| Michael Torontow | |
| Birth Date: | 12 December 1977 |
| Birth Place: | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation: | Actor, singer |
| Years Active: | 2001–present |
Michael Torontow is a Canadian actor, singer and director, best known for his work in musical theatre. He has played such roles as Link Larkin in the first Canadian production of Hairspray in 2004 Giuseppe Naccarelli in Toronto productions of The Light in the Piazza in 2010 and 2016, and the title character in in 2022. He is an artistic director for Talk is Free Theatre in Barrie, Ontario. He has been nominated for Dora Awards both as a leading actor and director.
Torontow was born in Ottawa, Ontario, where he attended Bell High School.[1] While in high school, Torontow played Joseph in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which motivated him to pursue a career in acting. He graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Certificate in Arts Administration.
In 2001, Torontow made his professional stage debut in the first North American tour of Mamma Mia! as a member of the ensemble and an understudy in the role of Sky.
In 2004, Torontow played the role of Link Larkin in the first Canadian production of Hairspray. The musical ran at the Princess of Wales Theatre from April to November 2004.[2]
Torontow was a member of the ensemble for the stage adaptation of Dirty Dancing.[3] The first Canadian production played at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, opening in July 2007. In 2010, Torontow played Giuseppe Naccarelli in a Toronto production of The Light in the Piazza presented by the Musical Stage Company and the Canadian Stage Company.[4] In 2016, Torontow reprised his role of Giuseppe in a production of The Light in the Piazza at the Max Bell Theatre, for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical at the 2016 Calgary Theatre Critics Awards.[5]
In 2019, Torontow performed Every Brilliant Thing, a one-man show written by Duncan Macmillan. The production was presented by Talk is Free Theatre at the Five Points Theatre in Barrie, before it transferred to the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.[6] In 2020, the production was presented at the Adelaide Fringe Festival with Torontow again performing the show.[7] This production won the BankSA Best Theatre & Physical Theatre award.[8]
Since 2019, Torontow has served as an artistic director for Talk is Free Theatre (TIFT), which is a professional theatre company based in Barrie that has produced theatre across Ontario, Canada, and internationally.[9] In 2021, he directed his first musical, a TIFT production, of Into the Woods, in Barrie and at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto.[10] At the 2022 Dora Awards, Torontow was nominated for Best Direction.[11]
In 2022, Torontow starred as Sweeney Todd in a production of , which was presented by Talk is Free Theatre.[12] For his performance in the role, he was nominated for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical at the 2022 Dora Awards.
In 2023, Torontow played Kevin J. and others in a production of Come from Away in Gander, Newfoundland, where the musical is set.[13] When the musical returned to Gander in the summer of 2024, Torontow returned, this time playing Kevin T. and others.[14]
Torontow is currently playing Cal in the original Canadian production of Titanique.[15] The musical premiered at the Segal Centre in Montreal, where it is playing between October 27 and November 24, 2024. It will then transfer to the CAA Theatre, where it will play between December 5, 2024 and January 12, 2025.
| Year | Production | Role | Theatre | Category | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–2003 | Mamma Mia! | Ensemble, u/s Sky | First National Tour | ||
| 2004 | Hairspray | Link Larkin | Princess of Wales Theatre | Mirvish Productions | |
| 2007–2009 | Dirty Dancing | Ensemble | Royal Alexandra Theatre | Mirvish Productions | |
| 2010 | The Light in the Piazza | Giuseppe | Berkeley Street Theatre | ||
| 2014 | Floyd Collins | Homer Collins | Mady Centre for the Performing Arts | Regional: Talk Is Free Theatre, Patrick Street Productions | |
| The York Theatre | |||||
| 2016 | The Light in the Piazza | Giuseppe | Max Bell Theatre | Regional: Theatre Calgary | |
| 2017 | Beauty and the Beast | Beast | Capitol Theatre | Regional | |
| 2018 | Mamma Mia! | Sam | Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage | Arts Club Theatre Company | |
| 2019 | Every Brilliant Thing | Narrator | Five Points Theatre | Regional: Talk is Free Theatre | |
| Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre | |||||
| 2020 | |||||
| 2022 | Sweeney Todd | Regional: Talk is Free Theatre | |||
| 2023 | Come from Away | Kevin J. and others | Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre | Regional: Gander, Newfoundland | |
| 2024 | Cock | M | Regional: Talk is Free Theatre | ||
| Come from Away | Kevin T. and others | Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre | Regional: Gander, Newfoundland | ||
| 2024–2025 | Titanique | Cal | Segal Centre for Performing Arts | Mirvish Productions | |
| CAA Theatre | |||||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Queer as Folk | Babylonian | S5.E7: "Hope Against Hope" | |
| 2009 | True Crime Scene | Bakery Manager | S2.E10: "Cherry Hill Murder" | |
| 2010 | Forensic Factor | S7.E5: "Abbotsford Killer" | ||
| Being Erica | Doug | S3.E6: "Bear Breasts" | ||
| 2013 | Hannibal | Pharmacist | S1.E2: "Amuse-Bouche" | |
| 2014 | Reign | King's Guard | S1.E9: "For King and Country" | |
| 2015 | Remedy | 68 Special Elvis | S2.E10: "Day One" | |
| 2015–2016 | Lost & Found Music Studios | Mr. T | Main role: 17 episodes | |
| 2017 | Conviction | Handsome Guy | S1.E13: "Past, Prologue & What's to Come" |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Calgary Theatre Critics Award | Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | The Light in the Piazza | ||
| 2019 | Ovation Awards | Outstanding Supporting Performance of a Musical - Male | Mamma Mia! | ||
| 2020 | Adelaide Fringe Festival Awards | BankSA Best Theatre & Physical Theatre | Every Brilliant Thing | ||
| 2022 | Dora Awards | Outstanding Direction | Into the Woods | ||
| Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role |