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ONGOING PROJECT:

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Latest Projects

Acted alongside Oscar-Winner F. Murray Abraham in a benefit Staged Reading of Edward Albee's FRAGMENTS on 4/6! Humbled to have worked with such an incredible artist!

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F. Murray Abraham in Fragments
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2023
Highlights

Played Carl OFF-BROADWAY

at The SoHo Playhouse

in ERIC BOGOSIAN'S 1+1.

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Co-Directed/Acted in

the World Premiere Workshop of

JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY'S

THE LOST YEARS with Black Box PAC.

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Played Blue Morphan and Shooter in

SAM SHEPARD'S

THE UNSEEN HAND & ACTION.

Asst. Directed the U.S. Premiere of Shepard's

unpublished LITTLE OCEAN.

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Nov./Dec.
2022

Played "Man" in Edward Albee's Rarely-Performed Masterwork THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY

at The Black Box in Englewood, NJ.

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Performances: 11/10-12/4, Thurs-Sun at 8pm

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"The four-member cast embraces the play’s black humor and random craziness so deeply you can feel their gleeful delight.--Jay Lustig, NJArts.net

*Named in NJArts.net's
Top 15 NJ Theater Productions 2022!

October
2022

Directing and playing "Woyzeck" in Neil Labute's adaptation of Buchner's WOYZECK running In Rep with Matt Okin's CHERRY HILL (inspired by Woyzeck) in which I play "Lawrence" and "The Sheriff" at The Black Box in

Englewood, NJ.

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Performances:

10/6-10/23,Thurs-Sat at 8pm, Sun at 3pm and 8pm.

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"This Woyzeck is transfixing in a dark and disturbing way, imbuing the tale...with the solemn and steady inevitability of a Greek Tragedy."
--Jay Lustig, NJArts.net

July 2022

Reprising my role as CARL in Eric Bogosian's 1+1, now having its Special NYC Premiere, produced by The Black Box Performing Arts Center, headlining The Chain Play Festival in midtown Manhattan.

 

The Chain Theatre (312 W 36th St. 4th floor, New York, NY 10018).  7/8 - 7/22

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Tickets: https://www.chaintheatre.org/playfestival2022

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Terrific Review from TheaterScene.org:
https://theaterscene.org/2022/07/11-2/

"The animated Michael Gardiner wonderfully portrays Carl, the Steak ‘N Brew manager who is Brianne’s hapless platonic protector, as an empathetic everyman with a heart of gold...Mr. Gardiner is comedically priceless."
--Darryl Reilly

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May-
June
2022

Originated the role of MIKE in

Beth Henley's EXPOSED at

The Black Box Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ.

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May 22- Special Q&A with Beth Henley herself! (moderated by Paradise Square Tony Nominee Craig Lucas)

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Performances: 5/7-5/28, Thursday-Sunday at 8pm

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The Cast with Beth Henley
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Beth Henley and Craig Lucas

MARCH-APRIL
2022

Playing MARK in the rarely-seen CLEOPATRA CLUB by Legendary Filmmaker Paul Schrader at

The Black Box Performing Arts Center in Englewood, NJ.

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Performances: 3/24-4/10, Thursday-Sunday at 8pm.

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FEBRUARY
2022

Assistant Directing the NJ Premiere of Craig Lucas' ODE TO JOY at The Black Box Performing Arts Center in Englewood NJ

Performances: 2/10- 2/27

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Playing Peter Cabot in Eugene O'Neill's DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS at Hudson Theatre Works, directed by Frank Licato

Performances: 2/10- 2/27

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NOVEMBER 2021 -
JANUARY 2022

Playing CARL in Eric Bogosian's New Play 1+1 at  The Black Box Performing Art Center in Englewood, NJ

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December

2021

Performed a monologue in Neil Labute's TEN X TEN

at Black Box PAC

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Performances: 12/9-12/12

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Participated in the NEW WORKS FEST at Black Box PAC which featured new short plays by John Guare, Caridad Svich, myself, and others.

 

My play THE CRAB WIFE was featured. I directed Mr. Guare's SATORI and played A in Mr. Guare's BETWEEN.

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Performances: 12/16-12/19

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October
2021

Had a workshop reading of my new play FRANKENSTEIN UNLEASHED at Black Box PAC.

FRANKENSTEIN UNLEASHED is a wickedly funny, in-your-face riff on Mary Shelley’s classic novel which explores what happens when Victor Frankenstein actually completes his work on The Creature’s “Bride”. Infusing bold humor, a myriad of Shakespearean and classical allusions, and a fair dose of all-out gore, Michael Gardiner’s new play ponders nothing less than what it means to be “alive.”

Cast/Creative Team:

Victor: Kevin Thiel

The Creature: Michael Gardiner

The Bride: Danielle MacMath

Elizabeth/Girl: Ilana Schimmel

Clerval/Sharky/Blind Man: Sam Cancelarich

The Boy: Jeffrey Lubin

Directed by: Matt Okin

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