Michael McCarthy (singer)

Michael McCarthy (born 5 June 1966),[2] is an Irish musical theatre performer who is best known for his many appearances as Javert in the musical Les Misérables.

For other people named Michael McCarthy, see Michael McCarthy (disambiguation).

Michael McCarthy
Born (1966-06-05) 5 June 1966
Turners Cross, Cork, Ireland
GenresMusical theatre
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, producer
Years active1981–present
LabelsCD Baby
Websitemichaelmccarthy.net
External video
Michael McCarthy performing
"Within My World" from Dracula, The Musical via YouTube[1]

Other musical stage roles have included: Max in Cabaret; Sir Lancelot in Camelot; Thomas Inkle in a 1997 revival of Inkle and Yarico; the Phantom in Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera; Ivan Molokov in Chess and Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. McCarthy has also performed in operas, such as Rigoletto and dramatic roles including, Marco in A View from the Bridge, and Laurie in Little Women.

He has appeared in a number of high-profile concerts including playing the Factory Foreman in Les Misérables tenth anniversary show, Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert, and as Thomas Inkle in a concert performance of Inkle and Yarico at the Edinburgh Festival. He has recorded three albums Broadway (1994), Living for the Moment (2000), and You're Still You (2012), and a number of his performances have been broadcast by the BBC and PBS.

He continues to perform and runs workshops in performing arts.

Early life

Michael McCarthy was born in Turners Cross, Cork, Ireland on 5 June 1966.[2] He studied classical piano from a young age and started to perform professional roles, such as a member of the ensemble in Rigoletto, at the Cork Opera House, from the age of 15.[3]

Education

McCarthy studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) where he received his diploma with honours, known as the A.L.A.M. diploma (Associate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art).

He performed with the Montfort Singers in Cork and also studied then taught at the Montfort College of Performing Arts. He then received a full scholarship to Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri in the United States where he gained his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre and music.[3][4] Parts that he performed at their summer stock theatre, the Okoboji Summer Theatre, and the college's Macklanburg Playhouse included: a soloist / ensemble member in a biographical revue of Cole Porter; Max in Cabaret; Tom in Brigadoon; Dominique in The Baker's Wife; Marco in A View from the Bridge; and Count Carl Magnus in A Little Night Music.[3][5]

Career
See also: Michael McCarthy professional credits

Stage

During the 1980s, through to 1990, McCarthy performed in a number of professional productions at Cork Opera House in his native Ireland.[3] Roles included: a member of the ensemble in Rigoletto; Patrick Dennis in Mame; Tom Trainer in No, No, Nanette; Sir Lancelot in Camelot;[5][6] and The Red Shadow in The Desert Song.[7] When he was 18 (November 1984) he was cast as Theodore "Laurie" Laurence in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women at Cork's Everyman Palace Theatre.[8]

He began his connection with Les Misérables in 1990, initially playing Combeferre and then the Factory Foreman and understudy to the part of Javert at the Palace Theatre in London. He took the role of Javert in his own right in the Palace Theatre in Manchester in 1992, replacing Philip Quast.[9][10]

In November 1994 McCarthy appeared in a new musical, Out of the Blue, with Meredith Braun, who had previously starred alongside him as Éponine in Les Misérables in Manchester.[11] However, bad reviews forced the show to close after just 17 performances at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London.[12] The songs by composer, Shunichi Tokura, and lyricist, Paul Sand, were subsequently released by Stage Door Records in 2010.[13]

He then went on to part of Javert which he played in thousands of performances, mostly in London,[10] but also at: the Theatre Royal, Sydney, Australia;[14] the Point Theatre, Dublin;[15] Melbourne (cover for Roger Lemke);[16] San Francisco;[17] Shanghai, China;[18] Seoul, South Korea[19] and he finished the show's run at the Imperial Theatre, New York for Terrence Mann.[14]

He revived his role as the Factory Foreman for the Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert, the tenth anniversary concert of Les Misérables in 1995.[20] He also played the role of Javert in concert productions: in 1997, at the Chelmsford Festival; in 2002 at the Globe Arena, Stockhlom;[21][22] and in 2004 for the Queen and her guests at Windsor Castle.[3][23]

Other concert performances as Javert include Guernsey[24] and Dublin,[25] both in 2008.

