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Michael Stever

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Michael Stever
Born
Medford, Oregon, United States
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Film director, producer, cinematographer, screenwriter, actor, singer and dancer.
Years active1991–present
Known forSuper Force, Broadway: The Golden Age By The Legends Who Were There, Every Act of Life
Websitemichaelstever.net

Michael Stever is an American film director and editor, cinematographer, producer, writer and actor who's known for his work on Super Force, Broadway: The Golden Age By The Legends Who Were There, Every Act of Life and his debut documentary short films, Saturday Nightmares: The Ultimate Horror Expo! and Resurrecting Carrie.

Early life

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Michael Lee Stever was born in Medford, Oregon, the son of Robert Roy Stever who was in retail management with JCPenney, and a decorated World War II veteran, and Elizabeth Anne Stever, (née Gubler) a nursing assistant. Stever is the youngest of four siblings. He attended Rancho Cordova High School and Sacramento High School's Regional Occupational Program, where he produced his first film at age seventeen.

Career

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Stever's theater credits include The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Juliet Prowse, the 30th anniversary tour of Mame with Morgan Brittany, the role of Joe Hardy in NETworks national tour of Damn Yankees, Diesel in a Berlin Germany based production of West Side Story directed by longtime WSS vet Alan Johnson, Brisbane Australia's 1988 World Expo, and singing and dancing in Reno Nevada at the historic MGM Grand Hotel, in Donn Arden's Hello Hollywood, Hello.[1] Stever also appeared in the first United States Regional production of The Will Rogers Follies at Gateway and Candlewood Playhouses in Long Island[2][3] and at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey in several productions, including Oliver![4] with George S. Irving and South Pacific[5] with Ron Raines.

He made his television debut in a 1991 episode of the science fiction series, Super Force, where he plays an alien abductee. In 1998 he portrayed Mortimer Brewster opposite Betty Garrett and Carole Cook in a University of Central Oklahoma production of Arsenic And Old Lace. He returned to UCO shortly thereafter performing with Shirley Jones.[6]

In 2001 Stever began a stint behind the camera as unit production manager on the documentary, Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There.[7][8] His first play Erzsebet, a historical account of sixteenth-century Hungarian countess, the infamous Erzsebet Bathory received a reading in New York City in 2004.[citation needed]

Stever screened his first independently produced documentary, Saturday Nightmares; The Ultimate Horror Expo! in New York City in October 2010.[9][10] In 2011, he filmed and co-produced his first indie comedy/drama Checking In,[11] an independent feature based on the New York Fringe Festival play of the same name by Brian Hampton. He followed this with a 2012 music video Don't Come A Knockin for singer/songwriter Dwight Thomas Vaughn. Two following projects, the 2012 documentary short film Resurrecting Carrie, featuring Piper Laurie[12][13][14][15] and Jan Broberg's Guide To Thespians, Sociopaths & Scream Queens,[16][17][18] featuring Elijah Wood, were chosen as official selections at the third and fifth annual Macabre Faire Film Festivals, first and second annual Scares That Care film festivals, as well as the first annual ParaFest Festival in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. and the inaugural FEARnyc film festival, in New York City.[19]

He reunited with Shirley Jones and Marty Ingels in 2011 for his self-produced documentary short, Jon Finch: The Ultimate Impresario.[20][21] He has produced mini-documentaries, including a collaboration with Stephen Schwartz in 2011 chronicling his first opera, Séance on a Wet Afternoon.[22] He films and writes for Broadwayworld.com, TheaterPizzazz, and TheatreArtLife.[23] Stever also served as the official camera man for The Drama Desk Awards in New York City.[24][25] He has also worked as a filmmaker and videographer.[26]

In 2014 Stever met and collaborated with A Nightmare on Elm Street star, Heather Langenkamp. Together they produced Heather's Freddy Cut Nightmare[27][28] which chronicled her first charity haircut auction on behalf of 'Scares That Care.' Later that year Stever worked with actor/playwright Stu Richelle, and director/dramaturge Linda S. Nelson filming and creating numerous multi-media installments for the Off-Off Broadway production of Vietnam…Through My Lens.[29][30]

