Directors // Michael Unger

Director Michael Unger has an extensive repertoire that equally embraces operas, musicals and plays.  In 2011/12, Michael brought another season of critically acclaimed success, first with the McCarter Theatre with A CHRISTMAS CAROL, which the New York Times heralded as “Crackling… Richly re-imagined. A Must-See.”  Michael went on to direct Arthur Miller’s The Crucible at Sarasota Opera Company,where Opera Times declared that “Michael Unger’s stage direction was instrumental in power of this performance.”  Michael ended the season at Opera New Jersey with Menotti’s The Consul, where “the audience suddenly lets loose with a l-o-n-g roar that sounds like it might blow off the roof of McCarter Theatre” (Princeton Packet).

This season, Michael returns to all three companies, bringing back his production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL for its 13th season at the McCarter Theatre, directing Barber’s Vanessa at Sarasota Opera Company, and rounding out the season at Opera New Jersey with their production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S Pinafore.

Michael’s other musical credits include the world premiere of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE at Barrington Stage; Kander & Ebb’s THE HAPPY TIME at the Signature Theatre and a new version of THE RINK, starring Leslie Uggams and Janet Metz at the Cape Playhouse (both at the composer’s request).  Other world premiere musicals include: BEHIND THE LIMELIGHT(New York Musical Theatre Festival and New York Stage & Film); CALIGULA (which sold out an extended run at the New York Musical Theatre Festival – winning the festival’s first audience favorite award); and Paul Scott Goodman’s TINY DANCER at the Prince Music Theatre and LA GIOCONDA (Off Broadway -Clurman Theatre).  Michael has also directed MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS at The St. Louis MUNY, and PIPPIN, THE MIKADO and KISS ME KATE at The Depot Theatre; and he  produced the Richard Rodgers Award-winning musical WHATNOT at Musical Theatre Works.

Play credits include: A CHRISTMAS CAROL (McCarter Theatre – annual production, designed by Ming Cho Lee with choreography by Rob Ashford – since 1998); MY SISTER IN THIS HOUSE at Deaf West (newly revised with the playwright); and CRIMES OF THE HEARTat Theatre Aspen.  World premieres include: LOADED (Lion Theatre - Theatre Row), RETRIBUTION(Off-Broadway, Lambs Theatre) and STILL (Prop Theatre, Chicago).  Also: NOISES OFF (New Harmony); TRIUMPH OF LOVE and SCHOOL FOR WIVES (The Weston Playhouse); CHANGES OF HEART (Barrington Stage – BRAVO Award); ON THE RAZZLE (Babcock Theatre, Salt Lake City); IN PERPETUITY THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE (Juilliard); French language productions of LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES, THE FIANCÉES OF LOCHEandTHE GAME OF LOVE AND CHANCE(Studio Dramatique); CRIES FROM THE MAMMAL HOUSE (American Premiere); CLEAVAGE AND SMOKES (Mark Taper Forum – NWF); and TAMING OF THE SHREW (Complex Theatre, LA). 

Opera directing credits include: Puccini’s La Rondine; Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz; Strauss’ Die Fledermaus; and Ward’s The Crucible at the Sarasota Opera Company; as well as William Bolcom’s opera of Arthur Miller’s A View From the Bridge for Vertical Player Repertory (Brooklyn).  Michael also directed Maxwell Anderson and Kurt Weill’s Knickerbocker Holiday at the York Theatre for their MUFTI series.

Readings include:  LIBERTY SMITH; DILLINGER: PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE (York Theatre); MYSTERY OF THE DANCING PRINCESSES; CHRISTINA ALBERTA’S FATHER (Nat’l Music Theatre Network); WATER FROM THE MOON (Education Alliance Center); MISIA; DANCE ON THE ROOFTOPS; SUMMER OF ’42; and YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS.

Broadway assistant directing credits include: KING DAVID (inaugurating the New Amsterdam Theatre); A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Madison Square Garden ’96, ’97) and the first reading of THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY’S for the late Mike Ockrent; BURIED CHILD for Gary Sinise; and STEEL PIER for Scott Ellis. Off-Broadway assistant directing credits include EYES FOR CONSUELA (Manhattan Theatre Club) for Terry Kinney and CLOSER THAN EVER (The Cherry Lane) for Richard Maltby, Jr.  At Steppenwolf Theatre, in his hometown of Chicago, Michael assistant directed A CLOCKWORK ORANGE for Terry Kinney and BURIED CHILD for Gary Sinise. Film and television assisting credits include “Picket Fences”, HBO’s “Truman”, “Albino Alligator”, and “Ransom”.

Michael teaches acting classes in New York City in his own studio.  He has directed LOVE’S LABOURS LOST, DANCING AT LUGHNASA, THE THREE SISTERS, JOKING APART,BURIED CHILDand BOY GETS GIRLat the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, as well as three musical showcases at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

Michael is the proud father of twins Phoebe and Nathaniel and is married to singer/actress, Janet Metz.  He is the creator of www.auditionconnection.com, an online casting resource for theatre, opera, film and television.