Michael Arden is an actor, musician and stage director. He made his Broadway debut as Tom Sawyer in the 2003 Roundabout and Deaf West revival of Big River. He played the title character in Pippin for the World AIDS Day Broadway benefit concert in November 2004. His regional theatre credits include Pippin, God of Vengeance, Falsettoland, Tom Jones' Harold and Maude, West Side Story, Songs for a New World, The Common Pursuit and The Winter's Tale. He directed Deaf West Theatre's acclaimed Broadway revival of Spring Awakening. The production marked his return to Deaf West and featured a cast made up of both deaf and hearing actors, performed simultaneously in American Sign Language and English. On May 3, 2016 Arden received a Tony Award nomination in the category Best Direction of a Musical for his work on the Spring Awakening revival.
Listen in to hear Michael and I talk about some things Spring and some things not, like . . .
- What it was like going to school at Juilliard . . . and how they reacted when he left early.
- Why there is a great theater scene in Los Angeles.
- How being a Director has made it both harder and easier for him to work for one as an Actor.
- What the heck is the Milan Conference and why does it make Spring Awakening ideal for incorporating hearing and deaf actors into the production?
- How you should wear multiple hats with pride.
Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway