Michael Cerveris

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Michael Cerveris
Sweeney Todd with Michael Cerveris cropped.jpg
Michael Cerveris, July 2, 2006
Born (1960-11-06) November 6, 1960 (age 63)
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Occupation Actor
Website www.amazing-journey.com

Michael Cerveris (born November 6, 1960) is an American singer, guitarist and actor. He has performed in many stage musicals and plays, including several Stephen Sondheim musicals: Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Road Show, and Passion. In 2004, Cerveris won the Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Assassins as John Wilkes Booth. In 2015, he won his second Tony Award as Best Actor in a Musical for Fun Home as Bruce Bechdel.

He was called, by Playbill.com, "arguably the most versatile leading man on Broadway",[1] playing roles from "Shakespeare's Romeo to The Who's Tommy, from the German transsexual rock diva Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch to the homicidal title character of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd."[2]

Cerveris' most visible television role to date has been as the Observer code-named September in the FOX science fiction television series Fringe. His character, a mysterious man seen attending many unusual events, has appeared regularly during the series and became one of the main characters to bring the story to its end.

Early life

Cerveris was born in Bethesda, Maryland and raised in Huntington, West Virginia. His mother, Marsha (née Laycock), was a dancer, and his father, Michael Cerveris, was a professor of music; the two met while students at the Juilliard School.[3][4] He is a 1979 graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and a 1983 cum laude graduate of Yale University, where he was a member of Skull and Bones. He majored in theater studies, and also studied voice.[2]

Career

Theatre

Broadway and Off-Broadway

Cerveris had roles in several Off-Broadway productions, starting with Macbeth in 1983 as Malcolm and including Total Eclipse in 1985 as Rimbaud at the Westside Theatre,[5] Abingdon Square in 1987 as Frank at the Women's Project,[6] and Blood Sports in 1987 as Nick at the New York Theatre Workshop.[7]

He made his Broadway debut in The Who's Tommy in 1993 as "18-20 year old Tommy/Narrator", receiving a Tony Award nomination as Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Drama League Award nomination, Theater World Award winner, and Original Cast Grammy winner.[8] He had appeared in Tommy in the La Jolla Playhouse prior to Broadway.[9] He next appeared in the Broadway musical Titanic in 1997 as Thomas Andrews. He played the role of John Wilkes Booth in the Broadway musical Assassins in 2004, and won the Tony Award, Best Featured Actor in a Musical[10] and the Outer Critics Circle Award.

In the 2005 Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Ceveris played the title role, and was nominated for the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League Award, and received the Drama Critics Circle citation. In this John Doyle production, the actors also played instruments, with Cerveris playing lyric guitar.[11][12] In the Broadway musical LoveMusik (2007) he appeared as Kurt Weill,[13] and received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and Drama League Award nominations. In 2007 he played Kent in King Lear at the Off-Broadway Public Theater,[14] receiving a Drama League Award nomination. He appeared Off-Broadway in the Stephen Sondheim-John Weidman musical Road Show at the Public Theater in 2008 as Wilson Mizner.[15] Ceveris appeared opposite Mary-Louise Parker in the limited Roundabout Theatre Company production of Hedda Gabler from January 2009 to March 2009.[16] He next played Dr. Givings in the Broadway comedy by Sarah Ruhl, In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play), starting in October 2009.[17]

Other venues

In 2000 Cerveris played the lead role of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch in the West End. He had previously played the role Off-Broadway from July 8, 1998 to August 4, 1998[18] and again from February 1999[19][20] He was a Garland Award winner, and Ovation Award nominee. During 2002, the Kennedy Center presented a "Sondheim Celebration"; Cerveris appeared in Passion as Giorgio.[21] Ceveris has appeared several times at the Ravinia Festival Concerts (Chicago), including: Passion (2003)[22] Sunday In The Park With George (2004),[23] and Anyone Can Whistle in 2005.[24] He performed in the New York City Center Encores! staged concert of The Apple Tree in 2005, with Kristin Chenoweth.[25]

Regional[26][27][28]

Film

A partial list of films

Television

Cerveris also appeared as The Observer at several real-life events covered by FOX as part of a viral marketing campaign for the series. These include appearing in the audience at a taping of American Idol, and being shown in the stands at various football and NASCAR events. He also made a cameo in a commercial for Glee. In 2014, he began a recurring role as State's Attorney James Castro on The Good Wife.

