Remembering Michael J. Norman

Michael J. Norman, O’Neal’s Upper School Spanish and Drama Teacher of nearly 20 years passed away on Tuesday, August 18^th after nine years of battling a brain tumor.

 

Though his family is from England, Michael grew up in Goldsboro, NC. He graduated from Duke University in 2002 and shortly after joined O’Neal. In addition to teaching the Spanish language, he adored study abroad trips with students to Spanish-speaking countries. He had a gift in relating to the students, and often served as their mentor. He carried sincere concern for the students’ well-being and was always available to lend an ear and a voice of sound guidance. The students had the utmost respect for him and they enjoyed his company. After his diagnosis, he chaired the Moore County Relay for Life for a few years. Under his leadership, O’Neal students supported his efforts from cutting one’s beloved hair to kissing a pig for pledges. For many years, Michael lead the Upper School Honor Council, and in later years, he served as Dean of Students.

 

Given all of his strengths, his love was the theater. In addition to his theater instruction at O’Neal, he was highly involved in the community theater via the Sandhills Theatre Company. “Phantom of the Opera” was an annual “must see”. 

 

Edited from his self-written bio for a play program --

 

Active in community, high school and regional theatre productions, Michael most recently directed “It’s Only a Play” in 2019 for the O’Neal Players. Other directing credits include: “The Curious Savage”, “The Importance of Being Ernest”, “Harvey”, “The Mousetrap”, “Par for the Corpse”, “The Foreigner”, “The Odd Couple” (Female Version), “The Murder Room”, “Much Ado About Nothing”, “A Night of Comic Shorts” – all at O’Neal, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Romeo and Juliet” at Sandhills Theatre Company and “Love’s Fire” for the Wendell Theatre Co. in Durham, NC.  His favorite lead was playing Sgt. Trotter in Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” for Sandhills Theatre Company.  Other roles have included:  Banquo in Macbeth, Van Helsing in Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Jack Worthing in “The Importance of Being Earnest” with Sandhills Theatre Company.  Prior to this, Michael understudied the role of Zack in the musical “A Chorus Line” (Hoof n’ Horn) and played Dr. Wangel in Ibsen’s “The Lady from the Sea” and Alonso de Piracquo in Middleton/Rowley’s “The Changeling” (Duke Players).  In 2008, Michael received the English Speaking Union’s Globe Scholar Award and spent three weeks in residence at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. Michael also coached students for the Shakespeare competition seeing some rise to the national level.