As well as Les Misérables, McCarthy has appeared as Thomas Inkle in a 1997 revival of Inkle and Yarico for the Holder's season, Barbados.[26] There were further performances in Washington, Edinburgh,[27] and Berlin.[28]

He also starred as the Phantom in Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera (2000);[29] as Ivan Molokov in Chess at the Oslo Spektrum, Norway (2006);[30] and Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with The Göteborg Opera, in Sweden.[3]

Further concert performances include: a centenary celebration of Ira Gershwin's birth, Who Could Ask for Anything More?;[31][32] a concert performance of Inkle and Yarico at the Edinburgh Festival, which was transmitted live to the Royal Opera House in London;[33] A Night of 100 Stars at the London Palladium;[34] and Opera In The Park in the grounds of Temple Newsam, West Yorkshire, with the orchestra of Opera North, Lesley Garrett and Ruthie Henshall.[35][36]

He has played the part of Sky Masterson in a concert performance of Guys and Dolls with the Key West Pops Orchestra, Key West in Florida,[37] and covered for Bryn Terfel at Terfel's Faenol Festival in Gwynedd, North Wales.[38] He has also joined Michael Ball in his concert show The Musicals on a Summer's Eve on a number of occasions.[39][40]

Recording and broadcast

McCarthy has recorded three solo albums of covers: Broadway (1994);[41] Living for the Moment (2000);[42] and You're Still You (2012).[43] He has also featured in recordings of musicals: Out of the Blue, as Dr. Akizuki (1994);[13] It's Just The Beginning: The Songs of Charles Miller & Kevin Hammonds, singing Sail Me There from their musical Hope (2010);[44][45] and a concept CD of a musical version of Dracula by Gareth Evans and Christopher J. Orton,[46] which features McCarthy as Dracula and was accompanied by the release of a music video of one of the tracks, Within My World.

Some of his concert performances have been broadcast and released on DVD, such as: Who Could Ask for Anything More? on BBC Radio 2;[31][47] Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert;[20] Inkle and Yarico, documentary filmed at the Holder's Festival, Barbados;[3][28] and Lesley Garrett – Music from the Movies taken from the Opera In The Park concert, broadcast on BBC Two on Christmas Day 2004.[36][48]

Other broadcast work includes: the role of The Gypsy King in The 10th Kingdom;[5][28] the role of Second Priest in a TV film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar for PBS's series Great Performances,[49] which was also released as a DVD;[50] and he sang Summertime, Nature Boy and If Ever I Would Leave You on BBC Radio 2's Friday Night Is Music Night, presented by Ken Bruce.[51]

Recent career

As well as continuing to perform McCarthy is the Executive Producer for the Harlequin Performing Arts Academy, at the Buccament Bay Resort, Kingstown in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.[52] He also runs the Performing Arts Summer School at Cork School of Music,[53] is the guest musical director at Shorecrest Preparatory School, St. Petersburg, Florida,[54][55] and has his own classes in St.Petersburg, Florida.[4] In January, 2020 he became the Director of Church Music at the First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, FL. http://fbcstpete.org/

Other

Personal life

McCarthy has been married to Stephanie since October 1990.[56] Stephanie is a music teacher and the couple have one son, Cían.[57][58]