May 2016, Stever joins forces with Broadway dancer, choreographer and historian Mercedes Ellington - Grand Daughter to Duke Ellington and founder of The Duke Ellington Center For The Arts.[31] Also worked with Columbus State University Dance Department head Karyn Tomczak and Lester Schecter PR to produce a documentary honoring Mercedes which screened at the New York Friars Club on December 20, 2017.[32][33] In late 2017 filmed and co-produced two TEDTalks episodes with performance coach Kelsey Crouch. Episodes included 'How BS cured the blind girl' with Vicky DeRosa,[34] and 'Design experiences, not things' with Abraham Burickson.[35]

In 2017, worked as co-cinematographer in director Jeff Kaufman and producer Marcia Ross's award-winning Terrence McNally documentary, Every Act Of Life as well as a Q&A filmed by Stever released shortly after McNally's passing in 2020 and features candid recollections from McNally himself, director Kaufman, Nathan Lane, Tyne Daly, F Murray Abraham, Joe Mantello and was moderated by New York Times columnist Frank Rich.[36][37]

In May 2018, he collaborated with Richard Hillman PR, executive producer Harvey Butler and director/playwright Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj to film the play, Little Rock a historical drama about the Little Rock Nine.[38][39] Filmed and edited by Stever and co-produced in conjunction with the Mabel Mercer Foundation, KT Sullivan and Ken Bloom's Harbinger Records, Sidney Myer: Live At The Laurie Beechman Theatre DVD.[40][41]

2019 found Michael filming with Klea Blackhurst,[42] clarion voiced Lorna Dallas,[43] Lynn Henderson,[44] singer/songwriter Dawn Derow,[45] as well as several collaborations with beloved Broadway veteran, Karen Mason.[46][47][48][49]

On January 13, 2021, Stever was the recipient of the BroadwayWorld Best Filmed Show, Presented From Archival Video award along with Karen Mason, Paul Rolnick, director Barry Kleinbort and musical director Christopher Denny. The award celebrated Mason's October 15, 17 and 18 online screenings of Mason At Mamas In March, which was filmed at the historic Manhattan cabaret club Don't Tell Mama which she helped open.[50][51][52] Hoboken Library produced a staged reading of ′Torch Song Trilogy: Widows And Children First′ on August 28, 2021. It featured NYC cabaret luminary Sidney Myer as Arnold, Florence Pape as Mrs. Beckoff, Stever as Ed, Logann Grayce as David and was directed by Ethan Galvin.[53]

Activism and Personal life

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In addition to 'Scares That Care,' Stever has donated his skills to numerous U.S. based charitable organizations including AIDS Walk New York, and the 2006 Tourette Syndrome Celebrity Fundraiser. On February 23, 2009 he documented the historic 'Defying Inequality Broadway Concert,' interviewing the likes of Lynda Carter, Billy Porter, Gavin Creel, Tamara Tunie,[54] Jonathan Groff, Stephen Schwartz and many others as Stever stood in support of marriage equality after the Supreme Court of California upheld a ban on same-sex marriage approved by voters in November 2008 by ballot Proposition 8.[55][56]

