Tyler Michaels
Theatre arts major from Bloomington, Minnesota
Figuring it out
A teacher encouraged Tyler to try out for a musical in the seventh grade. He got a part, and also acted in the community’s summer musical. “I really enjoyed it and from there took the path of theatre geek and choir boy. I learned I had a knack for it, and it’s something I love to do. It makes me happy.” Tyler is pursuing emphases in acting, directing and musical theatre, and a minor in dance. His goal: “To be on stage in a big Broadway show singing and dancing.”
Bearded Men
One of Tyler’s favorite school activities is Bearded Men Improv, a group of seven MSUM men who perform improvisational comedy on campus and in the region. They recently headlined “Tornadoes Suck,” a benefit for the community of Northwood, N.D., which was struck by a tornado this summer. “Without them (Bearded Men), my schooling here would be different. They are my family on campus; solid, good friends that I can go to for anything.” And Tyler’s suggestion for the best thing to do on campus? “Go to Bearded Men Improv! We have Thursday night workshops where anyone can come and participate or just watch.”
Watch where you walk
“As Bearded Men (with fake beards in tow) we walk around campus with sandwich boards encouraging people to come our show. It’s fun to see how people react. Some people walk around us very slowly, while others get into it and act right along with us. Our shows are always crazy.”
Faculty connections
As Tyler became more involved in campus (Straw Hat Players, Blackfriars, main stage shows, and Bearded Men Improv), he turned to Professor Craig Ellingson for answers and advice. “He’s helped me discover my hidden talents. I had never danced before college, and when the show Cats came around, Craig encouraged me to try out for a role. I ended up becoming a fairly good dancer for not having danced before. He’s my musical theatre mentor.”
Cool project
Magician, acrobat, unicyclist, stilt walker, storyteller, comic, clown and artistic genius, Thomas Kubinek, entertained audiences when he was on campus for a Performing Arts Series event last year. He also inspired Tyler and his friend to explore similar out-of-the-ordinary physical comedy. “We started doing partner acrobatics and will try to do some of that in this year’s children’s show.”
Musical movies?
Tyler admits to enjoying all kinds of movies, but musical theatre is his favorite kind of performance. “I love singing and dancing. It’s great that musicals are being made into movies (Chicago, Hairspray, etc.) for people who don’t go to see live theatre. But you can’t do a musical justice by putting it on the silver screen. Seeing a live performance is so much better.”
Down the road
“I recently started toying around with the idea of being a clown or a physical actor. I’ve taken up unicycling and juggling, and you might see me on campus just clowning around. I really like to be that character in a show who’s overly dramatic, physical and funny.”