Michael Xavier

For the alias of Magneto, see Magneto (comics).
Michael Xavier
Born Michael David Smith
(1977-11-27) 27 November 1977
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Nationality  United Kingdom
Occupation Actor
Singer
Years active 1999–present
Website michaelxavier.co.uk

Michael Xavier (born 27 November 1977) is a two-time Laurence Olivier Award[1] nominated English actor and singer.

Early life

Xavier attended St. Francis Xavier's College in Liverpool, Knutsford High School in Cheshire, and ultimately completed his professional acting training at the Manchester Metropolitan University[2] in 1999. His first professional role was in the musical comedy Pageant at London's Vaudeville Theatre in 2000.[3][4]

Work in Theatre

Xavier has worked in lead roles on stage in the United Kingdom for nearly 15 years. Most notable of the productions in which he has appeared include Miss Saigon, My Fair Lady, The Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma!, and The Sound of Music. Most recently, he played Sid Sorokin opposite Joanna Riding in The Pajama Game at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London.[5]

In 2008, Xavier played Rock Hudson in Tim Fountain's play Rock at the Unity Theatre in Liverpool, the Library Theatre in Manchester, and the Oval House Theatre in London. It went on to be produced as a radio play by production company Made in Manchester, and won the Best Online Only Audio Drama award at the BBC Audio Drama Awards in 2012.[6][7]

Xavier has been nominated twice for a Laurence Olivier Award. He was first nominated for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2011 for his performance as Cinderella's Prince/Wolf in Into The Woods at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.[8] The same year he was also nominated for the Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Oliver in the musical Love Story at the Duchess Theatre.[9]

Key Theatre Credits

Year Role Production Theatre Director
2016 Joe Gillis Sunset Boulevard London Colliseum (English National Opera) Lonny Price
2016 Hookbeard Bumblescratch Adelphi Theatre Stewart Nicholls
2015 Suffolk / George of Clarence The War of the Roses Rose Theatre Kingston Trevor Nunn
2015 John Wilkes Booth Assassins Menier Chocolate Factory Jamie Lloyd
2014 Sid Sorokin The Pajama Game Shaftesbury Theatre Richard Eyre
2013 Captain Von Trapp The Sound of Music Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Rachel Kavanagh
2012 James Prince Soho Cinders[10] Soho Theatre Jonathan Butterell
2012 Bob Baker Wonderful Town UK No. 1 Tour Braham Murray
2012 Cornelius Hackl Hello Dolly Curve Theatre Leicester Paul Kerryson
2010 Oliver Love Story Duchess Theatre Rachel Kavanagh
2010 Wolf / Cinderella's Prince Into The Woods Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Timothy Sheader
2009 Curly Oklahoma! Chichester Festival Theatre John Doyle
2008 Rock Hudson Rock Oval House Theatre Tamara Harvey
2006 Raoul The Phantom of the Opera Her Majesty's Theatre Laurence Connor
2004 Artie Green Sunset Boulevard Cork Opera House, Ireland
2004 Sky Mamma Mia! International Tour Phyllida Lloyd / Paul Garrington
2003 Freddy Eynsford-Hill My Fair Lady Theatre Royal Drury Lane Trevor Nunn
2003 Christopher Scott (Alternate/Cover) Miss Saigon UK Tour Matthew Ryan
2000 Miss Great Plains Pageant Vaudeville Theatre Bill Russell

Presenting, Recording, and Film Work

In 2013, Xavier co-presented the Olivier Awards BBC Radio 2 Covent Garden Stage with Claudia Winkleman,[11] and returned again in 2014 to co-present on the ITV Stage with Myleene Klass.[12] He also hosted the UK Theatre Awards at the historic Guildhall in the City of London in both 2013 and 2014.[13][14]

Xavier's film work includes his portrayal of Tom in the 2014 production Never Let Go with director Howard J Ford for Latitude Films, scheduled for release in 2015.[15] In 2013, he appeared as Rob in the short film Gnomeland by writer/director Francesca Jaynes,[16] as well as playing a Russian Gulag Prisoner in Walt Disney Pictures' Muppets Most Wanted, filmed at Pinewood Studios.