References
  1. Michael McCarthy (18 October 2010). "Within My World" – Dracula, The Musical (YouTube). sangdevie. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  2. "Michael McCarthy". London Musicals Online. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  3. "Michael McCarthy". Profs on Stage. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  4. "Michael McCarthy's Broadway Studios". mccarthybroadway.com. Michael McCarthy's Broadway Studios via Weebly. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  5. "Michael McCarthy". Burnett Crowther. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  6. "The Montforts – A History Steeped In Theatre (2005)". Evening Echo. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  7. Hassett, Declan (April 1990). "Encores for The Desert Song" (PDF). Evening Echo. Cork, Ireland. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  8. "Theatre in Cork, 1984: Little Women". corkpastandpresent.ie. Cork City Council. Retrieved 18 April 2015. Image.
  9. Manchester cast: Jeff Leyton (Jean Valjean), Michael McCarthy (Javert), Richard Burman (Marius), Sarah Ryan (Cosette), Meredith Braun (Éponine), Daniel Coll (Enjolras), Tony Timberlake (Thénardier), Louise Plowright (Mdme Thénardier) (20 November 1992). BBC Children in Need (regional: North West [One Day More] (Television). Manchester: Richard Burman: YouTube. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  10. "Michael McCarthy". londonlesmis.co.uk. London Musicals Online. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  11. "Out of the Blue: Cast". lilyrose.org. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  12. Coveney, Michael (27 November 1997). "Theatre: Love, sex, death and a turkey". The Observer. p. 84. Retrieved 18 April 2015 – via ProQuest.
  13. McCarthy, Michael; Tokura, Shunichi; Sand, Paul (1994). Out of the Blue (Media notes). Cast: Meredith Braun, Simon Burke, David Burt, Greg Ellis, Lynden Edwards, James Graeme, Paulette Ivory, Andrew Newey, Charles Shirvell, Andrew Wale. Stage Door Records. ASIN B0042FXIKS. Barcode: 5055122190257.
  14. Jones, Kenneth (25 March 2003). "Irish Actor Michael McCarthy Is Final Javert of Les Miz, Starting May 6". Playbill. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  15. Jones, Kenneth. "Les Misérables: Les Misérables-May 15th, 1999 Dublin". whoisthatface.weebly.com. Whose Is That Face in the Shadows?. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  16. MATP (28 August 1998). "In Brief". The Weekend Australian Magazine via NewsBank. p. 17. Retrieved 18 April 2015. ROGER Lemke, who has been singing the role of Javert in the Melbourne season of Les Miserables, has to withdraw from the show for eight weeks for medical reasons. He will be replaced by Michael McCarthy, who is flying in from London and will take over the role some time next week.
  17. "Review: Les Miserables 12 June 2002 (blog)". mspt47.com. 22 June 2002. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  18. Jones, Kenneth (22 June 2002). "Cosette in China: Shanghai Welcomes Les Miserables June 22 – July 7". Playbill. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  19. "'Les Mis' ready for China". BBC News. 21 June 2002. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  20. McCarthy, Michael; Schönberg, Claude-Michel (Composer); Boublil, Alain (Lyricist) (1995). Les Misérables – 10th Anniversary – The Dreamcast in Concert DVD (Media notes). Cast: Colm Wilkinson, Philip Quast, Ruthie Henshall, Jenny Galloway, Alun Armstrong, Lea Salonga, Michael Ball, Michael Maguire, Judy Kuhn, Anthony Crivello, Adam Searles, Hannah Chick, Paul Monaghan, Matthew Cammelle, Rob Guest. BBC Home Entertainment. ASIN B00110K62U. Barcode: 5014138067946.
  21. Gorman, Mike. "Les Miserables". mdgorman.com. Civil War Richmond. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  22. "Vi är Skandinaviens största evenemangsområde:4 arenor, 1 turistattraktion, 300 evenemang och 2 miljoner besökare varje år" [We are Scandinavia's biggest event area: 4 arenas, one tourist attraction, 300 events and 2 million visitors each year]. globearenas.se. Globe Arena. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  23. Thuesen, Gitte (December 2014). "Foolishness can happen in the woods... (blog)". thefleetstreetvicomte.tumblr.com. Tumblr. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  24. "Cavill and McCarthy lead Guernsey concert". londonlesmis.co.uk. London Musicals Online. 17 July 2008. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  25. "Events: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber". rte.ie. RTÉ Concert Orchestra. 2008. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  26. "Barbados – Holders Season- Inkle and Yarico". barbados.org. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  27. Howell, Mark A. (19 December 2014). "Sources consulted". In Howell, Mark A. (ed.). Imaginative genius: Spectators on stage at Shakespeare's playhouses & Bristol's Old Vic. Google e-book. ISBN 9780992643713. McConnel, James. Rev. of Inkle and Yarico. Holder's Season, Barbados, Crampton Theatre, Washington DC and Edinburgh Festival.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  28. "Michael McCarthy: Biography". cdbaby.com. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  29. "Alumni list". Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  30. "Chess the musical". Oslo Spektrum. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  31. Staff writer (31 December 1996). "Who Could Ask for Anything More? BBC Two England, 31 December 1996 19.15". Radio Times (3804). p. 136. