Michael Rashid has been an actor, director, and occasional playwright and baker in Chicago since 2002, and is thrilled and honored to be a Handbag ensemble member. Originally from Shelby Township, MI, he holds a BA in Theatre Performance from Western Michigan University and MFA in Acting from West Virginia University. He has acted, written, and/or directed for many Chicago companies, including Emerald City Theatre, Theatre-Hikes, Pride Film and Plays, NewTown Writers, James Downing Theatre, and Imagination Theater.  Michael was the co-founder and artistic director of Black Elephant Theatre, where he directed Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde and Terre Haute. He was a company member with Project 891 Theatre, for which he directed its inaugural production Never the Sinner: The Leopold and Loeb Story, as well as Our Leading Lady, WTC View, and Jim and Dave (‘s Blood Meets Jupiter). Behind the scenes, he has worked in the offices of the Goodman Theatre, Mordine and Co. Dance Theatre, and Emerald City Theatre. Michael’s pop culture obsessions include Batman, Tom Jones, and so-bad-they’re-good movies (ask him about CraptacularFest!)