BIO

Michael’s professional lighting design career numbers well over 300 productions in theatre, opera and dance. He has designed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally and internationally for more than 40 years. Highlights: the Broadway and national companies of Copenhagen, the Tantrum Theater productions of Caroline or Change and Next to Normal, the Playwrights Horizons production of The Bubbly Black Girl… and the Cleveland Play House production of A Streetcar Named Desire.

Michael’s extensive regional credits include long relationships with Indiana Repertory Theatre, Alley Theatre in Houston and the Studio Theatre in Washington, DC.  He has consulted on renovations for both Indiana Rep and Studio.

Michael had multi-year associations with Los Angeles Ballet, Tulsa Ballet and Santa Fe Opera. His multiple Broadway credits as an Associate Designer include hit revivals of Guys and Dolls and Anything Goes and original productions of City of Angels, Six Degrees of Separation and Lend Me a Tenor.

Michael’s full time teaching career at Ohio University’s School of Theater spanned 2003-2020. He headed the Production Design and Technology Program from 2007-2012 and was Director of the School of Theater from 2012 to 2020. He was instrumental in the creation of Tantrum Theater, Ohio University’s professional theater, and served as Artist Director from 2018-2023. Michael previously taught for New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and the University of Southern California. 

Awards: Columbus Theatre Roundtable, Helen Hayes (DC) Nomination, L.A. Drama Critics' Circle, Drama Logue and Robby Awards, Indianapolis Corbin Patrick, and USITT Ezekiel. Prague Quadrennial curator and presenter.

Member: United Scenic Artists, USITT, Phi Beta Kappa.