Michael Manuel

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Michael Manuel BIO

Michael Manuel was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington. He spent the greater part of his youth as a barker at the Puyallup Fair and riding the rails. In jr. high he was introduced to theatre and sketch comedy, although one could argue that he could not recognize the difference between the two.

After high school, Michael moved to Seattle and began doing open mikes and working in theatre (Empty Space, Group, New City, Seattle Rep and Village theatres). He was then encouraged by some to attend clown college, but there were no shoes that fit. Michael graduated from the M.F.A program at the Yale School of Drama where he studied with the legendary Earle Gister.

After Yale, Michael moved to New York to join the cast of the infamous improv sketch show, The Underground Soap, at the Cucaracha Theatre. While on the east coast Michael worked at Yale Repertory, Theatre for a New Audience, Shakespeare Theatre DC, TNC and 2 seasons at the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival.

Los Angeles audiences have seen him at the Upright Citizens Brigade, Mark Taper, South Coast Rep, Cornerstone, About Productions, Geffen, Pasadena Playhouse, A.S.K. Theatre Works, Main Street Theatre, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Pacific Playwrights Festival, Playwrights Arena, Main Street Theatre, 2 seasons at Shakespeare Festival LA, a company member at A Noise Within (where he received a Drama-Logue award and LA Drama Critics Circle nominations) and most recently with Impro Theatre performing Chekhov Unscripted.
Michael is represented by Kazarian, Measures and Ruskin

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Jerry Zaks Will Lead The Nation's Top Regional Theater Actors As Master Teacher For The 2023 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program

Ten Chimneys Foundation has announced prominent director Jerry Zaks will serve as Master Teacher for the 2023 Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship Program, a national program to serve the future of American theater.

Review: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Pasadena Playhouse

The Pasadena Playhouse has drawn the curtain on its 2023 Sondheim Celebration with a lush and poignant rendering of SUNDAY. Directed by Sarna Lapine, the production is a west coast remount of her 2017 Broadway revival with an entirely new cast, but with the same technical team.

Final Two Weeks To Catch SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE At Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse's Sondheim Celebration production of Sunday in the Park with George,  is in its final two weeks, and must close Sunday, March 19. 

Viola Davis, Jeff Daniels, Billy Porter And More Among 2023 Audie Award Finalists

The Audio Publishers Association has announced finalists for the 2023 Audie Awards®, the premier awards program recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment. Winners across 26 competitive categories will be revealed at the Audie Awards Gala on March 28. The ceremony will be streamed to the public from Chelsea Piers’ Pier Sixty in NYC. 

Video: First Look at Graham Phillips & Krystina Alabado in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Pasadena Playhouse

Get a first look at Pasadena Playhouse's production of Sunday in the Park with George starring Graham Phillips and Krystina Alabado!

Exclusive: Graham Phillips & Krystina Alabado Sing 'Move On' in Rehearsal For Pasadena Playhouse's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

BroadwayWorld has an exclusive first look at the cast of Pasadena Playhouse's production of Sunday in the Park with George in rehearsal, led by Graham Phillips as George Seurat/George and Krystina Alabado as Dot/Marie. The production will run from Tuesday, February 14 to Sunday, March 19.

Graham Phillips & Krystina Alabado to Star in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at Pasadena Playhouse

Pasadena Playhouse has announced the cast for Sunday in the Park with George, the first production of the theater’s six-month-long celebration of Stephen Sondheim. See performances dates and how to purchase tickets!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Comes to South Coast Repertory This Holiday Season

 South Coast Repertory  celebrates the holiday season with the 42nd production of A Christmas Carol, a longtime Orange County favorite.

BWW Review: South Coast Repertory Revisits Classic Play OUR TOWN

Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1938 three-act play OUR TOWN has a superb new iteration now performing at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, CA through June 4, 2022. Directed by Beth Lopes, the show employs a wonderfully diverse cast, as it re-stages its seemingly ordinary but ultimately impactful vignettes of everyday life.