Filmography

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2021 Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age, premiered August 14, 2021 on PBS as part of Great Performances camera operator, production crew
2020 Karen Mason: Mason At Mamas In March, Online streamed concert from 2015 director of photography, editor
2020 Lorna Dallas: Home Again (Filmed Concert, Birdland Jazz Club, NYC) director of photography, editor
2020 Terrence McNally: Every Act of Life Q&A (post screening Q&A) director of photography, editor
2019 Lynn Henderson: A Skitch in Time (Filmed Concert, Don't Tell Mama, NYC) director of photography, editor
2019 Klea Blackhurst: One Of The Girls (Filmed Concert, Birdland Jazz Club, NYC) director of photography, editor
2018 Vicky DeRosa: How BS cured the blind girl (TEDTalks lecture) co-producer, director of photography, editor
2018 Abraham Burickson: Design experiences, not things (TEDTalks lecture) co-producer, director of photography, editor
2017 Every Act of Life (Documentary feature) cinematography
2017 All In with Cam Newton (TV series) additional cinematography
2017 A Very Sordid Wedding (Independent Feature) additional photography – documentary segments
2016 Abducted in Plain Sight aka Forever 'B' (Documentary feature) filmed and produced introductory fund raising video
2015 Disorganized Zone (TV series) additional cinematography
2014 Fay Wray: A Life (Documentary feature) additional cinematography, research assistant
2014 Heather's Freddy-Cut Nightmare! (Featurette) producer, director, cinematographer, lead editor
2014 Tamara Tunie: Legends From 'The Burgh' (Featurette) director of photography, cinematographer, lead editor
2013 Jan Broberg's Guide to Thespians, Sociopaths & Scream Queens (Documentary short) creator, executive producer, director of photography and camera operator, editor
2013 Checking In (Independent feature) director of photography and cinematography
2012 Dwight Thomas Vaughn: Don't Come a Knockin (Music video) director of photography and camera operator, editor
2012 Watch What Happens: Live (TV series) camera operator – 1 episode
2012 Resurrecting Carrie (Documentary short) executive creative director, writer, director of photography and camera operator, editor
2012 Archaeology of a Woman (New York City screening featurette) additional photography – documentary segments
2012 Drama Desk Panel Discussion - It's a Hard Act to Follow (Documentary) producer, director of photography
2011 Artists and Alchemists (Documentary feature) grip
2011 Girls Who Smoke (Dramatic short) additional photography
2011 Jon Finch: The Ultimate Impresario (Documentary short) executive producer, executive creative director, creator, director of photography and camera operator, editor
2011 League Of Professional Theatre Women's 30th Anniv Kick Off (Video short/featurette) executive producer, executive creative director, director of photography and camera operator, editor
2011 Stephen Schwartz: Séance Is a 'Wicked' Mistress (Documentary short) producer, writer, director of photography and camera operator
2010 Saturday Nightmares: The Ultimate Horror Expo of All Time! (Documentary short) executive producer, creator, director of photography and camera operator, editor
2008 How to Get and Keep an Agent (Instructional Video) associate producer, segment director, camera operator – part one, lead editor
2006 The Barry Z Show (TV series) camera operator
2006 The 2006 Tourette Syndrome Celebrity Fundraiser camera operator
2004 Still Life Independent short second assistant director
2004 Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (Feature film) production crew
2003 Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (Documentary feature) unit production manager, camera operator
2003 Third Watch (TV series) production crew
2003 The Brini Maxwell Show (TV series) camera operator, production crew

Film roles

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Analyze That SWAT Team Gunman Directed by Harold Ramis

TV roles

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Year Title Role Director Notes
2001 Deadline Bomb Squad Expert Robert Berlinger TV series Season 1 Episode 12
1991 Super Force Mike Sidney Hayers TV series Season 1 Episode 18