Music career

Cerveris played guitar as a member of Bob Mould's touring band supporting the album The Last Dog And Pony Show. A performance at The Forum in London was recorded and released as BobMouldBand: LiveDog98 (Granary Music 2002). His debut solo album, Dog Eared (Low Heat Records 2004), was co-produced with Adam Lasus and includes guest appearances from Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Corin Tucker and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney), Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, R.E.M.), Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Kevin March (Guided by Voices), Anders Parker (Varnaline), and Laura Cantrell. In 2011, Cerveris founded the Americana-Country band Loose Cattle with longtime collaborator Kimberly Kaye. Cerveris and Kaye share vocals in the style of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Known for tongue-in-cheek mashups, country covers, and Cerveris' original songs, the group has gone on to appear at Lincoln Center, Joe's Pub, NPR's Mountain Stage, 54 Below, Chickie Wah Wah's, Siberia, Kajun's Pub, The Blue Note Cafe, Louisiana Music Factory, Rock'n'bowl, Rockwoof Music Hall, Webster Hall, and many others.

He has also contributed vocals to "My Other Phone Is a Boom Car" as part of a ringtone project by They Might Be Giants for Wired Magazine in March 2007. In They Might Be Giants' 2011 release, Join Us, Cerveris also provided vocals for the track, "Three Might Be Duende."

Other activities

Cerveris has performed at many events, to honor or celebrate notable performers and creatives. He performed at The Drama League gala, A Musical Celebration of Broadway on February 7, 2011, which also honored Patti LuPone.[36] In November 2010 he appeared at the Sonnet Repertory Theatre benefit, which honored director Jack O'Brien.[37] On April 27, 2009, he performed at the Signature Theatre gala, a benefit and to celebrate the first annual Sondheim Award.[38]

On December 8, 2010, he took part in the Symphony Space "Selected Shorts and Thalia Book Club" series of readings.[39]

His concert appearances include the Broadway Cabaret Festival, held in October 2010 at The Town Hall (New York).[40]

Work

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
1993 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical The Who's Tommy Nominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
Theatre World Award Won
2004 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Assassins Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Won
2006 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
2007 Drama League Award Distinguished Performance King Lear Nominated
Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical LoveMusik Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
2012 Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Evita Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
2014 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Fun Home Won
2015 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Won

