He has been Director of Hampton Arts ever since it was created by City Council in 1988.

 

Michael has had the honor of working with some of the leading artists of our generation. He has the rare distinction of having produced major ballet galas starring the three major superstars of the 20th century — Alexander Godunov, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolf Nureyev. As a Producing Director, Michael also staged productions in Lafayette, Louisville, at the 50th Edinburgh Festival Fringe and for the first two Virginia Arts Festivals. He also produced the opening Gala of The American Theatre in 2000 and the Fifth and Tenth Annual celebrations of the Theatre and of course is responsible for the uniquely eclectic, high class and diverse series of attractions at The American Theatre.

 

Michael served as Founding Director of The Fine Arts Foundation in Lafayette, Louisiana for 13 years. He began his career as an Assistant Stage Manager at the Chelmsford Civic Theatre in his native England.

 

The youngest of a family of six, Michael grew up in the village of Buxted, about forty miles south of London. For ten years he attended the Royal Masonic Schools. He served as Principal Bass in the orchestra, organist for chapel services, accompanist for choral activities and also took leading roles in and co-directed several of the school’s plays.

 

He has served on numerous boards and committees and regularly acts as a consultant to various other theatres and nonprofit organizations. He is a past president of the Downtown Hampton Kiwanis Club and served on numerous committees at the Chamber of Commerce, the Community Advisory Board of the Hampton University Museum and the Board of the Phoebus Improvement League. He is featured in the premiere edition of Who’s Who in Entertainment and is listed in Who’s Who in the South and Southwest and the International Dictionary of Biography.

 

In addition to his lifelong passion for the arts, Michael is an avid reader, gardener and student of Buddhist philosophy. He has had the honor of receiving teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Atlanta, Mexico City, Sarnath (India) and at Drepung Loseling Monastery in Southern India.

 

Michael attended the University of London where he studied for a joint degree in English, French and Law. He is a citizen of the United States.