Eric Michael Gillett

ERIC MICHAEL GILLETT

 

 

A MAC and Bistro Award winning vocalist, Eric Michael Gillett’s cabaret shows have included Cast of Thousands-The Songs of Craig Carnelia, It Takes Two-The Duets of Stephen Sondheim (with Melanie Vaughan) & his critically lauded collection of radio songs of the past forty years, Hook, Line & Singer. In recent months, he has found a new home at Feinstein’s at Loews Regency where he debuted both Widescreen: Songs From and About the Movies  & his first tribute to a composer from the Great American Songbook, Hooray for Love-Gillett Sings Arlen, which the New York Times called “an intimate portrait of a man in the thrall of show business dreams, for whom popular standards are platforms for unguarded confessions.”  He is currently in the midst of a New York City run of his expanded revision of Cast of Thousands, in preparation for a full theatrical version of this acclaimed one-man show which continues his collaboration with one of Broadway & cabaret’s most esteemed songwriters. 

 

Stephen Holden of the New York Times calls Eric Michael, “An idiosyncratic, fearlessly emotive baritone,” and goes on to say, “His lack of conventional defenses allow him to bare a vulnerability that most male singers prefer to conceal.”  Cabaret Scenes says, “Gillett is an exceptional performer who is present at every moment, measuring each breath, phrase, and nuance in perfect harmony.”

 

Eric Michael has been seen on Broadway in the original casts of Kiss Me, Kate, Sweet Smell of Success & The Frogs.       New York audiences have seen him in the role of 'Papa” Denny Doherty in Dream a Little Dream at the Village Theatre, as 'Richard' in the York Theater's workshop of the new musical, The Tutor & in the New York City Opera productions of Cinderella, The Pirates of Penzance & Candide. Other Off- Broadway credits include Silent Laughter (Lambs), Good Companions (York), Of Thee I Sing (Encores), December Fools (Abingdon) & Time & Again (Manhattan Theatre Club). Among his 2008 workshops/readings/concerts include Frog Kiss, Ever After, Paradise Found & the Carnegie Hall staging of Show Boat. Regionally, Eric received rave reviews for his performances as “Jacquot” in the Paper Mill production of Carnival, “Andrew Wyke” in the Hangar Theatre production of Sleuth & “Peron” in the Oklahoma Lyric production of Evita, followed by the Off-Broadway production,

 

Frankenstein, as the father of Victor Frankenstein, “Alphonse,” in the Bridge Theater Company production of Warning: Adult Content & his return to the stage of the New York City Opera to reprise his role in Candide. Most recently, Eric Michael appeared in the leading role of “Ralph” in the Geva Theatre Center production of A Christmas Story & in the NYC workshops of Empire, Time After Time & Please Don’t Eat the Daisies. He closed 2008 as the featured performer at the Metropolitan Room’s New Year’s Eve celebration & returned to that stage during January 2009, with an encore run of his cabaret show, Best of My Love, which has since been performed in concert at New Jersey Performing Arts Center & Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Other concert & cabaret appearances include Zankel Hall, Town Hall, Emelin Library, Rose Hall at Lincoln Center, the Tilles Center, the Russian Tea Room, Weill Recital Hall, the Gardenia & many others.  

 

For twelve years, Eric Michael appeared as the Ringmaster of Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus, touring the continental United States & appearing on countless television & radio programs, including the CBS television special, “The Return of Gunther Gebel-Williams” & the Walt Disney Sing-A-Long video, Let's Go to the Circus.  Television appearances include “Law & Order,” “Ed,” & “Law & Order: SVU,” in addition to the feature films Maid in Manhattan, My Brother & The Producers (on-screen + soundtrack legit choir). Eric's current projects include a leading role in the new independent feature film, The Third Testament, a return to “Law & Order” in the 2009 season finale, Jairaj Wallia's debut short, In the Foxhole & a guest-star appearance as “Moses” in Comedy Central's new internet series, “Good God.”

 

Solo CD recordings include Cast of Thousands-The Songs of Craig Carnelia (named best solo CD of 1998 by In Theatre Magazine) & Sing a Rainbow. He also appears on the original cast albums of Kiss Me, Kate, Sweet Smell of Success, The Frogs, The Confidence Man & Big City Rhythm: The Songs of Barry Kleinbort. Compilation albums include Broadway Romances Manhattan & Jamie De Roy & Friends: The Child in Me, as well as Jamie's 2005 release, When I Grow Up.