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  32. Staff writer. "Who Could Ask for Anything More? A Celebration of Ira Gershwin (1997)". Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Archived from the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  33. Andrews, Richard (13 August 1999). "Backstage Whispers overheard by Richard Andrews". theatrenet.com. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  34. "Archive listings for A Night of 100 Stars". uktw.co.uk. UK Theatre Web. 22 April 2001. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  35. Hutchinson, Andrew (14 July 2004). "Come dance with me..." Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  36. McCarthy, Michael; Garrett, Lesley; Henshall, Ruthie (2004). Lesley Garrett – Music from the Movies (Media notes). Eagle Rock Entertainment. ASIN B000HN328M. Barcode: 5036369804497. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015.
  37. "Pops announces 2007–08 season". Florida Keys Keynoter, L'Attitudes: Keys Arts and Entertainment. University of Florida Digital Collections. 2 June 2007. p. 6. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  38. "'I'm hooked on Bryn... I even named my dog after him'". North Wales Daily Post. Trinity Mirror. 28 August 2001. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  39. "Michael Ball in Musicals on a Summer's Eve – 8th August". skiddle.com. Skiddle Ltd. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  40. "Michael Ball in Musicals on a Summer's Eve - 22nd August". skiddle.com. Skiddle Ltd. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  41. McCarthy, Michael (1994). Broadway (Media notes). CD Baby. ASIN B009Y8HO8A. Barcode: 5019148626312.
  42. McCarthy, Michael (2000). Living for the Moment (Media notes). CD Baby. ASIN B00E3TOSOS. Barcode: 5019148626329.
  43. McCarthy, Michael (2012). You're Still You (Media notes). CD Baby. ASIN B00B0LKTZE. Barcode: 700261957586.
  44. McCarthy, Michael; Miller, Charles; Hammonds, Kevin (2010). It's Just The Beginning: The Songs of Charles Miller & Kevin Hammonds (Media notes). Richard Reynard, Pia Douwes, Louise Plowright, Cassidy Janson, Valerie Cutko, Ashleigh Fleming, Charlotte Page, Mark Evans, Jodie Jacobs, Donna Hines, Shona White, Emma Odell, Hannah Lindo, Julie Atherton, Paul Spicer, Marc Joseph, Helena Blackman, Alan Winner, Caroline O'Connor, Fenton Gray, Brenda Edwards, Emma Hatton, Adam Bayjou, Louise Willoughby, Christopher Bartlett, Drew Millar, Greg Davidson, Sophie Isaacs. MaKiNG Records. ASIN B004B9NK5S. Barcode: 609722866477.
  45. Michael McCarthy, Cassidy Janson, Charlotte Page, Valerie Cutko, Ashley Fleming (18 October 2010). Songs from "HOPE" by Charles Miller & Kevin Hammonds (YouTube). Fenton Gray. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  46. McCarthy, Michael; Evans, Gareth (Lyricist); Orton, Christopher J. (Composer) (2006). Dracula – Original London Cast (Media notes). Cast: Stephanie Benavente, Robert Fardell, Kit Orton, Alison Guill, John Barr, Christian Jon Billett, Alex Sangster, Steven Sparling, Deborah Crowe, Stephanie Evans, Claire Falconer, Ian Lynn, Christopher Orton, Anna-Lee Robertson. CD Baby for Sang de Vie Productions Ltd. ASIN B000T5MX9W. Barcode: 5026107043301.
  47. "Who Could Ask for Anything More (DVD details)". explore.bfi.org.uk. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  48. McCarthy, Michael; Garrett, Lesley; Henshall, Ruthie (2004). "Lesley Garrett – Music from the Movies". BBC Two. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  49. Frederick B. Owens (Caiaphas), Michael Shaeffer (Annas), Peter Gallagher (First Priest), Michael McCarthy (Second Priest), Philip Cox (Third Priest) (21 November 2008). This Jesus Must Die (YouTube). OfficialRUG. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  50. McCarthy, Michael (2000). Jesus Christ Superstar (Media notes). Cast: Glenn Carter, Jerome Pradon, Renée Castle, Fred Johanson, Rik Mayall, Frederick B. Owens, Michael Shaeffer, Tony Vincent, Cavin Cornwall, Peter Gallagher, Philip Cox, Matthew Cross, Kevin Curtin, Paul Vickers. Universal Studios. ASIN B000056NX5.
  51. McCarthy, Michael; Bruce, Ken (presenter) (2010). "Friday Night Is Music Night". BBC Radio 2. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  52. "Buccament Bay Resort News: Kate Gillespie, Thomas De Keyser, Michael McCarthy confirmed for Performing Arts". buccamentbay.com. WordPress. 20 January 2012. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  53. "Performing Arts Summer School: at the Cork School of Music". performingartsireland.com. Performing Arts Summer School Ireland via Weebly. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  54. Charley Belcher (Presenter), Michael McCarthy (Guest), cast of Mary Poppins (Shorecrest Preparatory School) (24 April 2015). Mary Poppins on WTVT FOX 13 (Noon News) Tampa Charley's World (Television). Tampa, Florida: WTVT. Event occurs at 12.54pm. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  55. "Shorecrest Preparatory School: Faculty & Staff Directory". shorecrest.org. Shorecrest Preparatory School. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  56. Denise Drysdale (interviewer), Michael McCarthy (guest) (July 1998). Denise (Television). Australia: Angela Pollard (website). Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  57. "New Faces at Shorecrest". ebytes.shorecrest.org. Shorecrest Preparatory School. January 2006. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  58. Cían McCarthy (22 February 2016). "Electricity" performed by Cían M., 6th Grade (Video). Shorecrest Preparatory School via YouTube. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
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