HERB MITCHELL (Tito) "Dreams are uplifting, reality sometimes oppressive."  Twenty-five years in pursuit of his dream, Herb is happy to be home on the east coast, close to three of his daughters and two grandchildren.  In addition he visits his oldest daughter and family (including 2 more grandchildren) and his one and only son, on the West Coast.
     In his twenty-five years as a working actor, he has been (not necessarily in this order): an executive producer, producer, director, teacher, acting coach, theatre owner, and lastly but not least, an actor.  He has appeared in over 200 national television commercials, most notably as spokesman for Dean Witter in the 90's; some 20 feature films such as "Austin Powers", "Ali," "Gettysburg," to mention a few; guest-starred in over fifty TV episodes and most recently had a recurring role as Judge Rodney White on the award winning series "The Practice." 
     Currently he is involved (since 1998) as a managing partner in a new musical about Knute Rockne, a famous football coach at the University of Notre Dame in the 1920's.  It is being work-shopped in Chicago and he is hopeful after a Chicago main production, it will be headed for Broadway (in 2-2 1/2 years.)
      This whole acting bug bit when Herb and the Ellsworth City Players were propositioned by Bill Raiten & Sheldon Bisberg in 1971 to put on a performance of "Fiddler on the Roof" with Herb playing Tevye.  It wasn't long before Herb was headed out to Hollywood.  "Bill Raiten missed me," says Herb, "so in 1990 he chased me down and made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Let's combine the New Surry Theatre and Company of Characters (Herb's studio in Studio City, CA) and go to Leningrad, Russia and do scenes and songs from 'Fiddler.'   So we went for it and what fun we had!"
     "Bill's as good as it gets," says Herb, "both as a person and a teacher and I believe the area has been culturally advanced by Bill's teaching, compassion and understanding of human behavior."  Dreams are uplifting and being home is the culmination of those dreams.  The Maine landscape may have changed, but the strength of character of its people and their compassion has not.  "Thanks, fellow Maniacs!  Love ya!" – Herb