References

  1. ↑ Simonson, Robert."Brief Encounter With Michael Cerveris" Playbill.com, November 19, 2009
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "About Michael Cerveris" MasterWorksBroadway.com, accessed March 13, 2011
  3. ↑ Michael Cerveris, Star File: Broadway.com Buzz
  4. ↑ [1]
  5. ↑ "'Total Eclipse', 1985" InternetOff-BroadwayDatabase.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  6. ↑ "'Abingdon Square' listing" InternetOff-BroadwayDatabase.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  7. ↑ "'Blood Sports' listing" InternetOff-BroadwayDatabase.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  8. ↑ "'The Who's Tommy' listing" InterneBroadwayDatabase.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  9. ↑ Churnin, Nancy.From Angel to Devil : Stage: Michael Cerveris, star of 'Tommy,' sees parallels in his latest, villainous role Los Angeles Times, October 23, 1992
  10. ↑ "'Assassins' listing" InterneBroadwayDatabase.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  11. ↑ "'Sweeney Todd' listing" InterneBroadwayDatabase.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  12. ↑ Brantley, Ben."Review:Grand Guignol, Spare and Stark" The New York Times, November 4, 2005
  13. ↑ Jones, Kenneth."Weill and Lenya Conjured in LoveMusik, Opening May 3" Playbill.com, May 3, 2007
  14. ↑ Goodwin, Joy.Busy Actor’s Long, Long Day: Shakespeare, Weill and Rock" The New York Times, April 1, 2007
  15. ↑ Brantley, Ben."Theater Review:Brothers in Flimflammery on a Continental Sojourn" The New York Times, November 19, 2008
  16. ↑ Jones, Kenneth."Parker's 'Hedda Gabler' Takes Her Last Shot March 29" Playbill.com, March 29, 2009
  17. ↑ Ishwood, Charles."Theater Review: 'In The Next Room, Or The Vibrator Play' The New York Times, November 20, 2009
  18. ↑ Simonson, Robert.Titanic's Michael Cerveris to Be Hedwig July 8-Aug. 4" Playbill.com, July 8, 1998
  19. ↑ Gutman, Les."Review, 'Hedwig', 1999" CurtainUp.com, March 15, 1999 and in Los Angeles.
  20. ↑ "Stars Line Up For Hedwig, the New Rocky Horror" The Independent, September 10, 2000
  21. ↑ "'Passion', Kennedy Center" sondheimguide.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  22. ↑ "'Passion', Ravinia" sondheimguide.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  23. ↑ "'Sunday in the Park With George', Ravinia" sondheimguide.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  24. ↑ "'Anyone Can Whistle', Ravinia" sondheimguide.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  25. ↑ Simonson, Robert."Chenoweth, Gets and Cerveris Shake 'The Apple Tree' at Encores! May 12-16" Playbill.com, May 12, 2005
  26. ↑ Playbill bios mcerverisfan.tripod.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  27. ↑ Biography, Lincoln Center LincolnCenterTheater.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  28. ↑ Biography filmreference.com, accessed March 11, 2011
  29. ↑ Christiansen, Richard."'Nothing Sacred` Adds A Twist To A Finely Woven, Well-worn Story" Chicagotribune.com, December 16, 1988
  30. ↑ Rich, Frank.Review/Music; Seattle Grabs Spotlight: New Play, Renewed Musical" The New York Times, May 10, 1988
  31. ↑ "'El Dorado' listing and review untamedspirits.net, accessed March 11, 2011
  32. ↑ "'A Little Night Music', 2003 Chicago Shakespeare Theater Production" sondheimguide.com, accessed March 12, 2011
  33. ↑ Gans, Andrew.Michael Cerveris and Kelly McGillis Star in New Vampire-Themed Film "Stake Land" Playbill.com, September 20, 2010
  34. ↑ Holden, Stephen."Movie review:'Brief Interviews With Hideous Men'" The New York Times, September 25, 2009
  35. ↑ "'The Mexican' see full acting credtis" The New York Times, accessed March 12, 2011
  36. ↑ Andrew Gans "Audra McDonald, Justin Guarini, Michael Cerveris Join Drama League Celebration of Patti LuPone" Playbill.com, January 18, 2011
  37. ↑ Gans, Andrew."Kerry Butler, Michael Cerveris, Victor Garber, Ethan Hawke Will Be Part of Jack O'Brien Tribute" Playbill.com, October 27, 2010
  38. ↑ Jones, Kenneth."Peters and Cerveris Celebrate Sondheim at DC Sondheim Award Gala April 27" Playbill.com, April 27, 2009
  39. ↑ Peter, Thomas."Mary-Louise Parker, Michael Cerveris, Amy Ryan, Lois Smith and More to Read at Symphony Space" Playbill.com, November 5, 2010
  40. ↑ Gans, Andrew."Alice Ripley and Michael Cerveris Join Lineup for Broadway Cabaret Festival" Playbill.com, September 21, 2010

External links

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