September Pops: Steppin’ Out
Guest Artist
MICHAEL LACKEY, baritone
Baritone Michael Lackey returns home from Las Vegas where he is currently performing in the all new $75 million production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM.
A theatre veteran of more than 40 productions, with nearly 30 years of professional theatre and music experience, Michael has toured with Carol Channing in HELLO, DOLLY!, Florence Henderson in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, and with Juliet Prowse and Larry Kert in FUNNY GIRL. Michael has also performed with three other U.S. companies of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, including Broadway, San Francisco, and National Tour, now totaling over 2,200 performances of the show and playing the title role more than 125 times.
While with the National Tour of KISS ME KATE, working with Tony Award winners: director Michael Blakemore and musical director Paul Gemignani, Michael took over for star Rex Smith in the lead role of Fred/Petruchio at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He has also performed with Tony Randall, Robert Goulet, Tovah Feldshuh, June Angela, Kenneth Mars, Eddie Mekka and many more. Some of Michael's roles include Billy Bigelow in CAROUSEL, Sweeney in SWEENEY TODD, Don Quixote in MAN OF LA MANCHA, Juan Peron in EVITA, Ravenal in SHOWBOAT, Sky in GUYS & DOLLS, The King in THE KING AND I, Cornelius in HELLO, DOLLY!, Emile in SOUTH PACIFIC, Sid in THE PAJAMA GAME (where he met his wife, Betsy), El Gallo in THE FANTASTICKS, as well as five productions of KISS ME KATE.
As a narrator and announcer, Michael has been heard on four of Brian Boitano's skating specials on NBC and USA Network TV, he's done live presentations with Robin Williams and Peter Coyote, as well as commercials regionally and nationally.
Michael also performs frequent concerts, having sung with The Adrian Symphony Orchestra, The Placerville Symphony, the Merced Symphony and Gold Country Chamber Orchestras, as well as with 'The Broadway Baritones' and Broadway star, Susan Egan with the Cleveland Pops.
As a librettist, Michael has had two original musicals produced with his composer/wife, Betsy, and the couple's first symphony work, FAMILY SECRETS: The Story of FRANKENSTEIN, was performed with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra in Michigan, and Gold Country Chamber Orchestra in Sacramento to rave reviews.