The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's notability guideline for biographies .(September 2024) |
Michael Torontow | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
Years active | 2001–present |
Michael Torontow is a Canadian actor, singer and director, best known for his work in musical theatre. He has played such roles as Link Larkin in the first Canadian production of Hairspray in 2004 [1] Giuseppe Naccarelli in Toronto productions of The Light in the Piazza in 2010 and 2016, and the title character in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 2022. He is an artistic director for Talk is Free Theatre in Barrie, Ontario. He has been nominated for Dora Awards both as a leading actor and director.
Torontow was born in Ottawa, Ontario, where he attended Bell High School. [2] While in high school, Torontow played Joseph in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , which motivated him to pursue a career in acting. He graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Certificate in Arts Administration. [2]
In 2001, Torontow made his professional stage debut in the first North American tour of Mamma Mia! as a member of the ensemble and an understudy in the role of Sky.[ citation needed ]
In 2004, Torontow played the role of Link Larkin in the first Canadian production of Hairspray . The musical ran at the Princess of Wales Theatre from April to November 2004. [1]
Torontow was a member of the ensemble for the stage adaptation of Dirty Dancing . [3] The first Canadian production played at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, opening in July 2007. In 2010, Torontow played Giuseppe Naccarelli in a Toronto production of The Light in the Piazza presented by the Musical Stage Company and the Canadian Stage Company. [4] In 2016, Torontow reprised his role of Giuseppe in a production of The Light in the Piazza at the Max Bell Theatre, for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical at the 2016 Calgary Theatre Critics Awards. [5]
In 2019, Torontow performed Every Brilliant Thing, a one-man show written by Duncan Macmillan. The production was presented by Talk is Free Theatre at the Five Points Theatre in Barrie, before it transferred to the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. [6] In 2020, the production was presented at the Adelaide Fringe Festival with Torontow again performing the show. [7] This production won the BankSA Best Theatre & Physical Theatre award. [8]
Since 2019, Torontow has served as an artistic director for Talk is Free Theatre (TIFT), which is a professional theatre company based in Barrie that has produced theatre across Ontario, Canada, and internationally. [9] In 2021, he directed his first musical, a TIFT production, of Into the Woods , in Barrie and at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. [9] [10] At the 2022 Dora Awards, Torontow was nominated for Best Direction. [11]
In 2022, Torontow starred as Sweeney Todd in a production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street , which was presented by Talk is Free Theatre. [12] For his performance in the role, he was nominated for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical at the 2022 Dora Awards. [11]
In 2023, Torontow played Kevin J. and others in a production of Come from Away in Gander, Newfoundland, where the musical is set. [13] When the musical returned to Gander in the summer of 2024, Torontow returned, this time playing Kevin T. and others. [14]
Torontow is currently playing Cal in the original Canadian production of Titanique . [15] The musical premiered at the Segal Centre in Montreal, where it is playing between October 27 and November 24, 2024. It will then transfer to the CAA Theatre, where it will play between December 5, 2024 and January 12, 2025. [15]
Year | Production | Role | Theatre | Category | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001–2003 | Mamma Mia! | Ensemble, u/s Sky | First National Tour | ||
2004 | Hairspray | Link Larkin | Princess of Wales Theatre | Mirvish Productions | [1] |
2007–2009 | Dirty Dancing | Ensemble | Royal Alexandra Theatre | Mirvish Productions | [3] |
2010 | The Light in the Piazza | Giuseppe | Berkeley Street Theatre | Musical Stage Company, Canadian Stage Company | [4] |
2014 | Floyd Collins | Homer Collins | Mady Centre for the Performing Arts | Regional: Talk Is Free Theatre, Patrick Street Productions | |
The York Theatre | |||||
2016 | The Light in the Piazza | Giuseppe | Max Bell Theatre | Regional: Theatre Calgary | [5] |
2017 | Beauty and the Beast | Beast | Capitol Theatre | Regional | |
2018 | Mamma Mia! | Sam | Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage | Arts Club Theatre Company | |
2019 | Every Brilliant Thing | Narrator | Five Points Theatre | Regional: Talk is Free Theatre | [6] |
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre | |||||
2020 | Adelaide Fringe Festival | [7] | |||
2022 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Sweeney Todd | Regional: Talk is Free Theatre | [12] | |
2023 | Come from Away | Kevin J. and others | Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre | Regional: Gander, Newfoundland | [13] |
2024 | Cock | M | Regional: Talk is Free Theatre | ||
Come from Away | Kevin T. and others | Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre | Regional: Gander, Newfoundland | [14] | |
2024–2025 | Titanique | Cal | Segal Centre for Performing Arts | Mirvish Productions | [15] |
CAA Theatre |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Queer as Folk | Babylonian | S5.E7: "Hope Against Hope" |
2009 | True Crime Scene | Bakery Manager | S2.E10: "Cherry Hill Murder" |
2010 | Forensic Factor | S7.E5: "Abbotsford Killer" | |
Being Erica | Doug | S3.E6: "Bear Breasts" | |
2013 | Hannibal | Pharmacist | S1.E2: "Amuse-Bouche" |
2014 | Reign | King's Guard | S1.E9: "For King and Country" |
2015 | Remedy | 68 Special Elvis | S2.E10: "Day One" |
2015–2016 | Lost & Found Music Studios | Mr. T | Main role: 17 episodes |
2017 | Conviction | Handsome Guy | S1.E13: "Past, Prologue & What's to Come" |
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Calgary Theatre Critics Award | Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | The Light in the Piazza | Nominated | [5] |
2019 | Ovation Awards | Outstanding Supporting Performance of a Musical - Male | Mamma Mia! | Nominated | |
2020 | Adelaide Fringe Festival Awards | BankSA Best Theatre & Physical Theatre | Every Brilliant Thing | Won | [8] |
2022 | Dora Awards | Outstanding Direction | Into the Woods | Nominated | [11] |
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Nominated |
Hairspray is an American musical with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, with a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on John Waters's 1988 film of the same name. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues. Set in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, the production follows teenage Tracy Turnblad's dream to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, leading to social change as Tracy campaigns for the show's integration.
