Lee F. Orchard received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from Concordia University-River Forest, his Master of Arts degree in Theatre from Northwestern University, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Oregon, where he served as acting pedagogue to Robert Barton, author of Acting: On Stage and Off.  For almost thirty years, Dr. Orchard has taught and directed at the university level, specializing in the areas of Performance Pedagogy, Directing, Theatre and Culture and Musical Theatre -- in particular, the Stephen Sondheim. He has staged over sixty productions ranging from Greek Tragedy to Musical Theatre, from Shakespearean comedy to contemporary drama and has been invited to showcase work for the American College Theatre Festival, for which he also served as an adjudicator since 1988. He has taught courses in Introduction to Theatre Arts, Acting, Acting Styles, Oral Interpretation, History and Literature of the Theatre, Play Direction, Musical Theatre, and various Theatre Seminars.

He has also served on the faculty of the Joseph Baldwin Academy for Eminent Young Scholars as instructor of a class entitled Acting: Serious PLay and has regularly taught a study abroad course in contemporary British drama for the Missouri London Program.  Dr. Orchard is included in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers," has twice been awarded The Order of Omega's Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching, and twice has been selected as a semifinalist for Educator of the Year.