Michael Toperzer
Dedicated and compassionate describe the last ten years for this actor, singer, songwriter, musician, stage-hand, audio engineer, electrician, producer, and teaching artist. When not working as a classically trained actor, Michael has been found screening independent films for communities around NY, sharing orginial music at NYC venues, open mics and subway busks, teaching Shakespeare through teaching artist programs, and contributing in any way he can to the greater artisit community in New York City.
Theseus in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Photo Cred. courtesy of Chesapeake Shakespeare and Shaelyn Jae Photography
Training
Michael found a love for music and performnce at a young age, and by high school was performing in every school show and talent show that was offered, even participating in a few Shakepeare competitions with honors. Adelphi University afforded opportunites to gain knowledge and skills in a conservatory style program, including a semester at the London Dramatic Academy which offered classes in LeCoq, Stanislavsky, and Meisner, as well as training in classical text analysis, voice and speech, and stage combat, all while being fully immersed in the culture of London’s theaters.
Fortinbrasse in Hamlet. Photo Cred: Adelphi University
New York and Abroad
After college Michael spent a year as a “Bat” with The Flea Theater before seeiking other opportunites with Occupy Verona (now part of Barefoot Shakespere) and co-founding The Brooklyn Actor’s Troupe, a company devoted to producing new and original works from local theater artists. In 2016, Michael began working regionally with Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Baltimore as an actor and teaching artist tutoring Shakespeare in schools. More recently, he participated in the Secret Theater's annual Act One: One Act festival. The play, Don by Kyle Anthony Smith, received enough praise to be published as part of the festival and isavailable at the Drama Bookshop. Recently, he understudied as “Mister/Ossifer” in Studio Theater’s production of Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu, through which he joined the Equity Membership Candidate program.
Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Photo Cred. Monday Theater Company