The Princess of Wales Theatre is a 2,000-seat live theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on King Street West, in Toronto's downtown Entertainment District. The theatre's name has a triple meaning: it honours Diana, Princess of Wales, with whose consent the theatre was named; it links the building to its sister theatre, the Royal Alexandra, one block to the east, also named – with Royal assent – for a former Princess of Wales; and it recalls the Princess Theatre, Toronto's first "first-class legitimate" playhouse, that stood three blocks to the east until 1931.
Jacob Lee Epstein is a Canadian actor and singer. He is known for playing Craig Manning, a musician with bipolar disorder, on Degrassi: The Next Generation. He has also had recurring roles in the television series Designated Survivor and The Hardy Boys.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, also known as Sweeney Todd is a 1979 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. It is based on the 1970 play Sweeney Todd by Christopher Bond. The character of Sweeney Todd first appeared in a Victorian penny dreadful titled The String of Pearls.
The Light in the Piazza is a musical with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, and a book by Craig Lucas.
Hollis Resnik was an American singer and actress, especially in stage musicals.
Judy Kaye is an American singer and actress. She has appeared in stage musicals, plays, and operas. Kaye has been in long runs on Broadway in the musicals The Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime, Mamma Mia!, and Nice Work If You Can Get It.
Louise Pitre is a Canadian actress in musical theatre. She performs on Broadway and in Canada. She is best known for her role as Donna Sheridan in the ABBA-themed musical Mamma Mia!, which earned her a 2002 Tony Award nomination.
Caroline Ann O'Connor is an Anglo-Australian singer, dancer, and actress. For her theatre work she has won three Helpmann Awards: Best Female Actor in a Play for Edith Piaf in Piaf in 2001; in the same category for Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow in 2006; and Best Female Actor in a Musical for Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes in 2015.
Réjean Cournoyer is a Canadian actor and singer, and was raised in a bilingual home. Growing up his family was members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply TheOlivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of West End Theatre Awards, but they were renamed in honour of the British actor of the same name in 1984.
Mirvish Productions, commonly known as Mirvish, is a Canadian theatrical production company, based in Toronto. Founded in 1986 by David Mirvish with his father, Ed Mirvish, it is the largest commercial theatre company in Canada. Mirvish Productions own and operate four theatres in the downtown Toronto area: the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Princess of Wales Theatre, Ed Mirvish Theatre, and the CAA Theatre.
The Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play is an annual award celebrating achievements in Toronto theatre.
Erica Peck is a Canadian actress, singer, and entrepreneur. In 2007, she originated the role of Scaramouche in the Canadian premiere production of We Will Rock You at the Canon Theatre. Peck also appeared in the Canadian premiere production of Kinky Boots, and in the North American tours of We Will Rock You and Kinky Boots.
Come from Away is a musical, with book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. It is based on the events in the Newfoundland town of Gander during the week following the September 11 attacks, when 38 planes, carrying approximately 7,000 passengers, were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport. The characters in the musical are based on actual Gander residents and stranded travelers they housed and fed.
Evan Buliung is a Canadian actor and singer, who is best known for his work in musical theatre. In 2006, Buliung originated the role of Aragorn in the world premiere production of Lord of the Rings, which played at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. He also originated the role of Khashoggi in the Canadian premiere production of We Will Rock You in 2007. He also played Bruce Bechdel in a Toronto production of Fun Home, for which he won a Dora Award. In 2019, Buliung originated the role of Larry Murphy in the Canadian premiere production of Dear Evan Hansen, which played at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. In 2023, Buliung also originated the role of Pierre Bezukhov in the Canadian premiere production of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.
Titanique is a jukebox musical featuring music of Celine Dion, with a book by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli. The musical is a parody of the 1997 film Titanic, and the story is a retelling of the movie's events from Dion's perspective.
The Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play, Independent Theatre is a Canadian theatre award, presented as part of the Dora Mavor Moore Awards to honour the year's best new play by a Canadian playwright which had its premiere in the Toronto theatre market in the previous year.
Astrid Van Wieren is a Canadian stage actress.
Véronique Claveau is a Canadian actress and sketch comedian from Quebec, most noted for her role as Céline Dion in the Canadian production of the stage musical Titanique.