULB, UCLA Extension, Denison University, Guthrie Theater Education Program and the University of Minnesota MFA acting program. He has also taught CSULB study abroad programs in Ireland and Tanzania. He is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts and Yale School of Drama.