References

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  1. ^ "'Hello Hollywood, Hello:' Iconic stage show still resonates in Reno arts community". Reno Gazette Journal. February 2, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Folk Hero Just a Guy Called Will". The New York Times. July 24, 1994. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  3. ^ "Follies' And Two Stages". The New York Times. August 28, 1994. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  4. ^ "'Oliver!' in Revival at the Paper Mill". The New York Times. November 20, 1994. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  5. ^ "Emotional Satisfaction of 'South Pacific'". The New York Times. April 24, 1994. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  6. ^ "An evening with Shirley Jones". TheaterPizzazz. May 5, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  7. ^ Grimm, Eric J. (February 21, 2014). "All My Friends Are Demons: A Profile of Filmmaker Michael Stever". Theater Pizzazz. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  8. ^ "Traveling Rick McKay's Winding Road To Broadway". October 28, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  9. ^ "Cinema Retro: DVD Review: 'Saturday Nightmares: The Ultimate Horror Expo of All Time!'". cinemaretro.com. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  10. ^ Cerbo, Toni-Ann (October 22, 2010). "The Famed Interior of Loew's Theatre will make an appearance on the silver screen this weekend". NJ.com. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  11. ^ "Brian Hampton's Checking in to Become Independent Film". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  12. ^ "Winners, Highlight Video Revealed for FEARnyc Festival". Fangoria. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  13. ^ "Piper Laurie, David Naughton and Kim Coates to Appear at Scares That Care". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  14. ^ "Shaking up the American Film Festival – One 'Scare' At A Time: Scares That Care, Piper Laurie and Documentaries". Horror Society. September 20, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  15. ^ "Entertainment Weekly: Stever documentary to screen at inaugural FEARnyc horror film festival". EW.com. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  16. ^ "The Magnificent Jan Broberg". Big Gay Horror. August 15, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  17. ^ "All My Friends Are Demons, Filmmaker Michael Stever profile". TheaterPizzazz.com. February 21, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  18. ^ "Interview: Jan Broberg". INDYNYC.COM. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  19. ^ "FEARnyc Horror Fest". TheaterPizzazz. November 2, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  20. ^ "Shirley Jones et al. Pay Tribute to Impresario Jon Finch". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
  21. ^ "Stever, Shirley Jones & more pay tribute to Oklahoma impresario Jon Finch". September 30, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  22. ^ "BWW.com: Schwartz SEANCE Is A 'Wicked' Mistress". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  23. ^ "Michael Stever @ TheatreArtLife". TheatreArtLife. May 16, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  24. ^ "Drama Desk and Filmmaker Release Panel Discussion on DVD & Video on Demand". Theater Pizzazz. October 13, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  25. ^ "Michael Stever directs Vanessa Redgrave for The Drama Desk". PR Log. March 1, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  26. ^ "Looking at the Art of Escapism in Daniel Merriam's Watercolors". Hi-Fructose Magazine. June 10, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  27. ^ "Horror Society: Elm Street's Langenkamp, Filmmaker Stever & Stylist King Chronicle First Ever 'Freddy-Cut Auction' For 'Scares That Care'". horrorsociety.com. July 8, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  28. ^ "Horror Talk: A Nightmare On Elm Street's Heather Langenkamp Gets Herself a 'Freddy Cut' for Scares That Care!". Horror Talk. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  29. ^ "NBCNewYork.com: NBC News Honors Veterans & Off Broadway play, 'Vietnam... Through My Lens.'". NBCNewYork.com. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  30. ^ "fisherhouse.org: Vietnam...Through my Lens Premieres". FisherHouse.org. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  31. ^ "Duke Ellington Study Conference Attracts Record Numbers". TheaterPizzazz. August 3, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  32. ^ "Mercedes Ellington". Theaterlife.com. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  33. ^ "News: Mercedes Ellington Receives Lifetime Achieve in Dance Award". Theater Pizzazz. December 10, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  34. ^ "News: Vicky DeRosa, How BS Cured The Blind Girl". TEDTalks. February 21, 2018.
  35. ^ "News: Abraham Burickson, Design experiences, not things". TEDTalks. February 21, 2018.
  36. ^ "Every Act of Life co-cinematographer Michael Lee Stever unveils Q&A". Cabaret Scenes. March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  37. ^ "Broadway Radio Highlights". Broadway Radio. March 29, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  38. ^ "News: President and Hillary Clinton Attend Little Rock". BWW. September 5, 2018.
  39. ^ "News: Hail to the Mighty Little Rock Nine". Theater Pizzazz. September 7, 2018.
  40. ^ "Sidney-Myer-live-at-the-laurie-beechman-theatre". Theater Pizzazz. October 30, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  41. ^ "Bring-Sidney-home-live-at-the-laurie-beechman-theatre-DVD". NiteLife Exchange. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  42. ^ "Klea Blackhurst Is a Certified Jerry Herman Top Girl". NiteLife Exchange. September 4, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  43. ^ "Lorna Dallas HOME AGAIN Is A Welcome Show In Person Or Online". Broadway World. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  44. ^ "Lynn Henderson: A Skitch in Time: My Tribute to Maestro Skitch Henderson". Cabaret Scenes. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  45. ^ "At Home With Dawn Derow". Broadway World. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  46. ^ "Six Questions Special Edition: Broadway Star and Singer Karen Mason". Nitelife Exchange. April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  47. ^ "Karen Mason 'It's About Time'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  48. ^ "Karen Mason 'For The First Time'". Cabaret Scenes. March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  49. ^ "Cabaret diva Karen Mason takes on Kander and Ebb's 'All That Jazz'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  50. ^ "Winners Announced For The 2020 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards!". BroadwayWorld. January 13, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  51. ^ "Karen Mason Presents Online Broadcast of Mason at Mama's in March". October 15, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  52. ^ "Checking In With… Karen Mason". May 20, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  53. ^ "Music and Theater not to be missed". Theaterpizzazz. August 27, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  54. ^ "Tamara Tunie Sings from the 'Burgh' Pittsburgh Style". TheaterPizzazz. June 11, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  55. ^ "Wicked & Wonder Woman Defy Inequality!". PR-Log. February 28, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  56. ^ "WICKED Movement Defies Inequality in NYC!". PR-Log. January 21, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
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