MTA: What got you hooked on musical theatre?
Michael: Truth be told it was actually Phantom of the Opera. I then got hooked on Sondheim and my love for musicals went through the roof!
MTA: How were you introduced to Sondheim's work?
Michael: I had a friend that was really into musicals and she introduced me to Into The Woods, I was really attracted to the complexity of his work. Then I went out and bought everything else he had ever written/composed and have been a fan ever since. I also love to sing his works. I really have a connection to it, something amazing that fills me from head to toe whenever I perform it.
MTA: What is your favorite past performing experience?
Michael: There are so many, so I will just name the first one that comes to mind. Performing in HMS Pinafore as Dick Deadeye at The Mondavi Center infront of 1000 plus people.
MTA: What did you love about it?
Michael: One night I had a costume malfunction, a cloak caught on part of the stage, and I went with it and made a bit out of it. The full house audience knew something wrong happened and saw I covered it up with a bit and gave me an ovation.
MTA: What is your "dream role"?
Michael: I would have to say Sweeney Todd in Sweeney. If I were a woman it would be Mrs. L!
MTA: What attracts you to this particular role?
Michael: A Role Like Sweeney has so much depth to it. He is this really really dark character with so much heart! He is this "bad guy" that the audience has to be on his side. Also the score is simply perfect!
MTA: Why did you enter this contest?
Michael: A friend told me about it. He said he thought I would do well. I was thinking of going on American Idol, but they dont really do the musical thing.
MTA: What would you like to change about yourself?
Michael: I would love to drop some pounds. I get a lot of character roles, some "leading man" roles because I can do them. But I feel I would be able to play a lot more roles if I dropped some pounds.
MTA: Have you done any professional (paid) performance work?
Michael: Yep. I tour daily with a company that travels to schools all over the northern california area. We are called Fantasy Theatre.
MTA: Can you tell me more about your job? What types of shows do you do?
Michael: I work for a theater company in Sacramento called The B Street Theatre, Tim Busfeild and his brother Buck started the theatre years ago with Fantasty Theatre. We tour schools 150 mile radius of Sacramento. We perform a 45 min show at about 2 schools a day and do 3 shows 1 at one and 2 at the other. Our shows vary in themes. Last year we had 3 tours, 1: "Fantasticly Tall Tales" wich was 4 tall tales, Don Quioxte, Pecos Bill, The Sand Man and (a fun made up one) Natsu-Zilla. 2: "The 3 Musketeers", we did it in the style of the Marks Brothers. and 3: "Fantasy Festival 20" this show is special, we have a compitition where we ask the kids at the schools to write plays and story ideas all year long. We take the best 5 and re-vamp them and tour them! That is the fun tour! We do fun/ crazy shows that the kids love and teachers do as well!
MTA: What's it like being naked onstage? (And are you REALLY?)
Michael: LIBERATING!!!!!!!!!! I was scared at first, but after the first time doing it in front of the cast at rehearsals it was nothing, especially after opening in front of an audience!!!!!! and yes we do go The Full Monty!!!!!!!! |