BWW Interview: Impro Theatre's Sara Mountjoy-Pepka Bringing Her Full Self & Womanhood to Direct JANE AUSTEN UNSCRIPTED

Garry Marshall Theatre kicks off their 2022 season in their new GMT outdoor stage with Impro Theatre’s Jane Austen Unscripted April 16,2022.   Sara Mountjoy-Pepka co-directs (with Paul Rogan) Impro Theatre company members and live musicians as they mingle amongst the audience having afternoon tea and delectable treats from vendors from the GMT neighborhood. Sara carved open some time to give me a peek into the behind-the-scenes of Jane Austen, as well as her own back story of improv.

BWW Review: South Coast Rep's 41st Annual Production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL Remains Enchanting

While most Southern California theatergoers are likely more aware of the 'big deal,' direct-from-Broadway production of Charles Dickens' classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL now playing in Los Angeles featuring big star names in its roster, many should not necessarily bypass the other, less star-studded mounting now entertaining audiences in Costa Mesa through December 26, 2021---that's more subtle in its grandeur, but still just as enchanting and timeless at its core. SCR's 41st annual production now features Richard Doyle in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Impro Theatre Adds New Main Company Members

The new Main Company members include expert improv veterans, accomplished theatre performers seen on stages throughout the country, and established actors appearing in dozens of films and TV shows. The Main Company's growth fulfills part of Impro Theatre's goal to expand the artistic voices within the company to better represent the global population and share more stories from different perspectives. 

Center Theatre Group Premieres OEDIPUS EL REY Online

The multicamera, virtually produced reading of Luis Alfaro's “Oedipus El Rey,” premieres November 13, 2020 at 5 p.m. Pacific. The modern adaptation of a Greek classic is part of the “The Greek Trilogy of Luis Alfaro” which is presented on Center Theatre Group's Digital Stage in partnership with The Getty.

WITCH, INDECENT and More Announced as Recipients of 2019 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle announced the recipients of its 51st annual awards for distinguished achievement in theatre today, Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

George Salazar, Eden Espinosa & More Nominated for Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced the nominees for theatrical excellence for the year 2019. This year they are forgoing their annual event ceremony and will instead post the award recipients online in the upcoming weeks: 

VIDEO: First Look at THE FATHER at Pasadena Playhouse, Starring Alfred Molina

Pasadena Playhouse presents The Father, written by Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, February 5 to March 1, 2020.

BWW Review: THE FATHER at Pasadena Playhouse Florian Zeller's brilliant play THE FATHER plumbs the idea of how memory makes us who we are.

Florian Zeller's brilliant play THE FATHER plumbs the ideas of memory and self, starting off light-hearted and slowly, piece by piece, descending into a harrowing and devastating freefall.

Review Roundup: THE FATHER at Pasadena Playhouse - What Did the Critics Think?

Pasadena Playhouse presents The Father, written by Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, February 5 to March 1, 2020.

Photo Flash: John C. Reilly, Simon Helberg and More Attend Opening Night of THE FATHER Starring Alfred Molina

Pasadena Playhouse, The State Theater of California, presents The Father, written by Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, now through March 1, 2020. The production stars Alfred Molina (Frieda, An Education, Enchanted April) in a tour-de-force role in perhaps one of the most awarded plays of recent times on two continents – winning the 2014 Molière Award, and nominations for the Evening Standard Theatre Award, Olivier Award for Best New Play, and Tony Award for Best Play.

BWW Interview: Michael Manuel: From Creature to THE FATHER's Memory (Or Imagination?)

The Alfred Molina-starrer THE FATHER, currently in previews, will have its official opening night February 11, 2020 at the Pasadena Playhouse. Playwright Florian Zeller (translated by Christopher Hampton) illuminates the internal struggles of a very proud man cursed with dementia. Two versions of André's (the father) memory play out on stage that will keep the audience guessing as to which is André's reality. Jessica Kubzansky directs a seasoned cast including: Sue Cremin, Michael Manuel, Pia Shah, Hugo Armstrong and Lisa Renee Pitts. I had the chance to interview Michael Manuel, whom I last saw in his stunning portrayal of The Creature in A Noise Within's FRANKENSTEIN.

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