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STATEMENT
artistic
"Christopher's knowledge of story structure, his understanding of how music affects emotion, united with his experience as both a comedic and serious musical theatre actor helps him direct musicals with great pacing, delivery, and comedic timing while tackling the more penetrating, disquieting circumstances of the character’s journey as needed. He knows how to create a world in which the actors and audience live together, thus achieving the highest possible aim: the communion that is theatre at its best. He is fully invested in supporting his actors, writers, and designers to be the best they can possibly be, and it is for this reason that he becomes his best."
kimberly vaughn
ACTRESS, DIRECTOR, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
KIMBERLY VAUGHN PERFORMANCE STUDIO
current
PROJECTS
bite-sized broadway
In development for Season Two of the nine-time award-winning musical theatre podcast series, Bite-Sized Broadway, presented by IndieWorks Theatre Company and Executive Produced by Christopher Michaels!
the bee-man
Christopher serves as both Executive Producer and Director for the first staged reading of Neil Radisch & Kit Goldstein Grant's new, modern, musical retelling, The Bee-Man, based on a 135 year old story by Frank R. Stockton
toy box
Christopher is currently serving as dramaturg and director for a new work in development! Toy Box, which was premiered on Season One of Bite-Sized Broadway is being expanded into a 75-minute live stage musical!
“Christopher Michaels is a master at musical comedy, both as an actor and as a director of the stage. He brings to his productions a full box of innovative craft that lifts the work to thrilling heights. His composition is clean, purposeful, and manages to find the emotional sticking point that hits you in the gut or the funny bone, often both at the same time.”
ben tostado
ACTOR, DIRECTOR
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - PLAYLIGHT THEATRE CO.
PRODUCTIONS
THE GIANT HOAX
THE COMMUTERS
CASPER, THE
NOT-SO-FRIENDLY GHOST
THE GIANT HOAX
2019 READING
VALLEY HIGH
MUSIC VIDEO
BITE-SIZED BROADWAY
SONGS FROM A HAT
KIT GOLDSTEIN GRANT
AND FRIENDS
DIRTY LITTLE DITTIES
SONGWRITERS' SHOWCASE
SAXE AND THE CITY
LET'S HEAR IT
FOR THE BOYS
past
“Christopher is a kind, inclusive, and inspirational director. A talented actor himself, Christopher is an actors' director. He knows how to guide folks in a warm and supportive way that brings out the very best in every player. He is a leader always, a teacher when called upon to instruct, and a genuine friend to those he watches over. I'm eternally grateful to have been under his wing during the Off-Broadway premiere of The Giant Hoax.”
robyne parrish
ACTOR, DIRECTOR
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - PARRISH & CO.
É
RESUME
theatre
THE GIANT HOAX (NYC Premiere at Theatre Row)
IndieWorks Theatre Company/Visceral Entertainment, NYC
CASPER, THE NOT-SO-FRIENDLY GHOST
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
EMPTY FRAMES (World Premiere)
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
TWO COUSINS & A PIZZA (World Premiere)
New York Winterfest
THE COMMUTERS
(OR A CAUTIONARY TALE ABOUT THE PORT AUTHORITY)*
(World Premiere at Theatre at St. Marks)
Calendar Boys Productions, NYC
CLOSER THAN EVER
Pinellas County Center for the Arts, FL
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (Starring Latrice Royale)
MuchaDu Productions, FL
OKLAHOMA!
Osceola High School, FL
INTO THE WOODS, JR.
Largo Cultural Arts Center, FL
LITTLE THINGS
St. Petersburg Little Theatre, FL
THE WEDDING WARRIOR
Associate Director - Fly Away Balloon Productions, FL/NYC
YOSEF: AN EPIC NEW MUSICAL
Associate Director - Born Entertainment, NYC
THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW
Associate Director - Rodeph Shalom Middle School, NYC
TWO BOYS IN A BED ON A COLD WINTER'S NIGHT
Assistant Director - Rising Action Theatre, FL
readings
THE BEE-MAN
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
THE LAST MAGIC NEGRO (OR CHAD'S GREAT AWOKENING)
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
THE GIANT HOAX
IndieWorks Theatre Company/The Gallery Players, NYC
FAIRYTALE CITY
Mariolio Productions, NYC
EVANGELINE: A CURIOUS JOURNEY
Assistant Director - Davenport Theatricals
film
VALLEY HIGH (Based on the song by Drew Gasparini)
Calendar Boys Productions/Jeremy Terry Productions, NYC
EVERYONE HAS A STORY
Calendar Boys Productions, NYC
other media
THE GETAWAY (Bite-Sized Broadway)
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
BLUE CROSS BLUES (Bite-Sized Broadway)
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
A RELATIVE RELATIONSHIP (Bite-Sized Broadway)
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
TOY BOX (Bite-Sized Broadway)
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
THE TRIAL OF BASTIANO DI BOLOGNA (Bite-Sized Broadway)
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
MTA THE MUSICAL (Bite-Sized Broadway)
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
SHEILA, THE TINY TURTLE (Bite-Sized Broadway)
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
RANSOMWHERE?! (Bite-Sized Broadway)
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
cabarets/concerts
SAXE AND THE CITY: THE MUSIC & LYRICS OF PETER SAXE
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
DIRTY LITTLE DITTIES
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
SONGS FROM A HAT
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
KIT GOLDSTEIN GRANT & FRIENDS!
IndieWorks Theatre Company, NYC
SONGWRITER SHOWCASE: VOLUME 1
Playlight Theatre Company, NYC
SONGWRITER SHOWCASE: VOLUME 2
Playlight Theatre Company, NYC
LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS
Calendar Boys Productions, NYC
BROADWAY THEATRE CAFE (Cabaret Series)
Rising Action Theatre, FL
*Best Director - 2016 Strawberry Theatre Festival in NYC; Voted Audience Favorite, nominated for five awards including Best Musical
related skills
PERSONALITY
ambitious, collaborative, communicative, confident, curious, detail-oriented, driven, focused, leadership-oriented, open-minded, organized, punctual, service-oriented, visual storyteller
SKILLS
writing, dramaturgy, music composition, lyric writing, editing, casting, producing, stage management, graphic design, makeup design/artistry, certified COVID compliance officer, valid NY driver's license
SKILLS
proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel; Google Suite, Google Slides; Adobe Photoshop; Audacity; Final Draft Pro; iMovie; Zoom;
Good working knowledge of Finale Music; QLab
training
PINELLAS COUNTY CENTER FOR THE ARTS (2000-2003)
Majored in Musical Theatre; Minored in Playwriting
ACTING
Howard Thomas, Ron DeBeck, Keven Renken, Dave Alan Thomas, Michael Leeds, Kimberly Vaughn
DIRECTING
Karen Kohlhaas, Kimberly Senior
WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
Karen Kohlhaas' Summer Directing Program 2018
Primary Stage's Articulating Your Vision w/ Kimberly Senior 2018
TRU's Writer/Director Communication Lab 2019, 2021
affiliations
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
IndieWorks Theatre Co.
ASSOCIATE MEMBER
SDC