CURRENT NEWS: SUMMER OF 2009

* Fall 2009 Michael will be MD/ Keyboardist on Mark Abrahams' new eclectic Off-Broadway musical 23 Coins at Spoon Theatre Company in Midtown Manhattan. 23 Coins has a soulful rock score reminiscent of Tom Waits and Benjamin Smoke. Watch this space for more info.

This is the blurb about 23 Coins from Spoon Theatre's website:

"Annie Potts is not like other girls. For example, her mother is a murderer. That is, if you were to ask the Seattle police department or her Christian-right grandmother… But we know different: Annie’s grandfather once lay twisted and suffering, stricken with Huntington’s Chorea, bedridden, unable to feed, toilet, or bathe himself, unable to speak. Only after repeated and desperate pleas for help (firmly denied him by his wife), his only daughter gave him what no one else would."

* Michael was just cast as the lead "Henry" in the independent film comedic short Denial. Filming begins the last part of July 2009.

* Michael was just cast as "Troy" in the dramatic independent film The Path. Filming begins the first part of August 2009.

* Michael now has his own actor page on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB)! Check it out: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3507558/

* Michael is now Music Director/ Keyboardist for singer/ songwriter Angelo Whitehead and his R&B group Berta's Bleu. Check out the music; it's groovy incredible. A mix of Brand New Heavies and 4 Hero. Upcoming shows:

* Michael composed and sang the jingle for Tiger Candy Arts and their Sockett® sock puppet line.

* Michael is Musical Director/ Pianist for the amazing NYC-based singer/ actor, Jason Sofge, for his July 11th, 2009 one man show appropriately titled Fat Man Tapping: The BIGGEST Show Under One Roof. It is the story of a fat man and his magic tap shoes; a bawdy, vaudevillian romp, incorporating some of the most iconic and recognizable show tunes of all time! Come take a journey with Jason Sofge as he explores the dilemmas one faces when attempting to write the perfect one man show.

July 11th, 2009 @ 7PM @ The Laurie Beechman Theatre/ The West Bank Cafe. Address: 407 West 42nd Street @ 9th Avenue. Tickets are $12 plus a $15 food or drink minimum. Call 212.695.6909 for more info and to reserve seats! This guy is AmAzInG!! Need another reason to come? Ever see a fat man tap dance? Believe us... the show promises to be...um... "ground breaking!"

* During August 2009, Michael will be co-starring with writer/ songwriter/ actress Lillie Jayne in the 2009 official NYC International Fringe Festival entry Poppy! An Enchanted Evening with Poppy Bulova. This stylish and humorous musical cabaret, a two character show written by Jayne, Poppy Bulova tells of the return of chanteuse extraordinaire Poppy returning to her first love - the cabaret stage! With the assistance of her beloved accompanist (and ex-husband) Fagen Beauregard, Poppy performs her beloved songs and shares bawdy stories about her fully lived life on and off the stage. Poppy Bulova is sure to be a cabaret of endearing comic proportions. Songs by Jayne and arrangements by O'Dell.

Here are show dates and times:

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 @ 4PM
Monday, August 24th, 2009 @ 7:15PM
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 @ 6PM
Thursday, August 27th, 2009 @ 8PM
Saturday, August 29th, 2009 @ 3:30PM

* In June, Michael recently completed filming the lead role for Tisch filmmaker Margaret Lewis' short film Sarah, Come Home. A powerful narrative about redemption filmed in 16 millimeter, the film tells the story the estranged relationship between Sarah and her ailing father. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quPWCTw2Nfg.

* Michael also recently finished filming NYU director Agnelo Gomes' Holy Cat! in which he played the lead character Gary. Michael also provided the film score for this funny short. Also that same week, Michael also scored the short film At Your Service for NYU director Paola Finn.

NEWS:

On February 9, 2009, Michael and FOY cast members Sarah Aili and Isaac Benelli were featured on a segment for San Francisco's KGO 7's weekday afternoon show, The View From the Bay. Click here to see the three of them perform "Lighter Than Air."

NEWS:

Michael will be spending January and February in San Francisco working on helping create a new musical titled FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.  With book and lyrics by R.C. Staab, music by Jeff Pflaumbaum, and direction by Mike Ward, Michael will serve as Music Director/ Arranger/ Keyboardist on the production.  This is a very promising new musical with its sights on Off-Broadway.

Michael is currently dishing up some weekly jazz piano and vocals at Alta Voce Italian Restaurant in Booklyn, NY.  Click here for more 411.

NEWS:
The Diva From Down Under Show stars Aussie superstar diva extraordinaire Louise Van Veenendaal and her freakishly fabulous sidekicks, Adrian Li Donn and Kate Pistone. With arranger, composer Michael O'Dell [blankcanvasmusic.com] on Piano, this cabaret show is hilarious deeply moving and overall a real fun time.

Move over Santa! Put that Dradle away! The Diva is reining in a somewhat seasonal spectacular that's sure to warm you more than over spiked egg nog!

After last months smash hit show the diva is back with a BRAND SPANKING NEW OUTRAGEOUS SHOW! Topped with Aussie Flair! Packed full of fun, crazy antics and a ridiculously giant present. MAHHHHHHHHH!! Aussie Aussie Aussie Ho! Ho! Ho!

All new show great new tunes including some never heard before scandalous and hilarious renditions of your old seasonal favs! including the most amusing seasonal dance moves and shenanigans!

ONLY 2 NIGHTS these tickets are reserving fast so email your name and date to divabookings@gmail.com NOW.

TUES DEC 2ND 2008 @ 9PM & FRI DEC 19TH 2008 @ 8PM

DONT TELL MAMA
343 W46TH ST
NYC

$10 Christmas special + 2 drink min (cash only)

NEWS:

• writing a ten minute musical with Christopher Bell titled American Bombshell for the U.S-ification of America Conference Festival at Center Stage in NYC, premiering September 11th, 2008.
• serving as Stage Manager for the The New York International Fringe Festival's featured production of Becoming Britney
• serving as Music Director/ Pianist for singer/ actress Louise Van's cabaret show at The Duplex on September 25th, 2008
• working at COLONY Music in Times Square
• writing a ten minute musical with Christopher Bell titled American Bombshell for the U.S-ification of America Conference Festival at Center Stage in NYC, premiering September 11th, 2008.
• serving as Music Director/ Arranger/ Pianist for Living Legacy Theatre's new musical CLASS which is a fun song and dance musical geared toward senior citizens and retirement communities. Working with an all equity cast, Michael will lead a live band for some of the performances and record recorded tracks to be used in other performances.