…is
one of cabaret's busiest and most sought-after entertainers.
The successful Broadway and Television actor made his cabaret
debut in 1982 at New York City's famous DUPLEX in Greenwich Village,
and has become a well-known, award-winning entertainer, whether
performing at the piano or appearing center stage.
McAssey
is a winner and three-time nominee of the MAC AWARD for Outstanding
Male Vocalist, presented in New York by the Manhattan Association
of Cabarets and Clubs, In addition, he has received numerous
other awards for Excellence in Cabaret. He made his Town
Hall debut at the MABEL MERCER FOUNDATION'S 13th ANNUAL CABARET
CONVENTION where he was a favorite with critics and audience
alike, and had a successful run of his hit show, "DOWN A THIRD…same
songs, lower keys" .
Michael
has appeared at FREDDY'S SUPPER CLUB, EIGHTY-EIGHT'S and
DON'T TELL MAMA in New York; THE GARDENIA in Los Angeles;
THE EXPRESS in Fresno, CA. (most requested return performer);
TOULOUSE-ON-THE-PARK, DAVENPORT'S and GENTRY in Chicago; ODETTE'S
in New Hope, PA.; MONTPARNASSE/THE PIANO BAR in Mykonos, Greece,
and THE CARIBOU CLUB in Aspen. He has guest hosted benefits for
AIDS Charities (Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, Hearts and
Voices), Gay and Lesbian Choruses (Chicago's Windy City Performing
Arts, Louisville's Voices of Kentuckiana), has traveled and headlined
with RSVP CRUISES for over ten years, and was featured at DISNEY-MGM
STUDIOS (Television Academy Hall of Fame Awards).
Michael
was featured on Broadway in the musical LATE NITE COMIC (currently
featured in the tell-all "making of" book
WE BOMBED IN NEW LONDON by Brian Gari), Off-Broadway in SEX TIPS
FOR MODERN GIRLS, A HARD TIME TO BE SINGLE and IN GAY COMPANY,
and National Tours of A CHORUS LINE, GODSPELL, I LOVE MY WIFE
and BILLY BISHOP GOES TO WAR. Soap Opera fans may remember Michael
as George Baldwin on CBS-TV's GUIDING LIGHT. He also appeared
with Barbara Cook and Patti LuPone in Paris and toured with Ms.
LuPone in her nightclub act, THE ARGENTINA TURNER REVUE. In Chicago
Michael starred as Tony in the long run hit comedy SHEAR MADNESS
and then toured with Donny Osmond playing piano for Livent's
production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. He
co-starred as Banjo in THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER with Tony-nominee
Andre deShields at Madison Rep and in Chicago he hosted the first-ever
sing-along concert version of Sondheim's COMPANY, which featured
original cast member Pamela Myers re-creating her Tony Award-winning
role and Michael singing the role of Bobby.
As
a recording artist, Michael's recent CD's entitled, HOW LONG
HAS IT BEEN?, and HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (both on Original Cast Records),
are available alongside his debut CD, REQUESTS, at Tower Records
(US), Dress Circle (UK) and on the internet at CD BABY, amazon.com
and originalcastrecords.com. He is also featured on the Original
Broadway Cast recordings of LATE NITE COMIC, A HARD TIME TO BE
SINGLE and Kurt Weill's SILVERLAKE (NY City Opera).
A
native Chicagoan and long-time New Yorker, Michael returned
to New York after 5 years in Aspen, Colorado where he was the
musical director and featured performer at THE CRYSTAL PALACE.
In addition to performing Michael is a very busy musical director
and conductor. After moving back east in 2006 he spent two seasons
upstate New York at the historic COHOES MUSIC HALL, and the summer
of 2007 in the Berkshires at THE THEATER BARN. In May of 2008
he became the resident musical director at SURFLIGHT THEATRE
down the Jersey Shore on Long Beach Island, NJ, and conducted
many shows including CHICAGO and THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES (both
starring John Davidson), WHITE CHRISTMAS, RAGTIME and the Atlantic
City Hilton’s production
of SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ. He also appeared onstage at
SURFLIGHT as an actor in A FEW GOOD MEN, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
and this past summer as Edna Turnblad in HAIRSPRAY.
He
has participated in many nationwide cabaret events including
CABARET ON THE RECORD (with Karen Mason) and the CHICAGO HUMANITIES
FESTIVAL (with songwriters Craig Carnelia, David Friedman, Amanda
McBroom and Stephen Schwartz). He has been named by CABARET SCENES
MAGAZINE as one of "Cabaret's Premier Acts," and is
currently touring the country as the conductor/musical director
of the National Tour of AVENUE Q (www.avenueqontour.com).