In addition, Xavier has worked as a recording artist, with both radio and original soundtrack credits to his name. In 2007, BBC Radio 2 presented a special edition of Friday Night is Music Night, celebrating the work of Leonard Bernstein and the 50th anniversary of West Side Story. Paul Gambaccini presented the program at London's Mermaid Theatre, featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra and Xavier as Tony.[17][18] He also played Artie Green in the BBC Radio 2 live recording of Sunset Boulevard, performed at the Cork Opera House with Michael Ball and Petula Clark.[19] Outside of radio, his work in recordings includes Collaborations: The Songs of Elliot Davis (2013), Lift (2012 Concept Album), Soho Cinders (2011 Concert Cast), Love Story (2011 Original London Cast), and Little Women (2004 Studio Cast).[20]

Musical Theatre Masterclass

Xavier is the Principle of Musical Theatre Masterclass, a training school for musical theatre students which aims to aid them in gaining acceptance to professional training colleges. The school runs every Sunday, based at the Umbrella Rooms in the West End. Teachers include Vivienne Storry (Vice Principle, Head of Acting), Natalie Andreou (Head of Singing) and Lucas James (Dance Assistant). On top of the regular faculty, students are taught by a variety of performers and practitioners including Kerry Ellis, Ramin Karimloo, Marc Antolin, Robbie Sherman, Katie Brayben and Matt Henry. In addition to receiving coaching with industry professionals at the school, the students are often given an opportunity to perform at various charity and West End events at which Xavier is also appearing. A highlight of the schools year is their Christmas Concert at St Paul's: the Actor's Church in Covent Garden Piazza. Here, the students appear alongside a whole host of industry professionals. The 2016 concert will be hosted by Rufus Hound.

References

  1. ↑ Hemley, Matthew. "Love Never Dies leads Olivier Awards nominations". www.thestage.co.uk. The Stage. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Chichester Festival Theatre - Michael Xavier". www.cft.org.uk. Chichester Festival Theatre. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  3. ↑ Herbert, I (2000). Theatre Record (Volume 20, Issues 9-18 ed.). I. Herbert. pp. 614–615.
  4. ↑ "Pageant Confirmed for West End Run". www.whatsonstage.com. WhatsonStage. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Bosanquet, Theo. "Pajama Game confirms West End transfer, Michael Xavier and Joanna Riding star". www.whatsonstage.com. WhatsonStage. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Murphy, Paul. "The winners of the first BBC Audio Drama Awards". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC Radio Blog. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Rock Hudson radio drama wins BBC award". www.pinknews.co.uk. Pink News. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Into the Woods wins 2011 Laurence Olivier Award". www.digitaltheatre.com. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  9. ↑ Robertson, Willie. Michael Ball - The Biography. John Blake. ISBN 1857826744. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  10. ↑ Shenton, Mark. "Soho Cinders to Premiere at London's Soho Theatre, With Cast Led by Jenna Russell and Michael Xavier". www.playbill.com. Playbill. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  11. ↑ "Claudia Winkleman & Michael Xavier to host the BBC Radio 2 Stage during Olivier Awards". www.westendframe.com. West End Frame. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "Olivier Awards 2014". www.olivierawards.com. Olivier Awards. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Winners of 2013 UK Theatre Awards Announced". www.uktheatre.org. UK Theatre. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "UK Theatre Awards 2014 - Winners Announced". www.uktheatre.org. UK Theatre. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "Howard J Ford's Never Let Go enters post production". www.liveforfilm.com. Live For Films. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "Gnomeland - Cast". www.gnomelandthefilm.com. For George Films. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "Friday Night is Music Night". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  18. ↑ Hemley, Matthew. "Radio 2 marks 50 years of West Side Story". www.thestage.co.uk. The Stage. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "Sunset Boulevard - Cork Concert Revival 2014". www.ovrtur.com. Ovrtur. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  20. ↑ "Michael Xavier Discography". www.castalbums.org. CastAlbums. Retrieved 9 December 2014.

External links

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